It feels like forever ago that we last met up as pilots and aviation enthusiasts at the world’s largest general aviation gathering—EAA AirVenture—even though it was only two years ago. Though EAA did a fantastic job producing a virtual AirVenture last year, we all know there’s no substitute for seeing it in person. You can check the main Schedule of Events for your own areas of interest, but here are a few highlights that we’ve seen so far. And here’s one last pitch to read the notam if you’re flying in—there are lots of updates from 2019.
ForeFlight forums have been standing-room-only since the app first launched—and we expect 2021 to be no different. Jeppesen and ForeFlight are hosting a forum on their respective charts and mobile app at the AOPA tent, at 9 am on Tuesday, July 27, plus Boeing leads a panel, titled “Air Travel Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond,” on the EAA Forum’s Stage 3 at 1 pm on Monday, July 26.
Time for a movie? On Saturday, July 24, a vintage Grumman Albatross will arrive to promote the world premiere of Dirk Braun’s latest film, “Flying Boat,” which shows at 9 pm on Sunday at the EAA Fly-In Theatre. During the week, the new movie will also be shown at the Marcus Theatre in Oshkosh, beginning July 28, 2021 at 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased on the Marcus Theatre website for $10.00 each. And on Thursday night around 9:45 pm, “Into Flight Once More” shows at the EAA Fly-In Theater, hosted by the D-Day Sqaudron and Sound Off Films, and featuring the 75th commemoration of D-Day and the flight of 15 Douglas C-47s and variants to Normandy in 2019.
In honor of its 60th anniversary—and the return of Oshkosh—Avemco will be celebrating with several events throughout the course of the week, including Women Moving the Needle on Tuesday, July 27, featuring Flying’s editor-in-chief, Julie Boatman, from 2 to 3 pm in Hangar A, at booth 1158. You can also “meet and greet” with airshow announcer and Flying’s ILAFFT podcast host Rob Reider at the Avemco booth on Thursday, July 29 from 11 am to noon. Flying will post the next episode of ILAFFT—featuring air show legend Mike Goulian—on Thursday as well.
All week long, Flying senior editor Rob Mark will be hosting “Attitude Adjustment,” on EAA Radio from 11 to 11:45 am each day. Listen for his broadcast streaming through the EAA Radio site or on 96.5 FM and 1210 AM during the show.
Practice for pilots at the EAA Pilot Proficiency Center goes on all week long, utilizing 14 flight training devices by Redbird Flight Simulations and with instructors from SAFE and NAFI, and controllers courtesy of NATCA.
The daily air shows—and night air shows on Wednesday and Saturday—normally take center stage, but for 2021, in order to help disperse the crowd along the show line, EAA has instigated two “show centers” in operation during each day’s performances. You can check the schedule for your favorite, but we’re looking out for Lee Lauderback in Stallion 51, plus the Phillips 66 Aerostars, and the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team flying their T-6s across the skies of Oshkosh.
And we hope to see you there as well!
