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Vintage Aircraft Merchandise

Special coverage and favorable rates for Vintage Aircraft Association members.

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Nearly 8,000 members strong, the Vintage Aircraft Association brings together people from around the world who share an interest in the aircraft of yesterday. Since it was established in 1971, the association has been working to keep aviation history alive. Members are active restorers and enthusiasts working to keep vintage aircraft in the air and flying for the pleasure and education of themselves and the public at large.



Biplane Expo Finale Was Spectacular

Under three days of perfect blue skies and full moon cloudless evenings, “The Final Curtain” of The Biplane Expo’s extraordinarily successful run of 23 years of “Biplanes at Bartlesville” come to a standing ovation close on Saturday evening June 6, 2009.
The Grand Finale was easily one of the most outstanding of all the previous 22 Biplane Expos as the sport aviation community flew 115 biplanes, 241 other aircraft grassroots aircraft, and 10 high-profile flight demonstration Warbirds to Bartlesville to celebrate the historical significant and legacy of biplanes. Over 2000 people were in attendance on Friday, June 5 and over 4500 people were in attendance on Saturday 6. (Read more.) Click here to see more in the photo gallary.



Vintage Hangar Built Near VAA Red Barn

Practically since the beginning of the vintage aircraft movement, members of the Vintage Aircraft Association who have a particular interest in a specific airplane have flocked together during various venues on the EAA convention grounds. Whether during a forum or an informal dinner, to their mutual benefit, they’ve traded stories and maintenance tips about their favorite airplanes. Now they have an even better location to do just that: The Vintage Hangar. To read more about this fantastic addition to the VAA Grounds, make possible only through the generous donations of a few key VAA members as well as those who have contributed over the years to VAA’s Friends of the Red Barn campaign, click here to Read more.



VAA Work Weekends Make Great Progress on New Vintage Hangar

After major construction of the VAA’s Vintage Hangar was completed by MPB Builders of Ripon, Wisconsin, volunteers took over, framing the new administrative rooms and volunteer center.
Over two dozen volunteers converged on Oshkosh from hundreds of miles away to get the new facility ready in time for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. All spent time on various aspects of the construction project, and we can’t thank them enough. Many traveled over four states and spent a day in the car each way just to come help! (To download the picture click here.) To date most of the electrical service for the west end of the building is completed, and wall sheeting and ceiling panels were also installed in portions of the new area. The last 18 feet of the west end of the Vintage Hangar will include the VAA Volunteer Center kitchen, a pair of administrative offices, and the VAA Conference/Hospitality Room. For more information on the project and a slideshow, please click here. Over the next couple of months we’ll be sharing videos of some of the sights and sounds of the construction of the new Vintage Hangar like the one you see above, The VAA Hangar Project Part II. You can also view it and the earlier video in a larger window by visiting the EAA Video website here.



More Work Parties Coming Soon!

The new VAA Hangar is up, and there is much to do before EAA AirVenture 2009. If you have a talent for construction, you’re most welcome to join us for subsequent work party weekends. Here are some details on how we can accommodate your willingness to help!

We sure could benefit from your skills, talents and help. If you have any background in rough construction, finish work, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or would make a good supervisor, please come up and help us during any of our work weekends. Come for one day or all three days—it’s up to you. All we ask is that you check in with us via e-mail before you arrive so we can plan our work and resources.

We have living accommodations for volunteers and we will have great evening meals supplied by Chefs Steve Nesse (your regular host at VAA’s Tall Pines Café) and Bob Lumley. We will also supply lunch. Please let Archie James know (afjamesn46p@comcast.net) if and when you are coming so we can make arrangements for food and lodging.

Bring tools…hammers, drills, tape measures, etc.

The Work Weekends are:

June 26, 27, and 28 (Note these “new” dates)
Finish the cabinets in the Volunteer Center, finish the trim to the other offices, connect the outside electrical, and whatever else needs to be done.
Paint the outside of the building.
Complete the ceiling and wiring for the Conference Room.
Install fencing around the air conditioners protecting them from lawn mowers and to keep people from sitting on them.
Complete the electrical work in the exhibition area.
Install the outside lighting.
Revise the wiring in the Red Barn since we’ve changed from single phase 220V to 208V three phase.
Since we’ve been so busy on the Hangar, we haven’t had time to spend on the other buildings in the area. We need to inspect each area and give them some attention as well.

July 23, 24, 25
The weekend immediately prior to the convention, will be used for setup and cleanup before EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009.

See you there!
Mike Blombach, michael846@aol.com
Archie James, afjamesn46p@comcast.net
Bob Brauer, photopilot@aol.com



AirVenture 2008 VAA Awards

September 11, 2008 – Check out the list of award winners from past years’ AirVenture.



Flight Planning with Your Vintage Airplane

Prefer Grass Runways? Here’s some help.

As an EAA member (an important part of your VAA membership), you can use the EAA Flight Planner to chart your trips. To locate information to help you plan your flight just click on this link: http://www.eaa.org/pilots/

As an added bonus, we have a handy list (PDF) of airports that have both grass runways and fuel service, compiled by VAA member Kris Kortokrax. The list was updated in August of 2008.

Kris flies a variety of old biplanes that are more pleasant to fly when they are flown from grass strips, and he and his buddies from Shelbyville, Illinois, do their best to keep the old biplanes happy (and keep tire wear to a minimum) by flying cross-country from grass strip to grass strip. Finding fuel facilities can be a challenge these days, and Kris has distilled this airport information to be useful for like-minded grass-runway-preferring pilots. This data was current as of the beginning of the year, and we’d suggest calling ahead to confirm fuel availability and hours of operation. If you have any changes or additions, drop us an e-mail here at vintageaircraft@eaa.org and we’ll forward it to Kris.

Our thanks to Kris for sharing his list. Let us know if you find it useful!




AirVenture NOTAM


The EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009 NOTAM is now available for order or download. The free 32-page booklet is an absolute must if you're flying an aircraft to Oshkosh this year. It outlines all arrival/departure procedures, radio frequencies, Wittman Regional Airport details and much more. Although many of the procedures are similar to previous years, there are updates in nearly every area to enhance safety, efficiency and convenience for the thousands of airplanes expected at the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration. The EAA AirVenture NOTAM is required reading and should be part of a pilot's preflight preparation. The booklets are printed and will begin mailing in early May. Order your free copy today or download here. (approx. 3 MB PDF)

  EAA Aviation Center
  P.O. Box 3086
  Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086

www.vintageaircraft.org
Phone: 920.426.4800
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