Final Douglas DC-8 to Anchor the Boeing Plaza Display

In celebration of aviation’s vast service to the public, the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA) will use community benefit flying as a primary theme for its 2025 AirVenture Oshkosh airshow. The event is taking place from July 21 to 27 at Wisconsin’s Wittman Regional Airport (OSH).

Aviation’s life-saving impact has recently been showcased in a big way. Aerial operations were crucial in the Palisades Fire response, with hundreds of air tankers being deployed to drop water and fire retardant. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton swept the East Coast, volunteer pilots came to the rescue to evacuate people from flooded areas, deliver medical supplies and food to isolated communities, and even transport blood or tissue.

AirVenture aims to spotlight the wide range of aircraft, crews, and organizations that have contributed to the greater good by supporting victims of natural disasters, war, famine, and other emergencies.

“When disaster strikes, aviation is often the first mode of transportation to the areas that have been hit the hardest,” noted Rick Larsen, the EAA vice president of communities and member programs. “The crews that embark on these missions are dedicated to helping others when they need it the most. We welcome them to Oshkosh as we highlight the humanitarian side of aviation.”

Part of the humanitarian highlight will be making the US’s last operational Douglas DC-8-72 Combi, owned by Samaritan’s Purse, a focal point of the Boeing Plaza display throughout the week. The DC-8 joined the relief organization’s fleet in 2015 and has since flown 192 missions and transported more than 8.2 million pounds of cargo.

In 2024, the Combi flew two trips on a mission that delivered over 90 tons of blankets, tarps, kits, lights, and supplies to families impacted by a deadly flood in southern Brazil. It also airlifted relief goods to Mexico after a Category 5 hurricane and to Ukraine during the 2023 conflict.

Near the Boeing Plaza, the EAA will be displaying general aviation aircraft from several public benefit groups. One of these is the Air Care Alliance (ACA), which represents over 50 volunteer pilot groups that provide emergency relief, animal transport, and ambulance services.

FMI: www.eaa.org