Vintage Events At AirVenture

Thursday, July 23

All Day- Hawaiian Shirt Day

Don’t have a Hawaiian shirt? Head over to the Red Barn Store, where several styles featuring some of your favorite vintage airplanes will be available for purchase! Be sure to shop early- styles and sizes are limited.

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 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 – International Cessna 195 Club Forum

Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by Darren Butcher

Come to hear about the Cessna 195, as well as ask any questions you have regarding this aircraft. Hosted by members of the International Cessna 195 Club, this forum will discuss current topics with the Cessna 195 and showcase why so many love to fly this aircraft.

10:00 AM – Keeping Vintage Aircraft in the Sky: Understanding Accidents and Improving Safety

Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by Kristi Dunks

Vintage aircraft provide a foundation for aviation history. Restorers and operators of these aircraft may encounter unique challenges. By understanding potential risks, we can improve safety. Through discussions of case studies, we will learn how to prevent accidents and keep these historic aircraft in the sky. This forum will be presented by Kristi Dunks who is the Deputy Director for Regional Operations with the NTSB’s Office of Aviation Safety and is currently restoring a 1933 Aeronca C-3. This forum is available for FAA WINGS Credit.

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Airshow Legends- Featuring Kyle Fowler

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).

11:00 AM – American Waco Club Forum: The Caldwell Collection

Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by Tony Caldwell

Hosted by the American Waco Club, come hear an exciting presentation from Tony Caldwell of The Caldwell Collection at Mustang Field. What started as a private Waco collection is now a public treasure for aviation enthusiasts, historians, and the local community. The museum not only displays the Golden Age of Aviation, but its airplanes continue to fly, be restored, and provide education for future generations about aviation’s golden

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!

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM – 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!

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.

1:30 PM – Cable Splicing Demonstrations

Location: Vintage Hangar
Presented by Maxwell Wenglarz

Join Maxwell Wenglarz as he demonstrates the Cable Wrap and Solder method as well as the Navy 5 Tuck Splice in the Vintage Hangar starting at 1:30. These two methods will set your pre-1945 aircraft apart from the others when these details are added to your restorations!

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Teen Night 2

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

Whether you missed the Tuesday Teen Night or you had a great time and want to have more fun, stop by for our second Teen Night of 2026! Meet other teens who share a passion for aviation, come play corn hole and other games, enjoy some snacks, and have fun! Ages 13 – 18.