EAA AirVenture Spans The Spectrum

An F-35 Lightning II leads two P-51 Mustangs on a tail chase.

Pilots from different eras always find it fun to fly together.

Two of the world’s heaviest-hauling and most effective ground attack aircraft from different eras formate together. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is still operational in Afghanistan, and the Vietnam-era Douglas Skyraider also packed a fearsome punch.

The UPS Boeing 747-8F cargo plane dwarfed the central display area. To see how big it really is, note the B-29 bomber in its shadow.

An Air Force Reserve MAFFS-equipped C-130 (it stands for Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems) waterbombed a demo fire during this year’s EAA AirVenture. MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 ft wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes. The firefighting systems, located inside the aircraft, are owned by the U.S. Forest Service.

As if Oshkosh wasn’t wet enough this year, an amphibious Viking Air CL-215 firefighter bombed a blaze during a demo at AirVenture. Viking Air three years ago purchased Bombardier’s amphibious aircraft program including the CL-415, CL-215 and CL-215T versions and its variants of its water bombers. They represent the only western aircraft purpose-built for firefighting. Some 170 are in service around the world.

Crowds flocked to AirVenture this year; Monday was busier than usual as Oshkosh residents were offered free admission for the day as a ‘Thank you!’ gesture for hosting the 50^th consecutive fly-in at Wittman Airport.

The Canadian registration C-GOER on this (very fast!) Questair Venture leaves little doubt as to its performance. The U.S.-designed homebuilt was imported into Canada in 2014.

An EAA marshal looks down on a Sonex SubSonex jet flown by Bob Carlton.

Will this be a common sight in the Vintage display when today’s electric aircraft turn 50 years old?