Oshkosk og F-35

New F-35 fighter jet roars into Oshkosh for EAA

The military's long-awaited, years-in-development F-35 fighter jet will roar across the skies of Oshkosh this week in its first civilian U.S. air show appearance.

Military aircraft have long been a staple at EAA AirVenture, but this year visitors can see the brand-new F-35 Lightning II as well as rare World War II planes such as a Royal Air Force de Havilland Mosquito and a Canadian Lancaster bomber, which will take part in commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

"The F-35 has not been publicly shown at a civilian air show anywhere. It's a big coming out party" at Oshkosh, said EAA Chairman Jack Pelton.

Versions of the F-35 are planned for the Air Force, Marines and Navy; the plane coming to Oshkosh will be an F-35A based at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida with the Air Force's 33rd Fighter Wing. The F-35A will be used by the Air Force for conventional takeoffs and landings, while the Navy will fly the F-35C, which features larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear to withstand aircraft-carrier launches. Capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings, the F-35B will replace Marine AV-8B Harriers and F-18 Hornets and is designed for amphibious ships and airfields in support of Marine ground forces.

The F-35A is scheduled to arrive on Monday with flybys and static display throughout the week.

Also landing for the first time at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh: a B-52 bomber. Though the B-52 has flown over AirVenture in previous years, it's expected to land on the 150-foot-wide runway on Sunday and will be parked on the Boeing Plaza in the center of the sprawling convention.

Because the B-52 is 147 feet from wing tip to wing tip, "it will be a tight maneuver to get in and land. It's an enormous bomber," Pelton said, adding that a restored B-29 bomber will be positioned next to the B-52 on the ramp. "Two of the most prestigious bombers in history will be parked right next to each other."

Other aircraft scheduled to appear at AirVenture - aside from thousands of antique, amphibian, warbird and home-built planes - include an F-22 Raptor; the only flying Consolidated PB4Y-2 "Privateer"; the first appearance at AirVenture of an F-100F Super Sabre; the Goodyear blimp; an Airbus A350 test plane; and the new Perlan Project glider, built to explore Earth's upper atmosphere and ozone layer.

For the third year, an Honor Flight for 100 Vietnam veterans will take off from Oshkosh on Friday morning for a one-day trip to Washington, D.C., before returning to a heroes' welcome in the afternoon. Other highlights include a reunion of Apollo 13 astronauts and flight control officials including Jim Lovell and Gene Kranz, a salute to aviation design pioneer Burt Rutan and an attempt to break the world sky-diving record with 108 people.

EAA is in the third year of a seven-year contract with the Federal Aviation Administration to pay about $500,000 for travel expenses of flight controllers and supervisors who handle the takeoffs and landings of thousands of planes during AirVenture. Air traffic control operations are funded through aviation fuel taxes, but in 2013 during the federal sequestration, the FAA stunned AirVenture officials by demanding EAA pay for controllers to travel to Oshkosh.

If you go

What: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015

When: Monday through Sunday. Gates open at 7 a.m. each day. Exhibit buildings open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Air shows are held each afternoon. A night air show is scheduled to start about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday, followed by fireworks.

How much: Daily rates for non-EAA members are $45 for adults; $24 for students 6-18; and free for children 5 and younger. Parking is $10.