EAA AirVenture Oshkosh’s dramatic comeback through stunning photographs.
Two night airshows and a Monday concert featuring Dierks Bently drew impressive crowds.Jim KoepnickThe two best places to watch an airshow in the blazing summer sun are high atop the wing of a vintage warbird (with permission and with care) or beneath that very same wing, where you can find a little welcome shade. This year’s AirVenture was graced with good weather for most of the week.Jim KoepnickEAA made a great call by choosing to focus on warbirds this year. While most of the stars were World War II models, like this North American B-25, shown taking part in the daily afternoon airshow, every era was represented. If it seemed as though World War II was the favorite, we’d have to chime in that it’s pretty much our favorite too.Jim KoepnickThe airplane parking areas and campsites were overflowing with visitors; EAA claimed a record number of aircraft arrivals. The heavy traffic tested the AirVenture volunteer staff and additional air traffic controllers who were called in to handle the influx at what was temporarily the world’s busiest airport. The resulting smooth flow of traffic was a testament to hardworking FAA controllers and dedicated volunteers.Jim KoepnickWhile noise and speed were the order of the day, there were attendees who carved out more bucolic circles in the sky. This foot-launch-powered parachute eliminates most of the hardware and focuses on the experience of flying.Jim KoepnickWorld War II aficionados were in heaven as Wittman Field played host to re-enactments of a number of famous air battles, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway and the Tokyo attack by the Doolittle Raiders. Taking part were such famous warbirds as the Mitsubishi Zero, Supermarine Spitfire and Curtiss Warhawk.Jim KoepnickThe skies over Wittman Regional Airport were torn asunder by the crackling roar of U.S. military might in the form of the formidable fifth-generation F-22 Raptor (seen here during one of its routines) and F-35 Lightning II fighters. With its vectored-thrust Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines opened to full afterburner, the chest-rumbling sound of the F-22 was sweet music indeed to fans of military aviation.Jim KoepnickMatt Younkin put on a smokin’ show flying his twin-engine Beechcraft Beech 18. While this 1940s-era airplane was not designed for aerobatics, Younkin had no trouble showing off his impressive maneuvers both during the daylight hours and at night. Younkin’s “Magic by Moonlight” night show had the Beech 18 lit up like a rocket at blastoff, with multiple lights illuminating the thick trail of smoke.Jim KoepnickAirVenture featured a diverse collection of warbirds, with a highlight being Attu Warrior, a restored Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon.Jim KoepnickThe silhouettes of two of the U.S. military’s oldest and newest active-duty aircraft contrasted perfectly as a B-52 Stratofortress and an F-22 Raptor shared the same ramp at show center.Jim KoepnickRimowa, a European maker of luxury luggage and carry-on bags, unveiled this reproduction of a six-seat Junkers F13. Introduced in 1919, the F13 was the world’s first all-metal commercial airplane.Jim KoepnickWhether dogfighting with Melissa Pemberton or flying his personal routine, Skip Stewart put on an impressive show in his uniquely modified Pitts S-2S biplane, an airplane named Prometheus. The engine of the red and black biplane puts out 400 horsepower, allowing Stewart to climb at rates of 4,000 fpm, fly at 260 knots and conduct precision maneuvers like this ribbon cutting.Jim KoepnickThe massive Airbus A350 XWB (extra wide body) above made several demonstration flights throughout the week, showing off an impressive flight profile considering its size. The A350 is designed to carry more than 300 passengers and fly as far as 7,750 nautical miles. See more photos of the A350 XWB’s demo flight here.Jim KoepnickOf more than 7,000 Avro Lancasters built for World War II, only two flying examples remain, The heavy bomber was critical in taking the war to Nazi Germany and helping end the terrible conflict.Jim KoepnickOne hundred and eight jumpers combined for a mass skydive. While their world record attempt was unsuccessful, the group broke the formation record in Wisconsin.Jim KoepnickThere were more than 4,000 Boeing B-29 Stratofortresses built around the end of World War II, but it is today one of the rarest birds in the world. The only current flying example is Fifi, owned by the Commemorative Air Force. Next year there will hopefully be two B-29s at Oshkosh, as a second Stratofortress, Doc, is nearing completion.Jim KoepnickThe latest version of the Goodyear blimp, named Wingfoot One, made its debut at AirVenture. With a semirigid aluminum and carbon fiber structure covered by polyester and a new material called Tedlar, developed by DuPont, Wingfoot One is the first new-design Goodyear airship in many decades. It is also adorned with a big-screen display on the side. The massive airship was built by Germany’s ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik and assembled at Goodyear’s facility in Suffield, Ohio, near Akron.Jim KoepnickCheck out more beautiful Oshkosh photography in our daily photo galleries by Jessica Voruda.Jim Koepnick
