EAA Sport Aviation

EAA’S BLERIOT XI MAKES FIRST FLIGHT

EAA’S REPRODUCTION OF A 1911 Type XI Bleriot flew for the first time on June 5—about 8-10 feet off the ground over the turf runway at EAA’s Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh. Tom Hegy, EAA 6849, was pilot in command of the oil-spitting, 1909 Anzani-powered airplane and flew the short hop to cap a test-flight program that began with some runs Saturday and earlier Sunday morning.

The project commemorates both Louis Bleriot’s first successful powered flight across the English Channel in July 1909 and this year’s 100th anniversary of the first air mail flight by Earle Ovington’s famous Queen’s Bleriot, on September 23, 1911. Look for the airplane in Oshkosh later this month in a special Air Mail Centennial exhibit, where demo engine runs will be performed throughout the week.

Pilot Tom Hegy gets EAA’s Bleriot XI reproduction airplane off the ground for a short hop at Pioneer Airport Sunday, June 5.

EXPLORE KIDVENTURE

WITH AN EXPANDED OFFERING of activities and new featured attractions, KidVenture at AirVenture 2011 promises to be the most exciting edition of the popular children’s attraction to date. Sponsored by United Technologies, KidVenture enters its 13th year in 2011.

Located at Pioneer Field across from the EAA AirVenture Museum, KidVenture allows young people to receive loggable flight instruction on a simulator, earn FAA credit toward an A&P certificate through hands-on building projects, learn how to fly a radio-controlled airplane, modify a P- 51 Mustang on a computer then find out how fast it flies, and even see what it’s like to land on Mars. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3: 30 p.m. daily during AirVenture ( 2 p.m. on closing day Sunday, July 31). Learn more about KidVenture 2011 at www.AirVenture.org.

CANARD CITY

EAA’S SPECIAL SALUTE TO BURT RUTAN at AirVenture 2011 will likely be the largest and most diverse gathering of Rutan-designed aircraft ever assembled. Expected to play prominent roles are several rarities in the EAA AirVenture Museum collection, a Beech Starship, Rutan’s Boomerang and Catbird designs, and perhaps a few surprises. A flying example of Rutan’s first full-scale design, the VariViggen is still being sought; EAA is eager to hear from anyone wanting to fly one to Oshkosh. (E-mail Rutan2011@eaa.org.)

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