The 19th annual Smithville Fly-In, held May 10, 2025, at Smithville-Crawford Municipal Airport (84R) in Texas was taken to a whole new level.
Airshows & Fly-Ins
Picture of the Day: Something old, something new
General Aviation News Photographer Megan Vande Voort captured this photo at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025, explaining: “The Boeing Stearman and 747 were on display together on the Boeing Plaza on opening day of AirVenture. Aviation has come a long way in a short amount of time.”
Picture of the Day: One and onlys
General Aviation News Photographer Greg Menton sent in this photo with a note: “The only Privateer currently flying frames a skywriter at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 on Monday, July 21. AirVenture prides itself in being an eclectic collection of one-and-onlys and firsts.”
Let’s appreciate the lineage of the big show
Air show season is amazing. It was then. It is now. We get to see, hear, touch, and emotionally resonate with some of the most remarkable machinery on the planet, managed by a collection of tremendously talented folks. And in some cases, we even get to ride along or take the controls ourselves.
Video: Oshkosh opening day
General Aviation News writer and photographer Frederick A. Johnsen is on site at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 and sent in this video of all the action on opening day.
Picture of the Day: Welcome to Oshkosh
General Aviation News Photographer Greg Menton sent in this photo with a note: “A bristling B-17G greeted early bird visitors to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 on Friday, July 18, as the warbirds area shaped up. The B-17, owned by the Experimental Aircraft Association, is an icon of the European air war during World War II.”
AirVenture pours $257 million into local economy
The benefit to the region and state is magnified as more than 70% of AirVenture’s visitors come from outside Wisconsin, bringing “new money” into the state and in some cases, into the U.S. overall as in 2024, visitors came from 94 countries, according to the study.
Fuel exhaustion ends flight to Oshkosh
Probable Cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning.
Flights of fun at the Cavalcade of Planes
“Aviation enthusiasts from all over Illinois gathered for an up-close look at a wide array of aircraft on display, with stationary exhibits of planes, a museum, vendors, and of course, a front row seat to see the takeoffs and landings,” the video reports.