EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019: Boeing Plaza - U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Helicopters

The Aero Experience continues our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019, sponsored by Elite Aviation, with this look at U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force helicopters on display in Boeing Plaza. Most of the aircraft arrived on the Sunday before opening day and stayed throughout the week. Our first sequence features the arrival of the AH-64E Apache accompanied by a Blackhawk on Sunday afternoon. They landed near the warbird display area, and the Apache taxied for positioning in Boeing Plaza.

 

The IL Army National Guard Boeing CH-47F Chinook stood our for its size and twin-rotor design. This model is an upgrade from the CH-47D, incorporating structural improvements, digital cockpit, and uprated engines. Here we show the Sunday arrival and some views of the Chinook on display during the week.

This Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopter) UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopter from the NE Army National Guard arrived on Sunday before opening day and stayed until the closing Sunday. They have been more commonly seen in recently years as they replace the UH-1 Iroquois and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters in active, national guard and reserve units.

The U.S. Air Force brought one of their UH-1N Iroquois helicopters from the 54th Helicopter Squadron supporting the 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, ND. The aircraft are primarily used for personnel transport, security patrols and medevac missions. 

A Visit to St. Louis Downtown Airport

By Carmelo Turdo

The Midwest region relies on high-quality airports for its air transportation needs, and St. Louis Downtown Airport is the destination for many general aviation pilots and business travelers.  The airport is the closest one to downtown St. Louis, and so it becomes a beehive of activity when visitors arrive for events at the nearby Gateway Motorsports Park, baseball and hockey games, conventions and concerts.  The airport is also host to charter aircraft for visiting professional sports teams.  

Along with the daily and peak air traffic, St. Louis Downtown Airport is host to organic aviation assets.  The Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum is located in an historic 1929 Curtiss-Wright hangar on the west apron, and FBO Ideal Aviation is the museum's neighbor.  Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology (St. Louis University), founded in 1927 and the first federally certified school of aeronautics, maintains their flight training fleet at the airport.  Jet Aviation St. Louis provides maintenance, refurbishments and completions for business jets as well as FBO services on the north apron.  Flight training schools on the airport include Ideal Aviation, St. Louis Flight Training and Midwest Rotor.  Also based at the airport are Fostaire Helicopters, Helicopters, Inc., and Gateway Helicopter Tours.  Also during the summer, St. Louis Biplane Rides offers scenic flights in a 1941 Waco open cockpit biplane.          

Even on a gloomy winter day, there can be some interesting aircraft operating from the airport, including some military aircraft.  Here is one short period of traffic from Tuesday afternoon.