EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018: Exhibitors - Around the Grounds and Major Attractions

By Fred Harl

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 exhibitors included a wide variety of aviation and related industry businesses, large and small. Some exhibits were fairly extravagant, while others were part of the large hangar exhibit areas we are sure to visit each year. We include here some of the larger exhibits, including the Brown Arch, Spirit of St. Louis replica at the EAA Museum, EAA Forums and Education Center, EAA Young Eagles, EAA Canada, EAA Museum jet fighter display and AOPA tent. We will continue with our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 exhibitors in the coming week.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017: Exhibitors - Aviation Industry and Educational Groups

By Fred Harl

Exhibitors at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017 included a number of aviation industry and educational groups from around the country. Their displays ranged from elaborate semi-permanent industrial tents and trailers to shared space in the large hangars and the Innovation Center. Of course, EAA and EAA Canada were represented in several large facilities around the grounds, as were AOPA and other industry advocacy groups. There were also representatives from university flight schools, including Parks College of St. Louis University, explaining their unique flight programs to a steady stream of visitors each day. We present here a small sample of those aviation industry and educational group exhibits.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016: Exhibitors - EAA and AOPA

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 hosted the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), another national aviation promotional group, along with several units of the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA).  Both organizations are strong advocates for general aviation and homebuilders, and we have included some of the highlights of the week's activities at the EAA and AOPA exhibits. 

The EAA Welcome and Member Centers were in prime locations near Boeing Centennial Plaza.  The weekend before opening day was a busy time for exhibit preparation, and the main walkway was painted in the now familiar blue and white EAA colors.

EAA staff and volunteers provided opportunities for visitors to practice the skills needed for building modern experimental aircraft.  Here we show a metalworking station where visitors practiced making precise angles and riveting aluminum strips into cookie-cutter shapes.  

 

EAA Canada had an exhibit not far away, with several Canadian-registered aircraft to draw our attention.  Visitors could attend forums and discuss working within Canadian aviation rules when flying within Canada as compared to U.S. operations. 

 

EAA's B-25H Mitchell Berlin Express was towed out for exhibit near the flightline during the week.  It appeared in the movie Catch-22 under the same name, and is undergoing restoration to flying status.

 

The annual EAA sweepstakes aircraft for 2016 was a Piper L-4J warbird.  The aircraft was less than 100 hours out of a restoration to prior war service factory condition.  

 

The AOPA had a significant exhibit near the Brown Arch monument.  Daily forums and educational programs were heavily attended during the week, and featured here is the morning program covering the private pilot medical reforms championed by AOPA and recently passed by Congress.  AOPA also hosted an autograph session with legendary Aerobatic pilot, Patty Wagstaff.