Here’s a second look at the highlights of aviation’s biggest annual gathering.
Chairman of EAA and of AirVenture, Tom Poberezny, retires from the organization on the first day of the show.After the conclusion of the airshow, EAA announced that more than 10,000 airplanes had flown into central Wisconsin for the festivities.The twin-engine Boomerang was one of several Burt Rutan designed airplanes on display at ConocoPhillips Plaza.** A sizable warbird formation over-flies Wittman Field with a C-47 leading the way.**Burt Rutan, who retired earlier this year, was honored with a special day of recognition for his unique Experimental airplane designs.Visitors wait in line to enter the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which was at the show for a single day on Friday.With shoreline parking full, this Lake Amphibian is tied to a buoy at the temporary seaplane base in Lake Winnebago.A Queen Monoplane replica honors Earle Lewis Ovington — the first pilot certified to fly mail — as part of the 100th Anniversary of Air Mail exhibit.The twin-tail, midwing North American B-25 Mitchell, used for various missions in World War II, appears to be guarding Wittman Field in the sunset.**The polished aluminum of a P-51 Mustang gets adorned with its name — Twilight Tear. **Although Boeing built nearly 4,000 B-29 airplanes, Fifi is the only Superfortress in the world that remains in airworthy condition.While Lake Winnebago served nearly 100 seaplanes during the weeklong event, it does not serve as a seaplane base during the rest of the year.**The 100th anniversary of Naval aviation was celebrated with a grand display of airplanes carrying the distinguishing star markings. **An F/A-18F Super Hornet belonging to VFA-122 — the Flying Eagles — bears a modern, digital, camouflage paint scheme.Gene Soucy pilots his Showcat, a highly modified Grumman Ag Cat, with wing-walker Teresa Stokes on top.For the second year in a row, AirVenture’s Saturday night airshow concluded with spectacular fireworks.The roaring engines, flashing lights and smoke make the AeroShell Texans easy to find during the night airshows.Ultralights maintained a strong presence at this year’s show, both in the air and on the ground.Aviation enthusiasts braved the rain to see the show during this year’s slight period of bad weather.For more, check out our full coverage of AirVenture 2011.
