It feels good to be back!

One of the first air shows to include in-person attendance in more than a year, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021 was exactly what the aviation community has been waiting for.  Held at Wittman Regional Airport in Wisconsin for a full week in July, AirVenture is the largest yearly General Aviation event in the world. Presented by Daher and Pratt & Whitney, the air show drew the attention and presence of 608,000 visitors from 60 countries, including operators, original equipment manufacturers, aviation enthusiasts, and families.

Pratt & Whitney’s trifecta

For those who weren’t able to stop by the Pratt & Whitney booth at the event, here’s what you missed.

“At AirVenture this year, we continued to show our leadership in the General Aviation segment with three exciting announcements.” – Irene Makris, Vice President Global Sales and Marketing at Pratt & Whitney Canada

Firstly, Pratt & Whitney announced their PT6 E-Series™ engine has reached 15,000 hours of flight powering the Pilatus PC-12 NGX in five continents. The PT6 E-Series™ engine is the first of its kind in General Aviation to have a dual-channel integrated electronic propeller and engine control system.

Secondly, Pratt & Whitney shared its recent collaboration with Starr Insurance Companies to allow operators using ESP™ Platinum to benefit from insurance savings for their PT6 E-Series™ engines. This program covers foreign object damage (FOD) as well as any other potential problems discovered during the FOD repair job. It was designed to keep operating costs low and spirits high.

Finally, Pratt & Whitney revealed its new P&WCSMART Subscription Service for PT6A engines. This new service provides both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance coverage as well as part replacement and digital engine health services for engines between their hot section inspection and overhaul. Customers can choose to subscribe for one or three years at a time.

PT6 Nation’s participation

It’s clear this was not only an exciting show for Pratt & Whitney, but for the PT6 community as well! We loved seeing #OSH21 through your eyes on social media. As promised, some of the community’s best photos are featured throughout this article!

Cessna SkyCourier on display

For decades, AirVenture has been the annual Fly-In Convention of the Experimental Aircraft Association and it’s quite simply an unbridled celebration of all things aviation. The mood this year was especially celebratory as old friends and acquaintances gathered again along with first-timers, such as Textron’s PT6A-powered Cessna SkyCourier who made its public debut at AirVenture.

The future of flight

After a challenging year in aviation, AirVenture 2021 was a much-needed turning point for attendees.  Oshkosh provided the entertainment, excitement, and hope that so many were seeking. As fireworks were launched at day’s end, spectators could look beyond the bright lights at the brilliant future of flight.