by Susan Dusenbury, VAA President, VAA 5721, EAA 55229
It’s the time of year when so many of realize that the once distant dream of Oshkosh and all things aviation is about to materialize. All of us here at Vintage (officers, directors and volunteers) have actually been working on this since we left AirVenture last year. We just really up our game three to four months before AirVenture. This year is certainly shaping up to be truly exceptional. And how can it not be! The vintage showplane flight line is a whopping one and one-half miles long.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. On the very north end of our flight line will be a spectacular array of WWI aircraft. These planes are original WWI fighters or bombers with a few replicas in the mix. If weather conditions permit these aircraft will be flying. Just think about that for a moment! These original WWI aircraft were manufactured only 13-14 short years after the Wright brothers made their first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903 proving that controlled flight was possible. I find the engines on these planes fascinating. Just listening to these old engines gives thought to the mind-boggling innovations that have occurred in the development of the aircraft engine in the last 100 years. Engine runs will take place every day at 2:00pm.
After the WWI aircraft and heading south you will find displays of “Fun and Affordable” aircraft, Vintage Past Grand Champions and “Don’s Choice” aircraft. You may or may not know what a “Don’s Choice” airplane is. It’s a plane (or planes) that fly in to AirVenture as attendees not as planned display aircraft. Our knowledgeable and “sharp-eyed” flight line volunteers find many of these aircraft to be fascinating and ask them to park in this area known as Don’s Choice. These planes are parked just behind the Past Grand Champions. If you have the time you will want to walk the entire vintage flight line-all one and one-half miles of it! There are some really interesting planes quietly and unobtrusively on display throughout the Vintage flight line.
The above aircraft listing is just a very small sampling of what we are expecting to fly into Oshkosh for AirVenture.
VAA will be opening Vintage Village on Monday morning at 7:30am with coffee and doughnuts in the Vintage Hangar followed by a “town hall” meeting with your officers and directors. This is your opportunity to share your thoughts about our organization. Also, on Monday and taking place at 11:45 am will be the dedication of the Vintage Charles W. Harris Memorial Park (Charlie’s Park) in honor of Charlie Harris (1927-2017)-one of VAA’s most dedicated and respected members. Please join us for the dedication ceremony.
Events at Vintage have been planned throughout the week. There is just too much happening in Vintage Village this year for me to cover in this letter!! Please “click here” for detailed info on VAA events during AirVenture 2018.
I look forward to seeing you there!
