EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016: The Classic Mechanix Illustrated Corbin Baby Ace

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience takes a short diversion from our coverage of community airport events this month with a look back on the appearance of the classic "Mechanix Illustrated" Corbin Baby Ace at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016.  This is an award-winning replica of the Baby Ace Model C built in 1955 by EAA's Paul Poberezny and featured in a three-part series in "Mechanix Illustrated" magazine.  Many credit the article and the founding of the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1953 for re-energizing the homebuilt, or experimental, aircraft movement. 

The beautifully simple aircraft was flown in the opening of Monday's airshow in salute to Paul Poberezny:

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014: The EAA AirVenture Museum

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

Part of the EAA AirVenture experience is a visit to the EAA AirVenture Museum, a jewel of homebuilt aviation history housed in a beautiful, modern facility at nearby Pioneer Airport.  Along with the main gallery featured here, there are other hangars with aircraft on display across the grounds near KidVenture and the helicopter ride staging area.  Included in this feature are the 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.