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Aviation in Wisconsin

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Commercial – primary
  
8

General aviation
  
74

Military and other airports
  
1

Commercial – non-primary
  
6

Other public-use airports
  
45

Aviation in Wisconsin

Aviation in Wisconsin refers to the aviation industry of the American Midwestern state of Wisconsin.

Contents

Wisconsin's first aeronautical event was a flight of a Curtiss aircraft by Arthur Pratt Warner on November 2, 1909 in Beloit.

Events

  • 1953 - The Experimental Aircraft Association is founded in Hales Corners.
  • 1962, September 6 - Korabl-Sputnik 1 re-enters and imbeds itself into a street in Manitowoc.
  • 1970 - The Experimental Aircraft Association moves its airshow to Oshkosh. The airshow has grown to become the largest annual airshow in the United States.

    • Aircraft Manufacturers

  • American Champion, Rochester 1980 – present, Builds modern variations of the Aeronca Champion.
  • Basler Turbo Conversions, Oshkosh 1957 – present, manufactures Basler BT-67s by retrofitting Douglas DC-3 aircraft with Turboprop engines.
  • Champion Aircraft, Osceola 1954 − present, acquired by AviaBellanca Aircraft Corporation in 1970.
  • Hamilton Manufacturing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1918 – 1929 Maker of propellers.
  • Hamilton Metalplane Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin − 1927 Sold to Boeing, maker of the Hamilton Metalplane.
  • Sonex Aircraft, Oshkosh, Homebuilt kit designs and kits. Manafacutres the Sonex series of aircraft.

    • Aerospace

  • DeltaHawk Engines, Inc. in Racine, Wisconsin develops heavy fuel light aircraft engines.
  • United Gear and Assembly Inc, is Headquartered in Hudson. Producer of airspeed gauges.

    • Airports

  • List of airports in Wisconsin

    • Commercial Service

  • General Mitchell International Airport provides air service with 50,684 Operations yearly.
  • Air Wisconsin, 1965 – present. Operates as a regional airline under the name United Express.
  • Kohler Aviation, 1929–1934. Operated Loening C-2 amphibious aircraft between Milwaukee and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    • People

  • Richard Bong, highest-scoring air ace during WWII, was born in Superior.
  • Klapmeier brothers, founders of Cirrus Aircraft, started their careers in Baraboo.
  • Billy Mitchell, a major general who is regarded as the father of the United States Air Force, grew up in West Allis.
  • Paul Poberezny, founder of the EAA and the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow, resided in Hales Corners and Oshkosh.
  • Tom Poberezny, former aerobatic world champion and president of the EAA, resided in Hales Corners and Oshkosh.
  • Robert Campbell Reeve, founder of Reeve Aleutian Airways, was born in Waunakee.

    • Organizations

  • Experimental Aircraft Association – is headquartered in Oshkosh.
  • Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame.

    • Government and Military

  • All flight operations in Wisconsin are conducted within FAA oversight.
  • The Wisconsin Department of Transportation manages taxes and state regulations for Wisconsin.
  • The Wisconsin Air National Guard includes the 115th Fighter Wing, based out of Dane County Regional Airport.
  • The Wisconsin State Patrol operates 4 Cessna 172 aircraft.
  • The Law Enforcement Aviation Coalition, Inc. is a multi-state law enforcement equipment sharing service that has a Bell OH-58 Kiowa operating at a base in Kenosha

    • Museums

  • EAA AirVenture Museum Oshkosh.
  • Fortaleza Hall, Racine, Wisconsin. A Frank Lloyd Wright style building housing the SC Johnson Sikorsky S-38 The Spirit of Carnauba.
  • Mitchell Gallery of Flight at the General Mitchell International Airport
  • Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior, Wisconsin

    • References

    Aviation in Wisconsin Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA