A faithful replica of the Vickers Vimy, which has completed re-creations of historic journeys from England to Australia and South Africa, will participate in EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2000. The 48th annual event will be held at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh on July 26 - August 1.

The Vickers Vimy replica was built in the mid-1990 to salute the original aircraft, which was designed as a World War I bomber but arrived too late to be part of the war. Instead, it became the airplane that opened air travel between continents. The Vickers Vimy replica has retraced several of those pioneering flights, most recently the 10,000-mile odyssey from England to Cape Town, South Africa. That flight was chronicled in the May 2000 issue of national Geographic Magazine.

"We are very much looking forward to welcoming the Vickers Vimy to EAA AirVenture", said EAA President and AirVenture Chairman Tom Poberezny. "This replica represents the spirit of the erly aviators and today's builders, pilots and dreamers. The airplane embodies the courage of those who originally attempted a task that no one had tried before, as well as those who still find the call of adventure irresistible".

The aviation contributions of the original Vickers Vimy are often overlooked, but the airplane made three of the most significant flights in aviation history. In 1919, John Alcock and Arthur Whitten-Brown crossed the Atlantic from North America to Ireland. Later that year, brothers Ross and Keith Smith took 28 days to fly from England to Australia in a Vimy. In 1920, South Africans Pierre Van Ryneveld and Quintin Brand flew a Vimy from London to Cape Town, South Africa.

Owned by EAA member Peter McMillan of California, the replica Vimy, named the Silver Queen, is supported by the Vimy Aircraft Project and has recreated two of the original airplane's three historic flights. The first flight, retracing the route from England to Australia, was the cover story of the May 1995 Nationl Geographic. The second flight, retracing the Vimy's 1920 flight from England to Cape Town, South Africa, is featured in the May 2000 National Geographic. The Vimy Aircraft Project hopes to recreate the airplane's third historic flight, the first crossing of the Atlantic, by 2003.

"This unusual flying machine has brought the spirit of adventure and exploration to millions around the world", McMillan said. "As EAA members, we're pleased to finally be able to bring the world's biggest homebuilt to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh prior to its next big adventure - flying across the Atlantic".

The replica Vimy has a wingspan of 68 feet, making it the world's largest airworthy biplane. The engineer were converted from auto engines by BMW, specially designed to fit within the airplane's distinctive elliptical cowlings. The aircraft cruises at 75 miles an hour, making long-distance flying extremely demanding on both machine and crew.

The Vimy will participate in a number of events throughout the US before it arrives at AirVenture. The events will be centered on the Vimy and focused on the historical significance of the early Vimy flights. To learn more about the Silver Queen, its history, and its schedule, visit the Vimy Aircraft Project's website at

www.vimy.org

EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH is the world's premier aviation event and EAA's yearly membership convention, with an annual attendance of more than 750,000 along with 12,000 airplanes. Annual EAA members receive substantial discounts on admission rates. Fore more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or

www.eaa.org

EAA AirVenture information is also available through the World Wide Web at

www.airventure.org

Murphy Aircraft has recently sent the first set of their fully assembled amphibious floats to a customer in Ontario, Canada. The floats will be put on a Murphy Rebel saving approximately 500 hours of assembly time. "Murphy's floats have always been popular, but some people just don't have the time or the desire to assemble them. Our floats are available in both 1500 and 1800 pound buoyancy", commented Dave Walker, Marketing Manager. The wheels are retracted by independent hydraulic cylinders or they can be adapted to a small electric pump. The 1800 amphibious models weigh n at approximately 270 pounds when the main gear is removed from the aircraft. Murphy's fully assembled floats incorporate solid rivets and each float comes acid etched, primed and ready for final paint.

Murphy Aircraft is always receiving calls from owners of certified aircraft asking them if they can provide them with a certified model. Unfortunately, due to the cost of certification it has not been economically feasible. "It's a shame for we have a lot of very pleased customers in the field. I can certainly understand why the certified guys contact us, when you look at the astronomic cost of a set of certified floats. Our floats would cost you less than half. A few of our customers have managed to acquire a field approval from the FAA, however, that is not an easy route and few are willing to jump through the bureaucratic hoops", Dave Walker added.

Light is on the horizon however, now with the recent launching of the Owner-Maintenance category in Canada allowing Murphy floats to be used on a vast range of certified aircraft once de-registered. Aircraft such as Taylorcraft, Luscombe, Cessna 120's and small Pipers, just to name a few. Basically, any aircraft in the 1400-2000 pound gross range. It is amazing how many certified aircraft out there that could benefit.

Murphy Aircraft will be flying their factory Elite fitted with amphibious floats to a number of airshows this summer. Look for them at the EAA's Northwest fly-in July 5-9th and at Oshkosh, WI, July 26th - Aug 1st. For more information contact :

E-Mail: mursales@murphyair

Web site:http://www.murphyair.com

Once more, a RotorWay helicopter has won "Grand Champion" at a major EAA event.

Bob Fiorenze, of Winter Park, Florida, took the award at the Sun n' Fun airshow in Lakeland, FL. Sun n' Fun is the Experimental Aviation Association's second largest event with over 500,000 visitors.

His Exec 90 helicopter took first place with another RotorWay Exec 90 coming in second as "Reserve Grand Champion" as well. That helicopter was owned by Doug Busch of St Paul Minnesota.

"It was an honor to win the award…especially with all the great competition at this show," said Fiorenze. "My sincere thanks go to Tom Smith and the wonderful tech support from RotorWay. It was impeccable and very important to me as a builder. Another big thanks goes to my wife for helping me through this."

Fiorenze had competed at last year's event and took the "Best Helicopter" award before returning to win first place this year.

Founded in 1953, EAA is a 170,000 member association of aviation enthusiasts and is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin with chapters located throughout the country, including Lakeland, FL.

RotorWay International, the world's oldest the largest manufacturer of kit helicopters, produces the award winning Exec 162F helicopter kit. Located in Chandler, AZ, the facility houses all components of the business, including administration, sales, manufacturing and flight maintenance instruction.