EAA Aviation Museum facts for kids
Front entrance
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| Former name | EAA AirVenture Museum |
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| Established | 1983 |
| Location | Oshkosh, Wisconsin |
| Type | Aviation museum |
| Collection size | ~200 aircraft |
| Owner | Experimental Aircraft Association |
| Nearest car park | On site (no charge) |
The EAA Aviation Museum is a cool place where you can see many old and special airplanes. It used to be called the EAA AirVenture Museum. This museum is in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in the United States. It's right next to Wittman Regional Airport.
The museum is home to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). This group also hosts the huge EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event there every summer. This event is the biggest fly-in and airshow in the world!
The museum has over 200 aircraft, both inside and outside. It also has many other exhibits and fun activities. Sometimes, you can even take a ride in an old airplane nearby. The EAA Aviation Museum is a top spot for tourists in Oshkosh. It's open all year, except for a few holidays.
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Discovering the Museum's History
The idea for the EAA Air Museum started in August 1958. It was proposed by Paul Poberezny, who founded the EAA. Later, his son, Tom Poberezny, helped make the current museum a reality.
The museum and its main office officially opened in 1983. In July 2022, the museum opened a new Education Center. This new building helps people learn even more about flying. It even has a Pilot Proficiency Center to help pilots practice their skills.
What You Can See: Amazing Aircraft and Exhibits
The museum has more than 200 aircraft on display. It also holds over 20,000 other items related to aviation. You can see planes that were important in history, like military aircraft. There are also planes that flying fans love, such as vintage, homebuilt, racing, and stunt planes.
Historic and Unique Aircraft
Some of the most interesting planes you can find include:
- A Curtiss Pusher
- A Bleriot XI
- A Curtiss Jenny
- A Pitcairn PCA-2 autogyro (a type of aircraft that looks like a helicopter but flies like a plane)
- A Sikorsky S-38 amphibian flying boat (it can land on water or land)
- The Taylor Aerocar flying car (yes, a car that can fly!)
You'll also see many "warbirds" (old military planes) and aircraft from the "Golden Age" of aviation.
Famous Replicas and Special Displays
The museum also features cool replicas of famous aircraft:
- A working copy of the Wright Flyer, the first successful airplane.
- A copy of Octave Chanute's hang glider, which came before the Wright Flyer.
- French and German fighter planes from World War I.
- A copy of Lindbergh's Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis" (this one was even flown in a movie!).
- A copy of the fast Laird Super Solution 1931 racer.
There's a big section about Burt Rutan's aircraft designs. You can see some of his homebuilt planes. There are also replicas of his Rutan Voyager, which flew around the world without stopping. Plus, you can see a replica of Space Ship One, the first private spacecraft.
Cool Homebuilt and Kit Planes
The museum has many aircraft that people built themselves. These include planes like the Church Midwing JC-1, the Funk B, and the Monnett Moni. Many of these were built by their original designers. Some famous homebuilt planes on display are:
- Van's Aircraft's Van's RV-3, designed by Richard VanGrunsven.
- Christen Industries' Christen Eagle II, designed by Frank Christensen.
- Cirrus Aircraft's first model, the Cirrus VK-30, designed by the Klapmeier brothers.
Pioneer Airport: Where Planes Take Flight
Pioneer Airport is an old grass airstrip right behind the museum. It's a special place where you can sometimes see planes taking off and landing.
Experience a Flight: Aircraft Rides
You can sometimes take rides in aircraft through different EAA programs. These rides happen at Pioneer Airport or the nearby Wittman Field. This is especially true during the AirVenture Fly-In and Airshow in the summer.
Flying in a Ford Tri-Motor
You might get to ride in a Ford Tri-Motor airliner from the 1920s or 1930s. These rides are sometimes offered at Wittman Field. There are even "Fall Colors Flights" where you can see the beautiful autumn leaves from the sky.
Soaring in a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
The EAA has a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress from the 1940s. This was a famous bomber from World War II. It's called the Aluminum Overcast. You can sometimes buy rides on this plane at Wittman Field when it's not traveling.
Taking a Helicopter Ride
Helicopter rides are also sometimes available. These are usually in Bell 47 helicopters, like the ones seen in the "MASH" TV show. You can find these rides at Pioneer Airport or Wittman Field.
Fun for Kids: The Children's Section
The museum has a special area just for kids! It has lots of hands-on exhibits and activities about aviation. Some cool things include:
- A half-size model of an F-22 Raptor fighter jet.
- Many flight simulators where you can pretend to fly a plane.
- A "control tower" where you can look out over Pioneer Airport.
Where to Find the Museum
The EAA Museum is located near the northwest side of Wittman Regional Airport. It's close to where Interstate 41 connects with Wisconsin state highways 44 and 91.
Gallery
The museum has over 200 aircraft on display and many other exhibits. Here are some of the museum's most notable aircraft.
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The Eagles Aerobatic Team aircraft, flown by Tom Poberezny, Charlie Hillard, and Gene Soucy. You can see it at the museum's entrance.
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Paul Poberezny's P-5 Pober Sport homebuilt aircraft in the "Founders' Wing" of the museum.
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Molt Taylor's Aerocar International I, a car that can fly!
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SpaceShipOne, the first private spacecraft.
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The Spirit of St. Louis, a famous plane that flew across the Atlantic.
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A replica of the Wright Flyer, the first successful airplane.
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See Also
- Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum
- List of aerospace museums
- Mitchell Gallery of Flight
- Young Eagles program
