Biplanes and Triplanes to Fill Sky During World War I Aviation Centennial at AirVenture 2016

April 28, 2016 - Airplanes reaching back to the earliest days of military aircraft will be in the air and on the ground this summer, as the centennial of World War I aviation is a major part of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016, the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the 64th annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention, will be held July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The airplanes participating at the centennial celebration in Oshkosh will come from museums and collections throughout the U.S., and include vintage aircraft and replicas from such legendary names as Sopwith, Fokker, and Spad from the 1914-1918 era. Activities will include four flying demonstrations: Early mornings on Wednesday, July 27 and Saturday, July 30, and following the daily afternoon air show on Monday, July 25, and Thursday, July 28. The aircraft will also be on static display throughout the week near the Vintage Aircraft Association “Red Barn” headquarters.

“There are several outstanding museums and facilities throughout America that have some of these magnificent aircraft and full-size replicas that fly regularly, but it takes an event such as AirVenture to bring them together,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates features and attractions at AirVenture. “These activities are just another reason for aviation and history buffs to make the trip to Oshkosh this year for an unforgettable experience.”

Among the collections represented at Oshkosh will be the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome of Rhinebeck, New York, and Golden Age Air Museum in Bethel, Pennsylvania. Other collections are expected to add aircraft to the displays, which will be highlighted daily in the vintage aircraft area on the AirVenture grounds.

A special addition is a rare 1909 Curtiss Pusher aircraft from the Collings Foundation of Stow, Massachusetts, which has just been completed from a two-year restoration by Century Aviation in East Wenatchee, Washington. Along with the aircraft display, there will be giant-scale radio-controlled aircraft flights, a “living history” area with historical re-enactors, and forums and presentations throughout the week.

“Our goal is to create an event that will allow those at Oshkosh to see more than antique airplanes on the ground,” Larsen said. “We want people to feel and better understand the technology, dangers, and romance of the era that brought us such legendary aviation figures as Eddie Rickenbacker and the Red Baron.”