Owners of all RV types are invited to join the activities at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022 when the 50th anniversary of Van’s Aircraft is celebrated at the big show.
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the 69th edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention, is July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.
“While aircraft kits have existed for more than a century, it was 50 years ago that Richard VanGrunsven introduced a model that would move the homebuilt movement into an age where kit aircraft would become dominant,” said Charlie Becker, EAA’s director of chapters and homebuilt community manager. “Today, more than 11,000 completed RV models are the direct descendants of that first RV-3 in 1972. We invite all of them to be present at Oshkosh as we celebrate a half-century of success.”
A number of special events are planned as part of the 50-year celebration, including:
- Special Van’s RV parking areas in the homebuilt aircraft area
- Multiple forums and workshops focused on RV aircraft throughout the week
- RV aircraft flying during the AirVenture air shows
- A July 25 evening program at Theater in the Woods with VanGrunsven, highlighting the history of the company that began as a backyard shop in Oregon
VanGrunsven began Van’s Aircraft with a clean design, then selling plans and a few parts he manufactured himself for those aircraft. Soon the company began manufacturing complete airplane kits and introducing new models that after 50 years now include the latest design, the RV-14. More than 400 kits each year are shipped to builders around the world from the Van’s factory in Aurora, Oregon.
Van’s RV aircraft owners are encouraged to pre-register for the designated aircraft parking area at EAA.org/AircraftAnniversaries.