Last Thursday we took about an hour and half drive over to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. We have heard so much about Oshkosh and the big air show they have there from family and many friends. We didn’t see much of the town of Oshkosh itself because we spent nearly all day at the EAA Aviation Museum. EAA stands for Experimental Aircraft Association.
The EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, WI, is dedicated to the preservation and display of historic and experimental aircraft as well as antiques, classics, and warbirds. It is located next to Wittman Regional Airport and the organization’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event that occurs every year at the end of July/early August. AirVenture is the world’s biggest fly-in and airshow.
My older sister, who has attended AirVenture several times with her husband, describes the event this way: “… there are 10,000 planes and 500,000 people, hundreds of venders and exhibits, a 1,000 workshops and learning sessions, and constant flight demonstrations and daily air shows.” That sounds pretty amazing for any aircraft enthusiast.
Our travel plans don’t allow us to attend AirVenture this year. Oh, well. Maybe some year in the near future. However, we thoroughly enjoyed touring museum and reading about all the aircrafts on display and the history of the EAA organization.
Here are some of the pictures that I took.
The museum has a great section called “KidVenture Gallery” for kids of ALL ages. Jack and I for sure had some fun in there … until some “real” kids came in! Then we had to act like “adults.”
Entrance to KidVenture.
I’ve always wanted to be a pilot!
Jack enjoyed the flight simulator. I was along for the ride in the Flight Engineer seat.
Well, Jack needs a little practice.
Oh, well. We crashed SEVERAL times.
Maybe he can do better flying the hot air balloon.
They had one very large room dedicated to World War II aircraft. The display features MANY examples of actual aircraft nose art (Google that if you need to learn more about nose art). Before you enter the room, there is a “Parental Warning” sign letting all those who enter know that some of the nose art might not be appropriate for smaller children. I’m sure parents of small children appreciated the warning. My photos show some of the nose art; some of the art is pretty risqué.
One whole wall of the WW II exhibit was an interactive map where you could press a button while you were reading about events that took place, and the location would light up on the wall map. The whole display was very interesting. It made me want to go back and do some more studying on WWII events.
You can see part of the interactive map of WW II on the wall in the background of this photo.
The interactive map is in the background of this picture also. Along that wall, under the map, are displays and information about different events where you push the button to light up the map.
The museum had a fantastic display of memorabilia, artifacts, and information about Charles Lindbergh’s flight to Paris.
There is just SO much to see and read about in this aircraft museum!
WHAT AIRCRAFT MUSEUM WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A DISPLAY ABOUT ORVILLE AND WILBUR WRIGHT!
If you are anywhere near Oshkosh, WI, it will be worth the drive and the small entry fee to visit the EAA Aviation Museum.
I hope you will stop by my blog again to see where our next adventure takes us.
So for now ….. “On the Road Again!”
Betty