Experimental Aircraft Designs Celebrated at AirVenture Number 70

EAA’s upcoming AirVenture fly-in to the Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin will celebrate a handful of timeless homebuilt aircraft, with some all-star kits on tap to celebrate milestones.

Events will vary by design, with anniversary aircraft being featured throughout the week in flying demonstrations, forums, displays, and other events.

The Midget Mustang will be the elder statesman of the group, the aerobatic sportster celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Wittman Tailwind, a 2-seat, high-wing piece by race pilot Steve Wittman. The first homebuilt aircraft to circumnavigate the Earth, Thorp’s T-18, sees its 60th anniversary, The Hiperbipe, Sorrel Aviation’s 2-seat aerobatic biplane (and one of ANN CEO Jim Campbell's FAVORITE airplanes) , will celebrate a half century and round out the group of older designs. The young bucks of the group include Sonex, celebrating its 25th, and Van’s RV-10, celebrating its 20th. The two kits have been enduringly popular as low-wing, attractive, and affordable designs since their inception.

“Homebuilding has been at the core of EAA since the first meeting in Milwaukee in 1953 with homebuilt aircraft continuing to represent a substantial percentage of the 10,000-plus aircraft that fly into AirVenture every year,” said Charlie Becker, EAA’s homebuilt community manager. “As we celebrate our organization’s 70 years, several popular designs are celebrating their own anniversaries, and we invite all owners of those aircraft to come to Oshkosh to help commemorate the occasion.”

FMI: www.eaa.org