Aerial Firefighting to Be Featured at AirVenture 2019

February 14, 2019 - Aerial firefighting will be a major theme at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019 with support from the U.S. Forest Service and other aircraft operators and manufacturers.

“EAA is pleased to have the opportunity to showcase aerial firefighting and most importantly to give our attendees the opportunity to better understand this important aspect of aviation and salute those that make it happen,” said Rick Larsen, EAA vice president of communities and member programs, who also coordinates AirVenture features and attractions.

EAA will be working with the U.S. Forest Service and other entities to bring various firefighting aircraft to AirVenture to allow visitors to see them up close.

“We have an opportunity to expose a broader audience to how our operations commence and the tremendous ability to showcase the firefighting pilot and the firefighter on the ground,” said Chad Runyan, north zone aviation officer for the Eastern Regional Office of the Forest Service. “Typically the only people that really understand what we’re doing are people actively in the fire because we have to close down airspaces and protect our area. The general public doesn’t really get to see these systems, how they all interact and how they all work, in a static setting.”

Exact details on firefighting aircraft scheduled to appear and other programming around the aerial firefighting theme will be released in the coming months.