Tuskegee Tribute, Simulator Day Among Festivities

Special events, exhibits and activities are among the spectacular highlights of this year's schedule at the world-class EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, which celebrates its 21st year of operation in 2004.

Among the feature events in 2004 are programs featuring the Tuskegee Airmen, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and honoring the 100th anniversary of famed pilot/designer Steve Wittman's birth. In addition, May 15th will see the unveiling of a large new permanent gallery attraction. The KidVenture Gallery has been designed specifically for young people, with permanent simulators, interactive displays and many other activities to spark young interest in flight.

Special presentations are also a popular part of the museum's schedule during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, which will be held July 27-August 2, 2004.

"Our expanded activities during the flight centennial year of 2003 encouraged us to develop even more activities and programs for visitors in 2004," said Adam Smith, EAA AirVenture Museum Director. "We want the museum to be a facility that offers a constantly evolving showcase of the history of personal flight, including the people, airplanes and related activities that make flight so intriguing and fulfilling."

The museum has welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors since the Oshkosh facility opened in 1983. Nearly 100 aircraft are on display in the museum year-round, with an additional 40 on display at the facility's Pioneer Airport, which is open May through mid-October.

The EAA AirVenture Museum is located just off Highway 41 at the Highway 44 exit in Oshkosh. The Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

EAA Airventure Museum Event Schedule - 2004

• February 7

Air Academy Lodge Open House. The residence facility for EAA's summer youth camps is open to teachers, parents and young people so they may discover more about these exciting programs.

• February 25

A Tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen. The museum unveils a T-6 trainer used by the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, as well as a program with one of these famed African-American pilots.

• February 28-29

Flight Simulator Weekend. Flight simulator activities for beginners and experts alike, with Microsoft Flight Simulator instructional sessions; Xbox- and Playstation 2-based flight simulators; and the MaxFlight F-16 motion simulator. Includes an "Operation Aviation" family mission day on February 28.

• March 20

Weeks Hangar open house. A rare "insider's look" at EAA's aircraft maintenance facility on 20th Street in Oshkosh, with historic aircraft and tours of how EAA maintains its flying fleet.

• March 27-28

Model Weekend. A weekend devoted to aviation modeling, from displays and instructional sessions to radio-control aircraft demonstrations.

• April 3-5

Steve Wittman birth centennial. EAA honors Oshkosh's most famous pilot with tours of the Wittman Hangar on Pioneer Airport. On April 5, a special "Memories of Steve" evening program features those who knew this remarkable aviator.

• May 1

Operation Aviation Family Mission. Form a family flight team and take part in a 3-hour experience complete with simulated disaster-relief flight mission. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

• May 1-2

Pioneer Airport Opening Weekend. The new flying season opens at Pioneer Airport, with vintage aircraft activities, plus Young Eagles flights.

• May 15

KidVenture Gallery premiere. EAA opens its largest gallery designed specifically for young people, with permanent simulators, interactive displays and many other activities to spark young interest in flight.

• May 17-21

Aviation Days. A weeklong series of activities designed especially for young people. Timed to be part of "field trip" season for many schools, these activities are a fun way to discover more about aviation.

• June 4-6

D-Day Remembered-60 Years Later. EAA pays tribute to all veterans with this weekend of big activities, which includes a Hangar dance on May 4, the opening of "D-Day Then and Now" exhibit and an L-Bird fly-in on June 5-6, and a special Sunday morning remembrance ceremony on June 6.

• June 19

Ultralight Day. The annual event at Pioneer Airport brings this fun and affordable way to fly to museum visitors. Flying competitions in the afternoon.

• July 27-August 2

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. This year's gathering launches the next century of powered flight and features many activities and speakers throughout the museum.

• August 21

British Wings & Wheels Day. This event at Pioneer Airport brings together the aircraft and automobiles from the United Kingdom, in a repeat of the extremely popular gathering first held in 2003.

• September 4-5

Good Ol' Days. Vintage aircraft in ground demonstrations and flight activities, Young Eagles flights and a "Parade of Flight" both days.

• September 11

German Wings & Wheels Day. A new event at the museum brings together German aircraft and automobiles to view the famous technology and engineering from that nation.

• October 1-3

Spirit of St. Louis Fantasy Flight Camp. Discover more about Charles Lindbergh's famed airplane, and fly in EAA's faithful replica during this weekend program.

• October 9

Operation Aviation Family Mission. Form a family flight team and take part in a 3-hour experience complete with simulated disaster-relief flight mission. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

• October 15-17

Ford Tri-Motor Fantasy Flight Camp. EAA's legendary "Tin Goose" is 75 years old this year, and this weekend program gets flight enthusiasts up close and flying in this airplane.

• October 23-24

Fall Color Flights. Enjoy Wisconsin spectacular fall foliage display from above, in one of EAA's vintage aircraft.

• October 29-30

EAA's Haunted Hangar. What mysteries does the AirVenture Museum hold after dark? Find out in this fun event.

• October 29-November 1

B-17 Fantasy Flight Camp. The experience of a lifetime discovering the inside-and-out of this famed World War II bomber, including flights.

• December 1

Operation Aviation Family Mission. Form a family flight team and take part in a 3-hour experience complete with simulated disaster-relief flight mission. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

• December 13

Christmas in the Air. For more than 20 years, EAA's annual open house has featured local musical groups, refreshments and a visit from Santa.

• December 17

Wright Brothers Memorial Lecture. Honor the creators of powered flight through this special presentation at the home of recreational aviation.

• December 26-30

Kids' Days. The annual family event in the museum, with special activities and presentations, along with discounted admission prices.

FMI: www.airventuremuseum.org