Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/378679
6 Vol.3 No.9 / September 2014 NEWS FROM HQ WITH THOUSANDS OF dedicated volunteers willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, it's hard to fail. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 was an unmitigated suc- cess due largely to more than 5,400 volunteers working together for a com- mon cause—to produce the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration, and the 2014 version was certainly that. Attendance topped 500,000, or 5 to 6 percent higher than in 2013. Satur- day and Sunday saw 20 percent more people coming through the gates than a year ago. "It was a tremendous week on many levels," said EAA Chairman Jack J. Pelton. "We filled Wittman Regional Airport with aircraft for the first time in several years, with both aircraft camping and parking areas completely full at midweek." The historic fi rst appearance of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds at Oshkosh no doubt attracted many people to the event. Exhibitors reported outstand- ing business throughout the week, with some selling out of product. Other facts and figures from the 2014 convention: • KidVenture experienced record atten- dance in its 16th year. • More than 10,000 aircraft at Wittman Regional Airport and other facilities in east-central Wisconsin. • 2,649 showplanes, up 308 from 2013, including almost 1,000 homebuilts, 1,050 vintage airplanes, 303 warbirds, 122 ultralights and LSA, 91 seaplanes, 40 rotorcraft, 38 aerobatic aircraft, and eight hot-air balloons. • 2,081 registered international visitors from 69 nations, led by Canada (505), Australia (416), and Brazil (194). Many others were here but did not register at the International Visitors Tent. • 917 media representatives on-site, from fi ve continents. • EAA's One Week Wonder project totaled more than 2,500 participants and resulted in a fi nished airplane on closing day, August 3. Next year (July 20-26) expect to see Burt Rutan, a new B-29 restoration, 70th anniversary commemorations of World War II's end, and more. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 AIRVENTURE 2014 WAS our fi rst convention without the man who created it. But there were reminders throughout the grounds all week of EAA Founder Paul H. Poberezny, who died last year at the age of 91. From the ceremony held at the Memorial Wall Sunday evening before opening day to volunteers raising their glasses in his honor at the annual wind-down party a week later, the 2014 Oshkosh convention was a tribute to the man who made it all possible. The memorial featured a missing-man formation fl ight of P-51s led by EAA's B-17 Aluminum Overcast. Paul's prized P-64 and P-51 were prominently displayed on Boeing Plaza through- out the week. Members had the chance to learn or revisit Paul's life story at the Welcome Center exhibit, which featured Paul's VW Red One, the replica Waco Primary Glider he built (and fl ew in June 2003), the Mechanix Illustrated Baby Ace that launched EAA into a national organization, videos, and more. The airplanes that circled the daily air show parachute teams were Paul's planes. The EAA Lifetime Member Dinner had a strong tribute theme, and members shared their Paul stories at Theater in the Woods on Opening Day. First Convention Without Paul Photography by Jason Toney The One Week Wonder team escorts the Zenith Ch 750 Cruzer to the fl ightline on Sunday afternoon.