FAA, Oshkosh AirVenture are natural partners

Last week, I reported that on July 17, the Lincoln Municipal Airport in Nebraska was the world's busiest airport. This week, that honor goes to Wittman Regional Airport, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, home of AirVenture 2010.

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) calls AirVenture, "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration," and they are not exaggerating: through this Sunday, more than 10,000 aircraft are expected.

Logging some simulator time with FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, a pilot since age 16. Photo Laurie Zaleski, FAA

Federal Aviation Administrator Randy Babbitt invited me to join him in Oshkosh yesterday, and I'm sure glad I did. AirVenture was phenomenal!

Together, we watched the famous air show--spectacular!--toured the grounds and saw the A4 Skyhawk, the F4 Phantom, a variety of light sport aircraft, and a restored Eastern Airlines DC 7B. We even saw a couple of electric-powered planes and a real-life flying car.

Special 75th anniversary fly-ins included DC-3's--the first aircraft to fly passengers coast-to-coast--and B-17's--the famed "Flying Fortress" of World War II. I particularly enjoyed the Warbirds area, where EAA honors our veterans with an amazing collection of military aircraft dating back to World War I.

Visiting the Warbirds. Photo Laurie Zaleski, FAA

Then, there was KidVenture, an area where young people can build model rockets or balsa planes and fly in a high-tech simulator. KidVenture also features engaging programs to get kids interested in flying, air traffic control and next generation technology. It was great to see the kids' excitement, and Randy and I spotted many future pilots and air traffic controllers in the crowd.

Our FAA is also an important part of AirVenture. Throughout the week, the agency will host dozens of forums on a variety of safety-related issues. There are topics on little-known facts about visual and instrument flight rules, mistakes that pilots make and subjects such as “The Engine Failure: A Survival Guide” and “Cloudy Skies/Clear Judgment.”

And the crowds are impressive. The hundred or so seats each forum holds are often packed to standing-room-only levels. Mike Adragna, a pilot who has been attending AirVenture--and the FAA safety forums--for 25 years, said:

“They used to have fans instead of air conditioning. It was even worth sitting in the heat. I think the forums are the most useful presentations at Oshkosh.”

That's right--a flying car! This is what EAA does best, cutting-edge experimentalism. Photo Laurie Zaleski, FAA

We met a lot of dedicated FAA employees who volunteer their time at Oshkosh to make AirVenture a success each year. One of those was Dr. Bill Johnson, the agency's chief scientific and technical advisor on human factors. It seems he's become something of a celebrity at Oshkosh over the years:

“Every time I walk into that hall, it’s almost full. A lot of people say to me, ‘I was here last year and I saw its value and that’s why I m back in this forum.’ It's useful to them, but it also shows why the FAA is so critical to this community--not just when something goes wrong, but to make sure things go right.”

We've still got it; Administrator Babbitt and I land the simulator safely! Photo Laurie Zaleski, FAA

Sharing the podium briefly with Administrator Babbitt at the "Meet the Administrator" session was another privilege for me. This is a guy who learned the ins and outs of aviation from the best teacher of all--hours and hours of experience in the cockpit. It was easy to see that the pilots in the audience appreciated the understanding he demonstrated when he said:

"This is aviation. This is the place for pilots to get together, to see new inventions, to learn and swap hangar talk. I look forward to coming here, as administrator or not."

Since I was a kid, I knew this day would come; sitting in a flying car. Photo Laurie Zaleski, FAA

So, if you're a General Aviation fan, Oshkosh is the place to be this week. General aviation is important--it's an economic engine in rural areas where commercial air service is lacking, and an important element of our national air system.

Just as Orville and Wilbur Wright pushed the limits of manned flight a century ago, EAA's members are today's aviation pioneers. And I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet many of them during my first visit to AirVenture as Secretary of Transportation.

Comments

[Caio]

Cool

[CTSIGlobal]

What an event! Thanks for sharing.

Do the wings fold out straight on the flying car? I'm guessing that they do, and that they are hinged to fold up for road use. When I first looked at the picture, I thought that they might flap! I'd love to see a picture or video of it in flight.

-- Marly @CTSIGlobal

[Robert]

I remember in my younger years going to the airshows that was over 40 years ago and today I still get that same feeling of awe from just watching. I have never been to Oshkosh but would love for that experience.
Luckily I am very close to the Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum the home of the Blue Angels.
If anyone is ever in this area I highly recommend it.
Mr. Babbitt looks like he's having fun with the flight sim.

[Michael E. Bailey]

This sounds like it was a great event. Two things that I thought really teriffic there were (1) the pilot safety trainings that were held because aircrews need to be on top of everything all the time they are in the planes and (2) the all electric powered planes. I hope electric or maybe even solar powered planes will be a reality someday. Sometimes when I am traveling I look out the plane window and one or two planes will go by going in the opposite direction and I see a stream of black jet exhuast behind each plane. The exhaust does not evaporate it forms tiny droplets and falls to the ground. So I look forward to the day when we have electric powered , or solar powered, or hydrogen powered planes. I wonder if the electric planes at the airshow were able to have their batteries recharged using solar power and how many flight miles they get before they have to land for a recharge. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Angie Slingluff]

Secretary LaHood, I am so glad you went to KidVenture at Oshkosh. Aviation Education is the heart of our future aviation transportation system. We need to get kids into the pipline now to meet the demand for future EXPERIENCED pilots. I'm not ready to travel in an airliner with a remote control pilot. Besides, aviation is a great way to hook kids into science, technology, engineering and math!

[Griz1959]

Hi, I am a first year member of EAA, I joined just to go to AirVenture, but will now become a lifetime member. I have never been to an event so profesionally done. The people were helpful and friendly words can not explain how awsome it was. The flying car is made by Terrafugia, they have a web page and are on Facebook, video of the first model flying as well as driving on the site, check it out. They prefer to call it an airplane that drives. My son is one of those future pilots, has been his dream since childhood,graduates high school next year then off to aviation collage. I'm sure he will get to know some FAA folk in the future, keep up the good work and our skies safe!! Rock your wings!!

[МДФ фасады]

What an event! Thanks for sharing.

Do the wings fold out straight on the flying car? I'm guessing that they do, and that they are hinged to fold up for road use. When I first looked at the picture, I thought that they might flap! I'd love to see a picture or video of it in flight.