Mass arrivals are nothing new at AirVenture Oshkosh but this will be one for the history books. An organization called The Last Time is inviting DC-3 and C-47 operators to participate in a 25-ship formation to arrive at Wittman Field on the opening day of AirVenture 2010 next July 26. “This historic flight will recreate an image of a time gone by,” say the organizers. The huge formation will kick off a week of festivities celebrating the 75th anniversary of the legendary aircraft and the people who served with it in hundreds of different roles. It’s being announced today to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the first flight of the aircraft at the Douglas factory in Long Beach, Calif. EAA is hoping for dozens of DC-3s and C-47s to attend AirVenture but there are only 25 slots open for the formation flight and the funding assistance that goes with it.
Through sponsorships and donations, The Last Time is planning to offer cash subsidies to the operators of participating aircraft. The collected pot will be distributed based on the distance each aircraft has to travel to get to the event. The aircraft will meet at the staging point at Rock Falls, Ill. (KSQI) July 24, be available to the media and public on July 25 and start up their radial engines at 2:30 on July 26 for the one hour flight to Oshkosh.
