EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016: EAA AirVenture Museum

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

While we await the next edition EAA AirVenture Oshkosh next summer, we can still make a winter visit to the EAA AirVenture Museum, a jewel of homebuilt aviation history housed in a beautiful, modern facility at Pioneer Airport.  Along with the main gallery featured here, there are other hangars with aircraft on display across the grounds.  Included in this feature are homebuilt aerobatic, racing and experimental aircraft, including record-breaking Rutan designs that have become aviation legends due in part to the advocacy efforts of the Experimental Aircraft Association.  We also met up with Dick Rutan following his presentation on his non-stop, around-the-world flight achieved in the Burt Rutan-designed Voyager aircraft in 1986. 



EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015: Exhibitors - Ready With Rotax and Rutan

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience coverage of Exhibitors at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 continues with the letter R  - Rotax and Rutan.  Here we include the popular Rotax engine maker and a salute to the legendary Burt Rutan.

Rotax Aircraft Engines

Rotax of Austria has been making engines since 1920, and over 175,000 aircraft engines have been manufactured since 1975.  The Rotax line of aircraft engines is used by over 200 aircraft manufacturers, producing significant power for its light weight and compact design.  The current 912 series of 100hp engines are the most popular.  Rotax offers worldwide service and support capability and a five-year/2000 hour warranty.

Burt Rutan Salute

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 honored the legendary Burt Rutan at various events throughout the week.  Burt Rutan, the designer of many iconic homebuilt aircraft designs including the VariEze, globe-circling Voyager and GlobalFlyer, Space Ship One and numerous unique experimental aircraft, participated in several public events with his brother and pilot Dick Rutan.  He was also presented with a special block of the airshow featuring aircraft of the Rutan heritage.  We feature the airshow fly-by presentation and some views of the panel discussions with Dick Rutan and Space Ship One pilot Mike Melvill.

Airshow Salute to Burt Rutan:

Rutan 72 Cruz:

Rutan 202 Boomerang:

Rutan LongEZ:

Scaled Composites Model 271 V-Jet:

Program with Burt Rutan, Dick Rutan and Mike Melvill (David Hartman emcee):

Program on the Voyager Flight with Burt Rutan and Dick Rutan in the Museum: