modern aviation

AirVenture is more than just an airshow. Billed as “The World’s Largest Aviation Celebration” by its host, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the event lives up to its name and has served as a hub of the general aviation community since its debut in 1953.

Despite the stunning scenes produced of aircraft in various stages of flight, many aspects of aviation in general and aerodynamics in particular often remain invisible to the naked eye.

The first production Boeing T-7A Red Hawk was delivered to the US Air Force on September 14, 2023. Intended to replace the aging Northrop T-38 Talon that first flew in 1959, the Red Hawk will provide a modern supersonic flight training platform for fighter and bomber pilots.

Every year, some of the nation’s best and brightest new pilots descend upon otherwise sleepy municipal airports to participate in intense flight competitions. These aren’t competitions involving daredevil stunts or high-speed passes with afterburners, and no spectators line up to enjoy the show. These are collegiate flight competitions in which aviation students harness their skills and strive to fly as precisely as possible in the name of safety. These schools act as important pipelines of talent for the program to the world of private aviation.