Warbird Information Exchange

from the EAA today 2025-04-28 .......................
The aviation innovation and technology of the Korean War era, which this year marks 75 years since its beginning, will be highlighted at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 on July 21-27. The 72nd edition of EAA’s fly-in convention will be held at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The aircraft on display will showcase the transition from piston-powered aircraft to fighter jets, and will be included in air show demonstrations and on display in Boeing Plaza and in the Warbirds area.

“While legendary World War II aircraft such as the Corsair and P-51 Mustang still were widely flown at the start of the Korean War in 1950, a new age of jets rapidly came to the front lines during that time,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “It marked a permanent change in aviation technology that will be prominent at Oshkosh this year.”

Among the Korean War-era piston-powered aircraft already committed are the Corsair, P-51 Mustang, B-29 Stratofortress, AD-4 and AD-5W Skyraiders, PB4Y, and L-5. Jet aircraft committed to AirVenture include the P-80, F-84, MiG-15, MiG-17, and F-86 Sabre. This year also marks the 85th anniversary of the Corsair, the 80th anniversary of the A-1 Skyraider, and the 75th anniversary of the MiG-17.

from the EAA today 2025-04-28 .......................
The aviation innovation and technology of the Korean War era, which this year marks 75 years since its beginning, will be highlighted at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 on July 21-27. The 72nd edition of EAA’s fly-in convention will be held at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The aircraft on display will showcase the transition from piston-powered aircraft to fighter jets, and will be included in air show demonstrations and on display in Boeing Plaza and in the Warbirds area.

“While legendary World War II aircraft such as the Corsair and P-51 Mustang still were widely flown at the start of the Korean War in 1950, a new age of jets rapidly came to the front lines during that time,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “It marked a permanent change in aviation technology that will be prominent at Oshkosh this year.”

Among the Korean War-era piston-powered aircraft already committed are the Corsair, P-51 Mustang, B-29 Stratofortress, AD-4 and AD-5W Skyraiders, PB4Y, and L-5. Jet aircraft committed to AirVenture include the P-80, F-84, MiG-15, MiG-17, and F-86 Sabre. This year also marks the 85th anniversary of the Corsair, the 80th anniversary of the A-1 Skyraider, and the 75th anniversary of the MiG-17.

Surely they're talking about static EAA Museum examples, rather than flying examples? Seems like that would be much bigger news and I haven't seen anything to that effect, or did I somehow just miss such momentous events?

The tentative schedule for Warbirds in Review 2025 has been shared on Facebook and other social media sites. There is some really fantastic subject matter planned, with some great aircraft and speakers. Note that the list of aircraft includes the debuts of a number of new restorations; Rod Lewis' PTO combat-vet Alex Vraciu/VF-6 F6F Hellcat, which was just completed by Ezell Aviation late last year, the FHCAM/Steuart Walton PTO/8th FG combat-vet P-38J 'Jandina III', which is very near completion at Ezell Aviation, Butch Schroeder's Aleutians/343rd FG combat-vet P-40K, which he has been restoring to fully stock over the past several years (and with a killer new paint scheme that's accurate to how the aircraft looked in WWII, and which hasn't been done before), and Mark Timken's ETO/20th FG combat-vet P-51D with the late "piano keys" markings (teamed with 20th FG vet Joe Peterburs), which is very near completion at Midwest Aero.

Outstanding lineup for 2025 Warbirds in Review!

I created a short video on my top ten tips for Camp Scholler / AirVenture https://youtu.be/zwTC5GnqebU?si=nZm67QG7WZcWhfzk

As I also posted in the "Warbirds Numbers" thread, Butch Schroeder's fantastic P-40K Warhawk 42-9733 (N9733) has just been test flown following a seven-year project to return the aircraft to its full original wartime configuration and paint scheme (it looks incredible!). I've added this news to this thread as it is scheduled to be at Oshkosh next month and will also take part in the EAA Warbirds in Review program.

I have a question about the airshow schedule for anyone with inside knowledge. There is an entry for Wednesday's show called "Showcase: WWII Parade - Various." I have not seen something with this name at an Airventure show before. Is this intended to be a "one of each type" parade of selected aircraft similar to the usual Vintage showcase, which is set for Thursday? If so, will it include the fast movers or is it going to be an L-bird and primary trainer showcase?

August

The only thing I've heard on this so far is that there is going to be a mass run-up of 20-ish aircraft in front of the crowd. I'm hoping that precedes a mass flyover or series of passes, but I haven't heard anything on the flying aspect of the parade or what types of aircraft will be included.

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Matt

On the webinar last night they said fighters on the taxiway, bombers on the runway. The Me-262 and a couple of P-51s would be flying over the parade.

Well, that doesn't sound too awful. For shutterbugs, the chance to get shots of some of those planes in the clear and running, even if they don't fly, will be welcome.

Strikes me this year we could have the most complete roster of WWII American warbirds in quite some years. Depending on the breaks, we could have all the major US Army fighters (P-38 P-40 P-47 P-51), all the Navy fighters (Corsair, cats), all the Navy bombers (TBM, SBD, SB2C) of which there are flying examples left. Not much word of non-US types other than the 262, but I guess the Brit/Canadian fans got their fix last year.

August