EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018: Vintage Aircraft - Introduction

The Aero Experience

By Fred Harl 

coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 continues with a look at the Vintage Aircraft Area and the vintage aircraft we encountered around the grounds. Our "definition" of the vintage aircraft may a bit more flexible than most, to include aircraft originating from the earliest years of aviation to about the World War II period, including some crossover into Warbird types when in civilian markings. However you define them, Vintage Aircraft are aeronautical treasures to be enjoyed for as long as possible. This introductory post includes some views of the first weekend setup of the Vintage Aircraft Area and arrivals. 

1929 Curtiss-Wright Hangars in St. Louis: A Current Survey

By Carmelo Turdo

1929 Curtiss-Wright hangars were once scattered about the U.S. at most major airports where Curtiss-Wright did business. With time and aviation industry consolidation taking their toll on nearly all of these facilities, only a few remain in any condition.  We in the St. Louis area are very fortunate to have TWO of these magnificent historic landmarks not only still standing, but occupied by viable entities at St. Louis Downtown Airport. The Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum is located in Hangar 2. Two other Curtiss-Wright hangars exist, one in South Carolina that has been converted into a bar and restaurant and another in "storage" in Oklahoma, planned for rebuilding at Wiley Post Airport at a later date. Restorations of these hangars will cost millions of dollars, and the time is coming when they will no longer be serviceable without full restoration. Curtiss-Wright Hangars 1 and 2 are pictured below.