Itinerary: Oshkosh, Wisconsin 2009
AirVenture, Jul 26-30
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Sunday, July 26/Arrivals
Arrive at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by 2:00 pm to meet fellow MIT alumni for a private transfer to the Country Inn and Suites in Appleton, Wisconsin. After settling in to the hotel, meet fellow travelers and local MIT alumni for a welcome reception and dinner at the Machine Shed restaurant located across street from hotel. (Country Inn and Suites, Appleton R,D)
Monday July 27/ EAA AirVenture
After breakfast at our hotel, we make our way to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. Using the AirVenture's efficient shuttle service, our travel time between Appleton and OshKosh will bring us to the front gates of the AirVenture grounds and will take approximately 20 minutes.
As you arrive, the number of people, size of the site, and the rows and rows of magnificent aircraft are simply overwhelming. Upon arrival we are greeted by an MIT alumnus who sits on the Board of AirVenture for an orientation to familiarize us with AirVenture. Then board 6-passenger golf carts for a leisurely one and a half hour tour of the grounds, occasionally stopping along the way to view items of interest. Return to the MIT pavilion set up just for our group and for the local alumni members. Enjoy lunch and an afternoon of presentations with our fellow travelers and local alums who are visiting Oshkosh for the day. The featured speaker is MIT alum Carl Dietrich '99, SM '03, PhD '07. The air show begins mid-afternoon and the seats at the MIT pavilion provide the perfect vantage point.
In the late afternoon free time allows for individual pursuits to visit sites of interest. Travelers can opt to return to Appleton via the shuttle service, offered on the hour throughout the day, or stay at AirVenture for the evening festivities, including a Doobie Brothers concert. Dinner is on your own. (Country Inn and Suites, Appleton B/L)
Tuesday, July 28/EAA Airventure
We depart Appleton first thing in the morning on the shuttle service which takes us directly to the EAA AirVenture Museum and Pioneer Airport. Museum attractions include an impressive collection of more than 200 historic airplanes, art and photo galleries, flight simulators, gift shops and two "hands-on" interactive galleries. Pioneer Airport, an extension of the museum, is styled as an airport of the 1930s, displaying over 50 vintage airplanes in seven period hangers. Knowledgeable docents will lead our tour.
Late morning choose an optional excursion to take a 20 minute flight on the Ford Trimotor, a 1927 vintage aircraft (the cost for the flight option is $40 per person). The flight takes passengers over the AirVenture grounds, Lake Winnebago, and the surrounding area. Departure is limited to 10 people (if demand is great two departures will be arranged). Alternatively, go directly to the main grounds and plan your activities for later in the day.
An early afternoon lunch is included today and will
take place at the MIT chalet, a private air conditioned area built adjacent to
a semi trailer.*
Free time after the air show for individual pursuits. There are numerous workshops and forums as well as the incredible array of attractions to visit. More information about the workshops and forums will be announced by the Travel Program mid-Spring and pre-registration is available. There is no charge for most of these events.
This evening, dinner is on your own. You may opt to stay for the evening festivities. There are a few options: AirVenture's outdoor walk-in theater is reminiscent of the famous drive-in theaters of the past, complete with open-air seating and popcorn! Theatre in the Woods is another evening spot where the nightly lineup can include anything from astronauts to musicians, aviation legends, to EAA award winners. Nightly programs begin at approximately 7:30 pm (cost included with program). Return at your leisure to Appleton via the shuttle service. (Country Inn and Suites, Appleton B/L)
*For ultimate comfort and convenience during AirVenture, we have reserved a private MIT chalet for the MIT group much like the pavilion for our group on Monday. Comprised of a semi trailer and adjacent air conditioned meeting space, the chalet provides a private location for the MIT group to use throughout the day for lunch, rest time, and a meeting point. Complimentary snacks, soda, water, and rest rooms, are provided, as well as the services of an AirVenture staff person. Most importantly, the chalet provides premium air show viewing on the flight line for the afternoon show.
Wednesday, July 29/Milwaukee
Depart this morning for Milwaukee, a thriving, lake-front city made up of many different cultures and ethnicities, all culminating in a rich fabric of diverse traditions and ethnicities. Begin with a private tour of the Grohmann Museum at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, home to the world's most comprehensive art collection dedicated to the evolution of human work. The collection comprises more than 700 paintings and sculptures from 1580 to today, that document the evolution of organized work, from farming and mining to trades as glassblowing and seaweed gathering. We will be greeted by the museum's director followed by a private tour of the collection. Lunch will follow and then we'll continue to the Great Lakes WATER Institute, Center for Great Lakes Studies at the University of Wisconsin. The largest academic fresh water research facility on the Great Lakes, the WATER Institute promotes a broad spectrum of multidisciplinary, interactive aquatic and environmental research, education and outreach aimed at a thorough understanding of the Great Lakes. Our meeting will be hosted by MIT alumnus Russell Cuhel PhD '81. Dr. Cuhel is senior scientist at the WATER Institute. He will give us a tour of the labs and share information about his team's research.
We check into the hotel late afternoon and gather for a farewell dinner this evening at a local restaurant. (Milwaukee InterContinental B/L/D)
Thursday, July 30/Departures
After breakfast in our hotel, transfers to the Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport will be provided. (B)
The Silver Bracelet Story
One of our guest speakers will share a story that is 65 years in the making. It is the story of Jim Weiler's B-17 pilot graduation silver bracelet. The bracelet was lost in the plane wreckage after Jim was shot down in the worst loss of life by U.S. airmen in a combat mission over Czechoslovakia on August 29, 1944. The story traces the efforts to return Jim's bracelet from behind the iron curtain, the many lives that were touched along the way, and the history the process has gathered. We'll see new images of what it was like to be on that fateful combat mission and the efforts to remember the legacy of B-17 veterans today by villagers of a grateful Czech nation. The story finishes with two shot down fliers from opposite sides of the Aug. 29th battle shaking hands 63 years later as friends. Our guest speaker Todd Weiler is Jim Weiler's nephew. As a result of researching this story, Todd has been elected to Historian for the 2nd Bombardment Group of the B-17 veterans organization.
Accommodations
The Country Inn and Suites in Appleton, Wisconsin, is convenient to EAA AirVenture in nearby Oshkosh. A comfortable and well maintained hotel, the Country Inn and Suites amenities' include complimentary high-speed internet access, refrigerator and microwave in each room, fitness center and indoor swimming pool.
The InterContinental Hotel Milwaukee is located downtown along the Milwaukee Riverwalk, a vibrant stretch lined with parks, outdoor sculptures, restaurants and night life. With panoramic views of the downtown area, over-sized guest rooms feature sitting areas, spa showers in each bathroom, flat panel television, extended work area, mini-bar, bathrobes and slippers. The full service health and fitness center also features a steamroom and sauna, and is open 24 hours.
To reserve your space on this program, please call the MIT Alumni Travel Program at 800-992-6749 or email the Travel Program at compass@mit.edu.
