AFA Alabama Attends World’s Largest Aviation Gathering in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
August 29, 2024 | By Ken Philippart
Members of Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) Alabama attended the world’s largest aviation gathering, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., July 22-28. This year set another attendance record with 687,000 people attending AirVenture throughout the week.
For the third consecutive year, Alabama State President Ken Philippart arranged for Alabama AFA members who would be attending AirVenture to get together for a group photo at the iconic brown arch. This year, AFA members Susan Mallett and guest Barbara Walters-Phillips, and Lisa and Ken Philippart gathered for the group picture.
Over 10,000 aircraft ranging from operational military aircraft, home-built aircraft, vintage warbirds, antique general aviation aircraft, ultralights, unmanned aerial vehicles, sea planes, and powered parachutes converged on Whitman Field for the annual celebration of all things aviation. Daily airshows included military flybys, aerobatics, vintage warbird formations, World War II reenactments, parachuting teams and highlighting Air Force Materiel Command capabilities.
An “only at Oshkosh” moment was a formation flight of a Canadian Avro Lancaster bomber with the only two flying B-29s in the world, Fifi and Doc. The Canadian Snowbirds performed in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Italian Fre Tricolori demonstration team also performed while the Air Force Thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels both made flybys during the week. Two evening airshows capped the event with aircraft equipped with LEDs and fireworks dispensers followed by a fireworks show culminating in AirVenture’s signature Wall of Fire fireball display.
A wide variety of presentations were given on topics ranging from the decision to drop the atomic bomb to recreating a flying replica of the Wright B flyer. Aviation legends such as Burt Rutan spoke during the week. AFA Alabama VP for Education and Civil Air Patrol Educational Outreach program coordinator Susan Mallet gave a presentation on the educational resources available through CAP and AFA.
AFA State members Lisa Philippart and Susan Mallett also participated in WomenVenture, the 17th annual celebration of female aviators and aviation enthusiasts at AirVenture. The luncheon this year commemorated women in rotary wing aviation. The featured speaker was Nicole Battjes, CEO of Rainbow Helicopters in Hawaii and Chair, Helicopter Association International. The traditional WomenVenture group photo on Boeing Plaza also was taken.
There is an abundance of activities at AirVenture, but AFA members still found time to meet for dinner and socialize with other aviation enthusiasts. The stories and passion for flight shared by this group made for an enjoyable evening befitting AirVenture’s moniker as an “aviation family reunion.”
State AFA members are already making plans to return next year. If you are one of them, please join us for the next AFA group picture. See you in Oshkosh!