Complete with 1930's Style Pioneer Airport

The opening of EAA's spring flying season and the final days of a historic yearlong exhibit highlight a huge weekend of activities for visitors May 3-4 at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh (WI).

The museum's Pioneer Airport, a re-creation of a 1930s aerodrome complete with grass runway, opens for the new flying season May 3, with special programs and many vintage airplanes on display and in the air. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the aircraft, as well as participate in an ultimate interactive museum experience by purchasing a flight in one of these rare airplanes.

Spy The Spy Plane

Also on May 3, the U-2/Gary Powers exhibit, which has been a part of the AirVenture Museum for the past year, will mark its final day at EAA.  As part of the closing-day program, Francis Gary Powers Jr. - son of the American U-2 pilot shot down by the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960 and held as a spy for 21 months in the USSR - will be making a special presentation about the incident.

"This is absolutely an outstanding weekend for people to join us at the EAA AirVenture Museum," said Adam Smith, AirVenture Museum Director. "Such a lineup of activities as this is rare even by EAA standards, and to have all of this included in museum admission is an opportunity that should not be missed, because it will not be duplicated."

Pioneer Airport was established by EAA Founder and Chairman Paul Poberezny in 1984 as a working airport that harkens back to the barnstorming days of 1920s and '30s.  In 2003, a unique vintage airplane has been fully restored and added to Pioneer's flying fleet - a 1930 New Standard D-25 open-cockpit biplane nicknamed the "Canvas Cloud" for its capacity (pilot and up to four passengers) and docile flying characteristics.

During opening weekend, staff and volunteers at Pioneer Airport will be dressed in 1930s-style garments to enhance the "feel" of an early aerodrome.  Activities will include a re-creation of the "Pants Races" of the era, where pilots land their aircraft, change trousers and take off again, with the fastest time winning.  There will be a "Parade of Flight" on May 3-4 at 2 p.m., showcasing some of the grand aircraft of the era, as well as free Young Eagles demonstration flights for young people ages 8-17. Visitors may also purchase flights on the vintage aircraft (weather permitting).

Vintage Planes And Gary Powers' Son

A number of vintage aircraft pilots plan to bring their airplanes to the opening weekend festivities as well, including members of the Ercoupe Owners Club.

Powers will be making his presentation on Saturday, May 3 at 10 a.m. His program was well received when the U-2 exhibit opened at EAA in April 2002.  He has created the Cold War Museum in the Washington (DC) area to highlight the unique diplomatic and military history between the U.S. and Soviet Union for 40 years after World War II.  His presentation addresses many of the lingering mysteries surrounding the downing of his father's airplane in 1960 and the American and Soviet governments' roles in ensuing geopolitical struggle.

FMI: www.airventuremuseum.org