It’s just about a month until the festivities begin in Oshkosh, Wis., at EAA AirVenture, and this week the first campsites will open for visitors. Some campers arrive early to reserve favorite spots or to volunteer for the show preparations. Many say that camping out amid thousands of other aviation enthusiasts is the best way to enjoy the show’s atmosphere and camaraderie. EAA has also this week posted online its schedule of almost 1,000 presentations, forums and workshops, in a new integrated format. “The new online schedule makes it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for, not just in the Forums Plaza, but all over the entire convention grounds,” said EAA staffer Mark Forss. Topics cover every aspect of aviation, from aerobatics to welding. One notable absence from the roster this year — for the first time since 1971, Burt Rutan will not be found presenting a forum at Oshkosh. “This year, he doesn’t have anything new that he can talk about so he has decided to not attend this year’s event,” Scaled Composites spokeswoman Trish Mills told AVweb on Wednesday. “Burt said to look for him next year — he will definitely have something to talk about!” EAA also announced this week its lineup for Aeroshell Square, where showplanes gather at the center of the event. The HondaJet and the Perlan glider will be among this year’s visitors, and EAA promises a few surprises as the week unfolds. AirVenture runs from July 23 to 29. AVweb will be there, bringing daily in-depth coverage, including podcasts and video news segments, to your PC, PDA, iPhone or other Internet-capable device.
