Harrison Ford, who serves as chairman of the EAA Young Eagles program, will introduce his movie, "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," on Wednesday.  Photo by Jim Koepnick

John Travolta, who will fly into Oshkosh in his Boeing 707, will introduce his movie, "Broken Arrow," on Friday. Photo by Jim Koepnick

Movies will be shown nightly at the Ford Fly In Theater. The movies will begin with presentations at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free to all AirVenture attendees. Photo by Aaron Lurth

After long days of programs, presentations, announcements, shopping, and of course, aircraft, AirVenture visitors will have many options for their evening  activities. This year AirVenture after dark will feature aviation personalities, innovators, musical entertainment, comedy entertainment, and aviation movies. There’s certainly not a lack of things to do after the sun goes down, and it’s all on convention grounds included with regular EAA AirVenture admission.

You’ll see Hollywood blockbusters, new aviation films, and interesting documentaries at the EAA Fly-In Theater, marking its third year at AirVenture presented by Ford Motor Company and Eclipse Aviation. Movies will be shown nightly starting tonight, July 27, through August 2 (Saturday). Films are projected on the five-story outdoor screen located next to Camp Scholler at the north end of Doolittle Drive directly behind the Camp Store.

Among the presenters at this year’s films are actor/pilots Harrison Ford and John Travolta, World War II B-17 veterans, and other aviation personalities. Ford, who serves as chairman of the EAA Young Eagles program, will introduce Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on Wednesday. Travolta, who will fly in to Oshkosh in his Boeing 707, will introduce his movie Broken Arrow on Friday.

"Thanks to Ford and Eclipse, we began the Fly-In Theater two years ago and discovered it was a superb way to finish a full day of flight—with an aviation movie under the stars at Oshkosh," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman. "We are bringing even more great aviation films to the event this year, many based on suggestions from EAA AirVenture visitors."

This year’s "members’ choice" is Memphis Belle, which was the top vote-getter in an online poll conducted earlier this year. It will be shown Saturday night, presented by a group of World War II B-17 veterans.

A pair of documentaries, The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944) and the Academy Award winning The Flight of the Gossamer Condor (1978), kick off the week tonight. (See accompanying story.)

Presentations begin at 8:30 p.m., weather permitting, followed by the movies. Admission is free to all AirVenture attendees, and the popcorn is included! Bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in for a great night at the movies!

EAA’s Theater in the Woods is the largest public gathering structure on the grounds and is well-known for providing terrific evening entertainment every year. Supported by M&M’S, the open-air pavilion has seating for 3,500 people under its spacious roof, while many more bring lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy the evening’s programs from the seating-area perimeter.

The nightly lineup will include anything from astronauts to musicians, and aviation legends to EAA award winners. Among this year’s special performers are comedian/ventriloquist Jeff Dunham, brought to you by RotorWay International, and actor/musician Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band made possible by the Disabled American Veterans and EAA Warbirds of America.

Theater in the Woods programs provide the perfect conclusion to busy days on the flightline—relaxed, informative, and entertaining. Sometimes, they even make history. Nightly programs begin at approximately 7 p.m. and are included with all AirVenture admissions.

Sunday, July 27

6:35-6:50 p.m. - Master of Ceremonies - Danny Mortenson
7:25-7:30 p.m. - AirVenture Flashback
7:30-8:15 p.m. - Mark Grady - Aviation Humorist
8:15-8:20 p.m. - Tom Poberezny - Welcome to Oshkosh
8:20-9:05 p.m. - Catherine (Cathe) Fish
9:05-9:50 p.m. - Ralph Hood
9:50-10:05 p.m. - The Aerostars Aerobatic Team

Monday, July 28

5:30 p.m. Foreigner Concert
7:20 p.m. Maggie Beth Estes
7:45 p.m. Mark Harris – Winnebago County Executive
7:50 p.m. Boeing Dreamlifter
8:10 p.m. Rocket Racing League Update
8:30 p.m. A Celebration of Women in Aviation hosted by FLYING Magazine’s Lane Wallace

Tuesday, July 29

7:00-7:05 p.m. - Volunteer Drawing - AirVenture Flashback
7:05-7:35 p.m. - Winnebagoland Barbershop Chorus
7:35-7:50 p.m. - EAA President’s Awards and Freedom of Flight Award Presentation - Tom Poberezny
7:50-8:50 p.m. - Vietnam Misty Pilots - Dick Rutan, Panel Discussion
8:50-10 p.m. - Burt Rutan, Will Whitehorn - Virgin Galactic

Wednesday July 30

6:45-7:25 p.m. - EAA Concert Band
7:25-7:30 p.m. - Volunteer Drawing - AirVenture Flashback
7:30-7:55 p.m. - FAA Acting Administrator Robert Sturgell and the General Aviation Awards
7:55-9:00 p.m. - NASA 50th Anniversary - Hosted by Hoot Gibson
9:00-10:00 p.m. - Comedian Jeff Dunham and his "Suitcase Posse"

7:00-7:05 p.m. - Volunteer Drawing - AirVenture Flashback
7:05-7:45 p.m. - South African Group - Music, Photos, and Stories From South Africa
7:45-8:45 p.m. - Aviation Innovations - Terrafugia Transition and the E-Flight Initiative (John Monnett, Sonex Aircraft)
8:45-10 p.m. - Avi8tors - USO-style Show

Friday, August 1

6:50-7:00 p.m. - Rotorcraft Awards
7:00-7:10 p.m. - Volunteer Drawing - AirVenture Flashback
7:10-8:00 p.m. Disabled American Veterans/Warbirds
8:00-10 p.m. - Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band

6:00-7:00 p.m. - Catholic Mass
7:00-7:05 p.m. - Volunteer Drawing - AirVenture Flashback
7:05-8:00 p.m. - Vintage Awards/Bax Seat Trophy Award
8:00-8:05 p.m. - Saturday Night With David Hartman
8:05-8:45 p.m. - Ed Horton, Dick Cole, Doolittle Raiders
8:45-9:45 p.m. - Joe Engel - (NASA Aeronautics) - NASA 50th