EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh has made its return after its cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to new aircraft debuts and old favorites, this year’s show features a variety of humanitarian and special mission aircraft.
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Dwarfing the rest of the aircraft at the show was a UPS Boeing 747-8, which has a hinged nose section that flips up to allow transport of extra large or long cargo and freight. UPS says it delivered more than 400 million COVID-19 vaccines and 30 million tons of personal protective equipment for health care workers using aircraft like this during the pandemic.
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This Douglas DC-8 operated by humanitarian organization Samaritan’s Purse is used to deliver food, medicine and supplies to aid victims of war, natural disasters and other emergencies. It can carry up to 84,000 lb. of cargo and 32 passengers. In 2020 it delivered medical relief supplies to Italy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and it also made humanitarian trips to Armenia, Honduras and Lebanon.
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Textron offers special mission interiors for the Cessna Caravan, including multiple medical system options. At EAA AirVenture it is displaying a medical mission aircraft featuring an EpiShuttle single-patient isolation and transport unit.
Credit: Lindsay Bjerregaard/AWST
Cessna Caravan
Credit: Lindsay Bjerregaard/AWST
The Cessna Caravan can also be used for cargo. FedEx is displaying a Cessna 208B Caravan used to carry up to 3,400 lb. of cargo. It operates 243 of the aircraft type.
Credit: Lindsay Bjerregaard/AWST
The most high-tech humanitarian aircraft on display is the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, an MD-10 that delivers sight-saving surgeries and ophthalmology training to middle- and low-income countries. Read more on how the inside of the aircraft has been converted to a fully-functional eye hospital and classroom.
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This year’s EAA AirVenture also features military aircraft used for medical and humanitarian missions. Pictured here is a U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 that has Negatively Pressurized CONEX, which filters contaminated air with clean air to prevent the spread of disease and contamination.
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One of the other military aircraft on display is a German Luftwaffe Airbus A400M turboprop military transport aircraft.
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Also on display at Boeing Plaza is a Louisiana Bayou Militia F-15C Eagle twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft.
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Nearby the A400M and F-15C is this U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
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Fierce looking paint jobs on a row of Curtiss P-40 Warhawks in the Warbirds section.
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Colorful paint jobs lined up in the Vintage Showplane area. The Vintage Aircraft Association is celebrating its 50th anniversary at EAA AirVenture this year.
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Volocopter has its VoloCity two-seat electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft on display. It recently gained production organization approval from EASA and it plans to begin air taxi service with the eVTOL in 2023.
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Cirrus is displaying its recently unveiled G2+ Vision Jet, which features optimized engine performance, GoGo Inflight Wi-Fi and new color options.
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German OEM AutoGyro is displaying its two-seat Cavalon gyrocopter, which features gull-wing doors and a Rotax 915 IS engine.
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A United Express Bombardier CRJ200 operated by Air Wisconsin Airlines. According to Aviation Week Fleet & MRO Forecasts, the airline currently operates 53 of the regional aircraft type.
Credit: Molly McMillin/Aviation Week
Goodyear’s Wingfoot Three Blimp is performing flights over EAA AirVenture this year. Goodyear has made airship appearances at the fly-in convention since 1971.
A look at interesting aircraft spotted at EAA AirVenture, ranging from special mission and military aircraft to business jets and eVTOLs.
