EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015: Exhibitors - Hanging Out with H

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience returns to our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 exhibitors with those organizations whose names begins with H.  H has quite a few heavy-hitters in the aviation industry, including Helicopter Association International, Hamilton Watches, HondaJet, and Hummel Aviation.  Each contributes a different and necessary product that makes aviation practical, possible and fun.

Helicopter Association International (HAI)

The Alexandria, VA-based HAI has grown from a handful of members in Burbank, CA in 1948 to the largest and most effective helicopter industry organization in the world.  HAI again provided a large indoor display in prime space between the control tower and the airshow crowd line.  Inside the two-story exhibitor tent, HAI provided displays and resources to promote the rotorcraft industry.  Helicopters were on display outside on a rotating basis for up-close inspection by the attendees.  It is a must-visit for anyone remotely interested in rotorcraft and their usefulness in society.

Hamilton Watches

Hamilton Watches sponsors Red Bull racer and airshow performer Nicolas Ivanoff.  Along with Ivanoff's colorful aircraft flying in the afternoon airshows, there was a mockup aircraft on display near the main entrance.  The Swiss watchmaker is known for creating watches with cinema and aviation themes, and the livery on the aircraft makes that very apparent!

HondaJet

HondaJet has had a very conspicuous presence at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh over the last few years as their new aircraft design went from prototype to pre-production to current production at its Greensboro, NC facility.  While the striping colors have changed throughout the process, the unique aircraft design still attracts our attention.  Advanced aerodynamic and engine engineering has produced a fast and high-flying light jet that uses only 165 gallons of fuel on a 600nm flight.  We feature the HondaJet as it arrives and is placed in the exhibit tent early in the week.  Also, the long lines outside of the exhibit tent mean only one thing: free hats!

Hummel Aviation
 
Hummel Aviation is an outgrowth of the efforts of James M. "Morry" Hummel, pilot and aircraft and automobile metal fabricator, to produce a modified version of the Windwagon in 1980.  The aircraft was later dubbed the Hummelbird, and plans for the aircraft were made available.  Hummel worked on other homebuilts and ultralights, later designing the UltraCruiser in 2002.  The aircraft can be seen easily transported in the bed of a pickup truck.