Ces Avions Francais Arriveront a Oshkosh! (We Know. You Love It When We Speak French.)

Each year, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh draws aircraft from around the globe that arrive to participate in the world's greatest aviation celebration.  This summer's extraordinary lineup of aircraft for the 53rd annual EAA AirVenture, which will be held July 25-31 in Oshkosh, is now being enhanced by the arrival of more than 20 aircraft from France including two vintage Dassault military liaison airplanes.

The two restored Dassault MD312 Flamant ("Flamingo") twin-engine military liaison aircraft will fly from Paris to Oshkosh over the North Atlantic.  They will be joined by 19 general aviation "light" single- and twin-engine aircraft, scheduled to be flown by members of the French "Euro Squadron."  All are scheduled to depart Paris on July 18 and arrive at Wittman Regional Airport on opening day, July 25.  The 1950s-vintage Dassaults will park at EAA AirVenture's AeroShell Square showcase ramp, near the SpaceShipOne/White Knight and Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer aircraft.

"From its earliest days, EAA AirVenture has drawn interest from aviation enthusiasts around the world," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman.  "We welcome these aviators and aircraft from France to this year's event, as the joy of flight is truly global, and there is no better place to celebrate that common passion than right here at Oshkosh."

EAA member Pierre Duval is helping organize the mass fly-in from France.  Duval also helped organize the Airbus A300-600ST "Beluga" visit to Oshkosh in 2003, and said the international renown of EAA AirVenture has helped build great excitement for the trip among the participating pilots.

"This is my 10th Oshkosh in the last 15 years and the fever does not get any lower," Duval said. "The excitement of the group is both to cross the Atlantic with one's own (aircraft) and participate in the event.  (EAA AirVenture) has become the equivalent of Le Bourget Paris Air Show for general and personal aviation."

Duval will travel to Oshkosh with several dignitaries, including the heads of the DGAC, the French equivalent of the FAA, and the GSAC, which is France's controlling body for civil aviation.  Also scheduled to attend, according to Duval, are the French Navy's incoming chief of staff and the general secretary to France's transportation minister.

Gerard David, Dassault Aviation vice president of corporate external relationships, is a key supporter of the trip and will fly one of the Dassault MD312s.  Emmanuel Davidson, editor-in-chief of Aviation et Pilote magazine, leads the organization of GA aircraft and pilots making the flight.

FMI: www.airventure.org