July 22-29, 2023 - AirVenture 2023
EAA Museum & Pioneer Field
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| Rich, Nhu-An and I took the shuttle bus over to the EAA Museum to check it out. |
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Nhu-An hasn't been here before. She has been to Kitty Hawk and seen a Wright Flyer replica before though.
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| A picture of Arizona Senator and Republican Presidential candidate in 1964 Barry Goldwater was hanging on the wall. I hadn't realized he was quite the aviator, with over 12,000 hours. He flew for the military in World War II, and was a retired Major General in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. I wonder how different things would now be in the USA if he had been elected instead of LBJ. |
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A Rider/Elmendorf R-5 Jackrabbit. The Jackrabbit was designed and built to compete in the 1936 National Air Races. It raced in 1936, 1938 and 1939 but never placed higher than third with a speed of 221 mph. |
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This sleek looking Questair Venture is a homebuilt that raced in the Reno Air Races, Sport Class, from 2007 to 2010. In June 1989 this particular Venture set three FAI speed records for piston aircraft weighing less than 1000 kg: 331 miles/hour average for four 3-km runs at low altitude (beat by the Nemesis NXT in 2008), 305 mph for a 100-km circuit, 284 mph for a 1000-km circuit.
About 62 Questairs have been built.
Unfortunately, this year is the last year for the Reno Air Races at Reno Stead Airport. The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, citing the region’s significant growth, amongst other concerns, has sounded the beloved event’s death knell. Thanks so much, guys! The Reno Air Racing Association – which organizes the event – is looking for a new location so that the event can continue but so far nothing has been announced. I have fond memories of going to the Reno Air Races with my Dad. I remember seeing Bob Hoover doing his famous Shrike routine, and Pappy Boyington sitting at a table selling his book Baa Baa Black Sheep.
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| The plane that started it all: the RV-1. I got to fly alongside this plane as it toured the USA after restoration and on its way to the EAA Museum. |
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| Would you like to know more? |
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The mighty Spirit of St. Louis over Paris.
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| A photograph of Burt Rutan's Voyager at Oshkosh in 1984 prior to its record-breaking 1986 nine day Around the World Flight. It was piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager. EAA member support was critical in financial and moral support for the Voyager flight. |
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A Corben Baby Ace on floats. Bruce and I used to own a Baby Ace and had a lot of fun with it.
The Eagle Hangar, with all the warbirds, was closed unfortunately; for banquets and presentations I suppose.
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| Out back, there were all sorts of vintage planes. |
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| And a few warbirds outside of Eagle Hangar. |
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A Spirit of St. Louis replica. This replica has two seats so they can give rides in it. I'd love to catch a ride in this plane!
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| Looking across Pioneer Field -- a wide grass runway -- and the hangars on the other side. |
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One of the Bell 47 (M*A*S*H) helicopters comes in for landing.
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| Kids get to fly U-control airplanes. |
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| You get a five minute helicopter ride over the AirVenture grounds for $65. I wanted to do it, but when I got to Pitcairn Hangar I discovered there was over a two-hour wait. They only sold tickets to walk-ups, no reservations, or buy a ticket and come back later. So I'll have to do it another time -- maybe try to come when they open at 8am. |
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| Inside one hangar was this treasure: a DeHavilland Mosquito. |
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In another hangar, all these antique airplanes. The EAA sure does have a big collection of interesting airplanes!
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