New EAA AirVenture warbirds area opens

OSHKOSH - EAA AirVenture opened Monday with a special “Salute to Veterans” theme and some new upgrades to the warbirds area.

The massive aviation show is expected to bring in 500,000 people in its week at the Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

The historic warbirds are among AirVenture’s most popular attractions. A new area, Scotts Warbird Alley, which celebrates the planes opened Monday with a special ceremony.

“It’s preserving the airplanes and preserving the legacy of those who built them, flew them and maintained them,” EAA President Tom Poberezny said. “The future is based on the past and we want to recognize those who made it possible to live in a free world.”

Poberezny says Warbird Alley recognizes all who serve, members of the military and volunteers.

Warbird Alley improvements were funded by Jim Hagedorn, CEO of ScottsMiracle-Gro Company at a cost of around $500,000. 

They include a permanent veterans tribute, presentation platform and an expansion of the popular “Warbirds in Review” program.

The twice-daily review sessions spotlight historic aircraft and the veterans who flew them.

"It gives them a chance to come here and learn about them and that's what this whole "Warbird in Review" thing does," Hagedorn said.

Organizers say they hope Warbird Alley becomes a home for those who love the historic planes. They also say the opening is extra special because of this year’s “Salute to Veterans” theme.

“It’s nice to see people taking the time to keep the aircraft running and flying and then letting people ride in them so they’ve got something to remember,” Captain Gus Leon Jr., with the U.S. Air Force said.

Visitors to AirVenture will have the opportunity to view more than 400 warbirds, on the ground and in the sky.