Vintage Events At AirVenture

Friday, July 24

6:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Breakfast at Tall Pines Café

 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Metal Shaping Demonstrations

Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by 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 – 12:00 PM – Paul’s Vintage Hands-On Workshop

Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by 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 welding and fabric covering, and you’ll have the opportunity to give these skills a try in this hands-on workshop.

9:00 AM – What Went “Wright”

Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by Rich Stepler

Rich Stepler from Wright “B” Flyer Inc. of Dayton, Ohio will present a detailed account of the Wright Brothers’ journey to build and fly the first production airplane. Following Orville and Wilbur’s historic 1903 flights, they incorporated their lessons learned with design and control into the Wright Model B, which was the first airplane produced in quantity. Come hear what went “Wright” and led to their success evolving from experimental aircraft to a model that had both civil and military utility. Rich serves as the Chief Pilot for Wright “B” Flyer Inc’s 1911 Model “B” look-a-like flyer, N1217B, which is on display in the Vintage area all week and flying in Tuesday and Thursday’s air show.

10:00 AM – A Five-Minute Walk Around of a Fabric Piper

Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by Clyde Smith

Clyde Smith, “The Cub Doctor,” will present his famous safety walk around of the fabric Piper, but will be helpful for any aircraft preflight inspection. This hour-long program will cover how to make sure your aircraft is safe to fly every time you prepare to aviate, as well as look at common problems and solutions to many of the maintenance oriented issues of the fabric Piper family. Clyde loves answering questions, so bring them to this forum!

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM – Hand Propping Demonstrations

Location: Rose Memorial Plaza
Presented by Dion & Mary 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 – 11:00 AM – Airshow Legends- Featuring RJ Gritter

Location: Charles W. Harris Youth Aviation Center
Presented by AC  & Sue Hutson

Calling all kids! Come meet your airshow heroes and build a mini model of the airshow airplanes they fly at AirVenture (models will be available only to the first 20 attendees).

12:00 PM- 2026 Vintage Aircraft Judging Ends

12:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Type Clubs

Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by 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!

12:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Vintage Children’s Hands-On Workshop

Location: Charles W. Harris Youth Aviation Center
Presented by AC & Sue Hutson

Drop in any time during the above hours for fun hands-on activities for kids ages 6 – 12! 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.