Hopefully Aiventure 2012 will get back to the EAA roots as a festival celebrating GA aviation homebuilders And not be a another military airshow like Airventure 2010 seemed to be.
Hopefully Aiventure 2012 will get back to the EAA roots as a festival celebrating GA aviation homebuilders And not be a another military airshow like Airventure 2010 seemed to be.
I think this might help answer your question:
http://www.airventure.org/news/2011/110731_av2012.html
Planned themes so far include the 75th Anniversary of the Piper Cub, a tribute to Richard Van Grunsven and Vans (including the newly restored RV-1 headed for a place of honor at the AirVenture Museum), the 50th anniversary of the Dyke Delta, and some big things coming together around electric aircraft, to name a few.
Hal Bryan
EAA Lifetime 638979
Vintage 714005 | Warbirds 553527
Managing Editor
EAA—The Spirit of Aviation
Hi Hal, that sounds wonderful. I got a bit bored with a constant military celebration last year. See you at 2012 Airventure.
Well, I see it differently. I have been flying into Oshkosh since 1985 except for 2010 (Sloshkosh) and have always noticed that military demonstrations drew the attention of everyone. Sorry, but I can only take so many of the so-called homebuilts. Most (not all) are boring except to the builder. I mean, just how many RV's can I look at before I want to start swinging at anything that moves. Now, when it comes to something original, innovative and unusual I am all for it, but I can only tolerate just so many Kit Foxes and other motor powered kites. As for "getting back to the roots" I can only say "forgetaboutit." It ain't gonna happen.
Nothing attracts more attention that some of the big and fast military stuff. And for those who recall the early days of the Gulf Wars and 9-11, they were very popular. Seems to me that we have been getting less and less of it.
Nothing turns heads like the sound of an afterburner kicking in, and it always will.
Having said all this and having hurt some feelings, I just want to say I want to see it all, but the military stuff rules.
HOOYAH!
I disagree, Lindberg. There are plenty of non-EAA airshows and museums to see warbirds. I go to Wings Over Houston almost every year to see them. I used to go to Oshkosh to see experimentals. Since it is not about experimentals anymore, I'll probably never go back again.
While the organization has always been dedicated to homebuilts and experimentals, the fly-in has historically welcomed all aspects of aviation - GA spam cans, warbirds, active military aircraft, etc. Just go back through the old Sport Aviation magazines and you'll see that it was a pretty eclectic mix of machines that came to the fly-in over the years. It's still that way and I for one enjoy it. I'm biased when it comes to military aircraft as that's what inspired me growing up. That's why I voted for more military aircraft in the poll. That being said, I truly enjoy the homebuilt experimentals, classics, and ultralights nearly as much and sometimes more. IF I were king of the world, I'd try and have a more even mix of every EAA division type on flying display, whether it be simple showcase flying around the patch as was done when I first started coming to AirVenture in the mid-90s, or as part of the actual afternoon air show. But I'll always vote for more military planes, as it's a good reminder of why we can even enjoy the show in the first place. Just my $0.02.
Zack
Maybe I am weird, but it makes me want to get as far from the flightline as possible. The only plane non-EAA owned warbird I've been excited to see was Fifi. The jets are pretty much just noisemakers and honestly, all of the aerial displays are kind of the same. It's bad to admit as a safety researcher but the only time an airshow display gets my attention is if something goes wrong. The rest of the time it's like "Oh, another loop....oh, look, a barrel roll. Someone's doing a hammerhead stall...." Don't get me wrong, I respect the cajones it takes to do that sort of thing, but it just really doesn't do it for me. Strangely enough, I'd rather watch just normal traffic. Maybe I'm weird.Nothing turns heads like the sound of an afterburner kicking in, and it always will.
I go to Oshkosh more for the educational seminars and to talk to the manufacturers more than I go to see the airshow or the rows and rows of planes. The only thing I go to the parking areas for is to get pictures and measurements of cockpit layouts, etc for our research. It's always a bit odd trying to explain to an owner why exactly I want to get measurements and take pictures but it's a necessary evil since there are often some significant variations between aircraft of the same "type" and at least having an average helps to give an idea of the starting point for the cases in our research.
That said, to keep attendance up (and revenue up) I will put up with the roar of the jets. It's not about what I want but making sure we can get the most people interested in whatever aspect of aviation appeals to them. I do think the little "war reenactment" on the flightline is a little bit much since it's so hokey but oh well....if the volunteers need their moment in the spotlight, let 'em have it. Anyone willing to totally give up a week of their lives to camp out and wear wool in July in Wisconsin is a die-hard. I couldn't do it.
Whatever floats your boat man. Just be sure to clean up after your chosen paraphilia.WHAT? Are you kidding me? Out on the North 40, where practically all are pilots, we start "speaking in tongues" when a military fighter roars overhead. Ahhh and the sound of a P-51 or a T-28. Who the hell needs Viagra?I will agree with you on the P-51....the T-28....eh, it's a weird sounding bird.
I would to see a lot more about electric aircraft.
Sam Kistler EAA 1067638
I like all aspects of flying. For me, I love seeing a good blend of it all. The last trip I made to AirVenture I thought they had something for everyone. I would like to see more fly-bys of homebuilts though. Most of the airshows were aerobatic and military planes. Considering EAA is suppose to be about experimental builds, i would love to see more experimentals have the opportunity to fly for the spectators.
Sam,
Look for more electric aircraft focus in 2012. We're already talking about how to raise the profile!
Steve
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