EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Highlights
The British Aerospace / McDonnell Douglas Harrier AV-8B, a Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (VTOL/STOVL) military fighter aircraft made appearances in 1986, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, and 2011.
Concorde made regular appearances during its scheduled operations, beginning in 1985 and also appearing in 1988, 1990, 1994 and 1998. The crews of the Concorde returned in 2009.
During their 1986 North-American tour, the Italian aerobatic display team Frecce Tricolori performed in Oshkosh. In 1987 Burt Rutan's Rutan Voyager, the first aircraft to fly around the world without refueling, made its final appearance before its record setting flight.
The F-117 Nighthawk "stealth fighter" appeared at the airshow in 1991, shortly after the Gulf War. The plane was roped off and the cockpit was concealed to hide sensitive equipment in its interior.
Among other unique airplanes that have recently appeared at Oshkosh were the Airbus "Beluga" in 2003, the F-22 Raptor in 2006, 2007, and 2008, the V-22 Osprey in 2008 and 2010, NASA's Super Guppy in 2000, the B-2 Spirit in 2007, the C-5 Galaxy in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012. Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter in 2008, Airbus A380 in 2009, and the Erickson Air-Crane in 2009 and 2010. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner also made an appearance in 2011
In 1994, a unique gathering at the event featured 15 of the 25 then-surviving Apollo astronauts, including the complete crews of Apollo 11 (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins) and Apollo 8 (Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders).
In 1997 (celebrating the 50th anniversary of an independent US Air Force), the SR-71 Blackbird performed a fly-over. This was supposed to be supersonic but due to a fuel leak, the aircraft made an emergency landing in Milwaukee. The first pass featured a simulated in-flight refuelling with a KC-135T from 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base.
Also featured in 1997, 2007, and 2008 was a Lockheed U-2 spy plane.
In 2003, the Wright Flyer was a highlight, and a replica designed to fly on the 100th Anniversary of the first flight was granted its flying certification by the Federal Aviation Administration during the show. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2 were unveiled there, and a physical Wright Flyer mock-up combined with Microsoft's software on a display in front of the pilot (a member of the attending public) was a popular attraction.
In 2005, SpaceShipOne made its only public appearance before being taken to the Smithsonian. Also flying at the show was GlobalFlyer, which had made its record around the world flight in the same year.
Read more about this topic: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh