The A380 Will Kick Off July 28 Air Show, Stay Through
Friday
If you thought last year's Oshkosh arrival of the Boeing
747-derived "Dreamlifter" was huge... just wait. The Experimental
Aircraft Association announced Wednesday the Airbus A380 superjumbo
will arrive and perform a flight demonstration to kick off the
Tuesday, July 28 air show at AirVenture 2009.
After commanding the stage through the remainder of the week on
AeroShell Square, AirVenture's main aircraft showcase area, it will
open the air show again on Friday, July 31 with a flight
demonstration before its departure. This will be the first public
exhibition of the massive superjumbo at a North American aviation
event.
"I'm pleased that Airbus chose EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as its
first occasion in North America to provide an up-close and personal
look at the A380," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture
chairman. "The aircraft will stand out among the impressive lineup
of features and attractions coming this year. The A380 represents
an amazing feat of aircraft design, engineering, and construction
... and it will hold the distinction of being the largest passenger
aircraft ever to have filled our sky and rolled onto our ramp," he
said.
"The Airbus team is very grateful to EAA for hosting the A380
this summer," said Airbus Americas Chairman T. Allan McArtor. "We
have been looking forward to bringing the aircraft to AirVenture,
where the innovative accomplishments of global aviation take the
spotlight. It makes perfect sense for the A380 to be featured at
Oshkosh - not only because it is the largest passenger aircraft in
history, but also because the remarkable A380 would not have been
possible without the considerable support of our airline- and
supplier-partners from around the world who worked with us over
many years to make the aircraft a reality."
The A380's visit marks the second time this decade Airbus has
brought a crowd-pleasing aircraft to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. In
2003, the Airbus A300-600ST (known as the "Beluga") made an
appearance in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Wright
Brothers' first flight.
"AirVenture Oshkosh celebrates aviation's pioneering spirit and
the various demonstrations of that spirit, large and small. With
the A380 coming, I'd say we have the 'large' base covered this
year," Poberezny said.
EAA officials say they're in talks with Airbus personnel
to "tell their story" at AirVenture. Announcements of details
will follow. Additionally, Airbus officials will be on hand
with the A380 as it stands on AeroShell Square, to answer questions
and to point out noteworthy features.