EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023: IAC Vicki Cruse Educational Pavilion

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience continues our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, sponsored by Piston Aviation, and we have much more to come through the winter and spring. The annual International Council of Airshows is convening their annual convention next week in Las Vegas, so we thought it would be a good time to follow up our Introduction and Airshow Outtakes posts with this look at the Vicki Cruse Educational Pavilion near Boeing Plaza, the nexus of the daily activities on the grounds.

The Vicki Cruse Educational Pavilion was dedicated by the International Aerobatic Club (IAC) July 29, 2010 in honor of aerobatic pilot and IAC President Vicki Cruse who lost her life in an aircraft accident in 2009 while a member of the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team. During EAA AirVenture, the lobby area contains interesting exhibits and the IAC holds seminars daily.  A memorial stands outside of the front entrance, often adorned with flowers and messages. The IAC sponsors annual regional aerobatic contests, including the Giles Henderson Memorial Challenge, In Salem, IL, featured on The Aero Experience earlier this fall.

Below we feature the aircraft we encountered throughout the week, including those gathered there following the AirVenture Cup Race on the opening weekend. It was great to see our friend, David Adams, with his award-winning Long-EZ, Racer 83, among the aerobatic aircraft on display.