A True Bit Of History Receives Proper Honors

On Monday afternoon at Phillips 66 Plaza, The RV-1 designed and built by Dick VanGrunsven, which was the basis for the entire line of RV series of aircraft designs, was dedicated in a ceremony in front of hundreds of RV fans that assembled in the hot Wisconsin sun to see it transferred to its new home . . . the EAA AirVenture Museum.

On the dais was EAA's Chad Jensen, EAA President Rod Hightower, Ernie Butcher from Friends of the RV-1, and Dick 'Van' VanGrunsven.

'Van' noted that, "The whole idea the whole point along, To make and airplane that was enjoyable to fly, useful to fly," VanGrunsven said. He also noted he had something he wanted to share with the audience, his two and half year old grand daughter Lilley, wearing a jump suit his wife made for their son Greg, some 35 years ago. Dick also spoke of about promoting aviation education to inspire a new generations of aviators and noted one way it has been done has been by various education institutions building RV-12's.

After VanGrunsven was finished speaking, he handed EAA President Rod Hightower the key to the RV-1. "I think it is safe to say this is the key to innovation would you agree," Hightower said. At that point in the ceremony, Hightower presented VanGrunsven with a plaque commemorating the dedication of the RV-1.

FMI; http://rv-1.org, www.vansaircraft.com, www.eaa.org, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews