Vintage Events At AirVenture
Monday, July 25
6:30 AM – 9:30 AM – Breakfast at Tall Pines Café
8:00 AM – Morning Coffee with Vintage
Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by Susan Dusenbury, VAA President
Meet and talk with the VAA officers and directors! We’ll be serving free coffee and our famous Tall Pines donuts starting at 8:00 AM. Vintage leaders will discuss recent activities of the association, current plans, and goals for the future. This is your opportunity to express your thoughts and our opportunity to hear them.
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Paul’s Vintage Workshop
Location: Vintage Hangar
Presenter: Jim Hamilton and Don Bartlet
Come get your hands dirty and learn some tips and tricks at Paul’s Vintage Workshop, which takes place in the northeast corner of the Vintage Hangar. A&P’s Jim Hamilton and Don Bartlet will demonstrate a variety of workshop activities each day, such as welding and fabric covering.
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Metal Shaping Demonstrations
Location: Vintage Hangar
Presenter: Dave Wenglarz and Maxwell Wenglarz
See metal shaping of aircraft cowlings and other compound surfaces performed by experts, Dave and Maxwell Wenglarz of Wings Metal Works. If you are looking to discover how they bend those fancy curves for vintage aircraft, or if you are plagued with a problem reverse compound curve for your project, stop by the metal workshop inside the Vintage Hangar. They will be available the entire week to demonstrate use of the English Wheel and other equipment. Watch closely and you may be given a chance to try your hand at it. Enter the workshop from the outside of Vintage Hangar on the south side – look for the signs!
9:00 AM – “Morning Mission” Dedication
Location: Charlie’s Park- Behind Vintage Hangar
Join us for the official dedication of a wooden statue gifted to the Vintage Aircraft Association by the estate of Charlie Harris. Carved from a tree that sat in Charlie’s yard, the statue depicts a WWII pilot prepared for flight. Look for the gazebo in the wooded area between the Vintage Hangar and Theater in the Woods.
9:00 AM – American Navion Society Forum
Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by Gary Rankin
Come to hear everything Navion. Presented by Gary Rankin, President of the American Navion Society, this forum will focus on Navion performance and SAIB AIR 22-13, as well as discuss other Navion-related topics.
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM – Hand Propping Demonstrations
Location: Rose Memorial Plaza
Presenter: Dion Carr
Prop it right and save a life! Dion Carr, A&P/AI assisted by his wife, Mary Carr, will demonstrate the safe way to hand prop an aircraft engine. Many vintage aircraft must be started by hand propping since they have no electric starter. We have taught over a thousand visitors how to safely hand prop engines here at Oshkosh over the years, so come on out and get some tips on hand propping!
10:00 AM – Hatz Biplane Association Forum
Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by Jeff Orear
Come to hear everything about the Hatz Biplane. Presented by Jeff Orear, President of the Hatz Biplane Association, this forum will discuss the rich history of this beautiful airplane and current activities of the club. Bring any questions you have about purchasing, maintaining, or flying these beautiful aircraft and Jeff will help you get them answered.
10:45 PM – 12:00 PM – Vintage in Review
Location: Rose Memorial Plaza
Presenter: Ray Johnson
Headliner: Adrian Eichorn and his 1962 P-35 Beechcraft Bonanza. Adrian has flown this airplane around the world and to the Noth Pole.
11:00 AM – Comanche Speed and Efficiency Mods
Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by Zach Grant
The Piper Comanche is inherently among the most efficient of the piston singles, but is also among the most amenable to becoming even more efficient, and is often heavily modded. Zach Grant, CFII/MEI/ATP and A&P, will talk about what makes efficiency, from cowling mods to smooth paint to “speed spats”, and how they affect performance individually and cumulatively. This presentation will apply to all airframes, and while the airframe discussed will be the Comanche, the vast majority of this knowledge will benefit pilots of all aircraft types, particularly with today’s fuel prices.
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Type Clubs
Location: Vintage Hangar
Presenter: Charlie Waterhouse
Come visit the Type Club Area located in the Vintage Hangar to learn more about Aeroncas, Cessnas, Stinsons, Wacos, and everything in-between! Type Clubs representing various types of vintage aircraft have tables set up from 12:00 to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, to display information, meet visitors, and answer questions. Type Clubs can help save you money, keep you from making mistakes others have already made, show you how to restore, maintain and fly your airplane – in short, they can provide the equivalent of many years of hard won experience at a very low cost!
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Hand Propping Demonstrations
Location: Rose Memorial Plaza
Presenter: Dion Carr
Prop it right and save a life! Dion Carr, A&P/AI assisted by his wife, Mary Carr, will demonstrate the safe way to hand prop an aircraft engine. Many vintage aircraft must be started by hand propping since they have no electric starter. We have taught over a thousand visitors how to safely hand prop engines here at Oshkosh over the years, so come on out and get some tips on hand propping!
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Vintage Children’s Hands-On Workshop
Location: Vintage Hangar
Presenter: Charlie Waterhouse
Calling all kids around ages 8 to 12 who want to learn more about using tools! This workshop includes various stations that allow kids to practice the proper use of basic hand tools, such as hammers and pliers. There will even be some more advanced, aviation-related stations such as safety wiring and cable swaging. Parents are encouraged to attend and watch their kids progress. Located just outside of Vintage Hangar on the south side – look for the tent with tables underneath!