June 16, 2010 - Rare vintage aircraft will be on hand to showcase the early years of flight at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2010 on July 26-August 1 at Wittman Regional Airport as part of “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.”

Among the pioneering aircraft present will be an original Hamilton H-47 Metalplane, plus replicas of a 1909 Bleriot XI, Avions Caudron C.460, and five warbirds from World War I as part of the week-long “Salute to Veterans” commemoration.

“As always at AirVenture, history will be on full display through vintage aircraft,” said Adam Smith, EAA vice president of membership.

The one-of-a-kind Hamilton H-47 Metalplane, recently purchased at auction by Seattle businessman Howard Wright III for $671,000, will appear at AirVenture as the only surviving airworthy version of the 29 ever manufactured. Built in 1929, this aircraft underwent a three-year restoration that finished in 1975 and features a Pratt & Whitney Hornet engine. It won the Reserve Grand Champion Antique award during that year’s EAA Fly-In, as well as other prestigious awards.

“It’s been 35 years since the Hamilton Metalplane was displayed in the Antique parking area during the EAA Convention, and we’re pleased that Mr. Wright has decided to share the airplane with AirVenture attendees before the airplane is moved to the northwestern United States,” said H.G. Frautschy, EAA Vintage Aircraft Association executive director. “The Hamilton will be parked in the vicinity of the VAA’s Red Barn headquarters, just south of Aeroshell Square.”

Attendees will also have the opportunity to see five World War I replicas, including four courtesy of Vintage Aero Flying Museum of Hudson, Colo. – a Fokker Dr.1 triplane, Fokker D.VII, Fokker D.VIII, and a 7/8-scale Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a. Additionally, a sampling of artifacts, including uniforms, decorations, and logbooks, from both sides of the war also will be displayed near AeroShell Square.

They will join the S.E.5a already in Oshkosh for AirVenture. Jack Kearby, who spent almost 12,000 hours over six years creating this replica, flew the famous World War I fighter from Tulsa, Okla., into EAA’s Pioneer Airport on May 27. The replica features some original parts, including a Vickers machine gun, landing gear wheel rims, windshield, and a WWI-era Hisso engine. EAA Airventure Oshkosh is The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration and EAA’s yearly membership convention.