A number of iconic homebuilt aircraft designs will be celebrating notable anniversaries at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, which annually brings together the world’s largest gathering of amateur-built aircraft.
“Homebuilding has been at the core of EAA since the first meeting in Milwaukee in 1953 with homebuilt aircraft continuing to represent a substantial percentage of the 10,000-plus aircraft that fly into AirVenture every year,” said Charlie Becker, EAA’s homebuilt community manager. “As we celebrate our organization’s 70 years, several popular designs are celebrating their own anniversaries, and we invite all owners of those aircraft to come to Oshkosh to help commemorate the occasion.”
Among the aircraft designs reaching important anniversaries in 2023 are:
- Midget Mustang 75th anniversary: Single-seat aerobatic sport plane designed by David Long
- Wittman Tailwind 70th anniversary: A two-seat, high-wing monoplane designed by legendary designer and racer Steve Wittman
- Thorp T-18 60th anniversary: All-metal fully bubble canopied aircraft, known for being the first homebuilt aircraft to successfully circumnavigate the world
- Hiperbipe 50th anniversary: A two-seat aerobatic biplane designed by Sorrell Aviation
- Sonex 25th anniversary: A kit manufacturer based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and founded by EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame member John Monnett
- Van’s RV-10 20th anniversary: A four-seat, low-wing plane designed by Dick VanGrunsven, part of the world’s most popular series of homebuilt aircraft
Anniversary aircraft owners are encouraged to pre-register so they can receive updates on special events, parking, and other activities connected to their airplane type.
Pre-registration is available online. Anniversary aircraft will be featured throughout the week at Oshkosh in flying demonstrations, forums, displays, and other events.
The 70th edition of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s fly-in convention is July 24-30 at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Dad’s [donated] T-18 N455DT is hanging on the wall at the EAA museum.
https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1968-thorp-taylor-t-18—n455dt
The Wittman Tailwind was the first airplane of the EAB era to be certified to carry a passenger The Tailwind prototype was certified for testing on Jan 23, 1953. The first EAA meeting was held a couple weeks later.
In Dec 1953 Wittman performed the final certification flight test of the Tailwind with a CAA(FAA) official witnessing the test. The Tailwind was then approved to carry passengers.