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Fly-Ins & Air ShowsFamily, Friends & Fantastic Flying Machines…EAA Celebrates 60th Fly-In ConventionDave WeimanDave WeimanEAA President & CEO Rod Hightower with his wife, Maura, and three of their four daughters, onopening day at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2012. Hightower stated that there would be a heavyemphasis on “family” at AirVenture 2012. Thursday night was “Disney Night” featuring the Disneyfilm “The Rocketeer” at the Ford Fly-In Theater, and a “Teen Party & Dance” in Theater In TheWoods.Dick “Van” VanGrunsven of Van’s Aircraft, Aurora, Oregon, lands and taxis up in RV-1 at EAAAirVenture 2012 before donating the aircraft to the EAA AirVenture Museum.20 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINEDick “Van” VanGrunsven of Van’s Aircraft,Aurora, Oregon, holds his granddaughterwhile addressing the crowd upon donatingRV-1 to the EAA Museum during AirVenture2012. VanGrunsven said that when he setout to design the RV aircraft, he wanted tomake an airplane that was “safe, enjoyableand affordable.” With thousands of the kitaircraft completed, and the RV-12 model nowavailable, he certainly accomplished his goal.“We need to promote more youth toget involved in aviation,” said VanGrunsven.Referring to some of the kit building projectsinvolving youth groups, VanGrunsven told thecrowd, “hopefully you are inspired to do thesame in your community.”EAA President Rod Hightower was onhand to accept the aircraft on behalf of themuseum.by Dave WeimanEAA President/CEO RodHightower set the tone for theweek to come, July 23 thru July29, 2012 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh,Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh,Wisconsin, with enthusiasm andconfidence for EAA’s 60th annual fly-inconvention.At a press conference on Monday,Hightower introduced his wife,Maura, and their five children, thentold reporters what to look forward toduring the week ahead.Dave Weiman