EAA Sport Aviation

Rescued Rarity:
Douglas DC-7B

A RESTORED AIRLINER FROM the 1950s will be on AeroShell Square
throughout EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The Historical Flight
Foundation’s (HFF) Douglas Aircraft DC-7B underwent a six-year
restoration.
The 60-seat airplane was acquired in 2004 after sitting idle
for 32 years, says HFF President Roger Jarman. “Its four [Wright
R-3350-30W] engines hadn’t run in some 15 years,” he said.

Of the 112 DC-7s produced, this particular airframe (N836D) is the only one surviving in passenger configuration. It was first operated by Eastern Air Lines and later by several flying clubs before being parked. It was acquired by Marc Wolff and Carlos Gomez in 2004, who donated it to the HFF.

The FAA granted the HFF an exemption to conduct “living
history flights,” and plans are to tour the continental United States
in coming years. The inaugural living history flight will be July 24 to
Oshkosh, with 35 HFF annual members on board.
NEWS FROM HQ

MEMBER CENTRAL

LIBERTY JUMP TEAM TO
“INVADE” AIRVENTURE

THE LIBERTY JUMP TEAM (LJT), formed in 2006 to commemorate the World War II D-day invasion, will make several static jumps from a C- 47, using military steerable round canopy parachutes. Team members are active duty, retired, or reserve U.S. and foreign military men and women. Countries represented on the LJT include the United States, France, Canada, England, Ireland, Holland, Germany, and Belgium.

Liberty Jump Team members make static jumps from C-47s, dressed in WWII-style uniforms. Photo from Liberty Jump Team

Like in WWII, the team uses vintage C-47s to perform their jumps; most of the aircraft saw duty overseas during WWII carrying U.S. paratroopers for the D-day landings. The group’s appearance at AirVenture 2010 is even more special, as EAA celebrates the 75th anniversary of the DC-3/C- 47.

For more information, visit www.LibertyJump Team.org.

WELCOME CENTER–DAILY BRIEFINGS,
HIGHLIGHTS, AND MORE

EAA’S WELCOME CENTER is at the center of AirVenture
action. Now a new Welcome Center Stage will have a
full slate of exciting presentations, including:
• Early Bird Briefing - 7: 15 a.m, providing schedule
updates, late-breaking EAA/AirVenture news, and more.

• AirVenture Insider - 8: 30 a.m. There’s a lot going
on at AirVenture, but there are definite must-do, must-
see, top-tips. This 30-minute presentation will help
you maximize your AirVenture experience.
• EAA Radio Live - 11 am. Watch EAA Radio
personnel interview the stars of the show including
Young Eagles co-chairmen Sully Sullenberger and Jeff
Skiles, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, and more.