EAA has made some exciting announcements recently regarding featured aircraft and performers at AirVenture 2015. Of course AirVenture is always packed with special things, but here are some of the biggest unveils of late.
USMC Harrier Demo
AirVenture will be getting some additional jet noise thanks to the inclusion of the US Marine Corps’ AV-8B Harrier demonstration. The vertical takeoff and landing jump jet will perform at just nine total events in 2015, so it is a rare treat and a change from 2014, when the Marines brought a CV-22 Osprey to perform in Oshkosh.
PB4Y-2 Privateer
Maybe the most exciting news, given its rarity, is that the world’s only flying PB4Y-2 Privateer, a naval patrol variant of the B-24 Liberator, will be appearing at AirVenture in 2015. The aircraft was supposed to make the trip from Arizona to Oshkosh last year, but engine trouble canceled the trip. However, 2014 did feature the B-24 Liberator “Diamond Lil”, one of only two flying B-24s left.
Avro Lancaster and B-25 Mitchell
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario has announced that their Avro Lancaster and B-25 Mitchell will be appearing at AirVenture this year. The Lancaster is the only one flying in North America, and one of only two in the world. The other is based in the UK. This is the Lancaster’s third appearance at AirVenture, following previous visits in 2006 and 2009.
The F-22 Raptor Returns
The USAF’s F-22 Raptor demo team will return to Oshkosh, but will be prevented from putting on a full display due to the limited aerobatic box. You may remember that several changes, such as pushing the crowd line back, had to be made last year in order for the USAF Thunderbirds to perform. The Raptor will instead perform a Heritage Flight with at least one warbird at AirVenture, although you can probably expect a ‘mini-demo’ of several non-aerobatic passes. It will be based in Milwaukee and fly its full demonstration routine for the Milwaukee Air and Water Show there. The appearance in Oshkosh will be a homecoming for Raptor demo pilot Captain John “Taboo” Cummings, who is a native of nearby Appleton, WI.
B-29 Superfortress “Fifi”
No stranger to AirVenture in the last few years, but a special guest nonetheless, the world’s only flying B-29 Superfortress “Fifi” will return to the show in 2015. Making this especially tantalizing is the possible appearance of what would be the second flying Superfortress, “Doc”. “Doc” is currently completing a lengthy restoration in Kansas and may be flying by the time AirVenture rolls around. Needless to say, getting the would-be only two flying B-29s in the world together would truly be amazing.
As you can see, there are a lot of special reasons to attend AirVenture in 2015!
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