The heritage, innovation and technological advances of aviation in the U.S. over the past century will be part of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in convention. The 73rd edition of the weeklong event runs July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin – just weeks after July Fourth’s highly-anticipated 250th birthday of the United States.
“‘Celebrating the Freedom of Flight’ will focus on the unique role aviation has played in America’s progress since that first flight of the Wright brothers in 1903,” Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, said in a news release. “Be it innovations by individuals or colossal accomplishments by the nation’s companies and our military, America’s leadership role in the progress of flight has been a remarkable part of our nation’s history that we’ll celebrate at Oshkosh.”
That focus at AirVenture will cover the more than 120 years since the first flights at Kitty Hawk, starting with the “Pioneers of Flight” exhibits and program covering powered aviation’s first 25 years, to the latest fighter jets, unmanned aircraft and spaceflights that showcase cutting-edge technology. That theme will be represented on the main Boeing Plaza ramp and during daily air shows, as well as in evening programming at Theater in the Woods and at the Fly-In Theater.
In addition, individual areas at EAA AirVenture will feature unique aspects of America’s preeminent role in aviation. That includes the remarkable civilian aviation progress represented by the “Class of ’46” general aviation aircraft in the Vintage area and red, white and blue paint schemes on amateur-built aircraft on the grounds.
‘Pioneers of Flight’ brings early aircraft to AirVenture flightline
The “Pioneers of Flight” collection features original and reproduction aircraft from the first 25 years of flight that followed the Wright brothers’ initial success at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in December 1903. The group that will be based in AirVenture’s vintage aircraft area represents innovations by American and international designers.
“The earliest designs were conceived by individuals and appear fragile by today’s standards, but they accomplished many of the first milestones in flight,” said Larsen, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “The pace of innovations during aviation’s first quarter century is astonishing as one looks at where it started to where it was by the late 1920s.”
Among the original aircraft, reproductions and replicas initially confirmed for the display are:
- 1907 Demoiselle – Alberto Santos-Dumont design, replica built by Club Aéro des Garrigues in France
- 1909 Blériot XI – First aircraft design to successfully fly the English Channel
- 1915 Morane-Saulnier Type L – Replica WWI fighter built by Daher and Morane-Saulnier employees
- 1916 J-1 Standard – Restored to flying condition by EAA volunteers in 2013-14
- 1927 Swallow biplane – Early air mail biplane that still flies passengers at EAA’s Pioneer Airport
- 1927 Spirit of St. Louis – Reproduction built by EAA to flying condition to honor Charles Lindbergh
Photo credit: Connor Madison
More vintage aircraft are expected to join this lineup, including Wright B Flyer – a lookalike of a 1910 Wright brothers’ design – and Seattle II, a replica first flown in 2014 to commemorate the famed Douglas World Cruiser aircraft that made the first successful global circumnavigation flight in 1924.
Activities planned include forums hosted by EAA’s Vintage Aircraft Association, evening programs about aircraft of the era, engine run-ups and select aircraft demonstrations during the afternoon air shows.
EAA AirVenture 2025 saw a record-breaking total attendance of 704,000 from more than 90 countries, with more than 10,000 aircraft flying into Wittman Regional Airport. Visit eaa.org/airventure for information on attending or following the festivities from home. Source: eaa.org