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July 16, 2015: The History of Aviation in Central/Northern Wisconsin

Air Date:
Heard On Route 51
100 years ago this summer, Wisconsin foresters joined pilot Jack Vilas, far right, on his Curtis Flying Boat on Trout Lake in northern Wisconsin. The single-engine biplane – composed mainly of wood, fabric and wire – featured a wooden propeller mounted behind the pilot, called a "pusher propeller."
Historical Photo

On Thursday, July 16th at 10 am, Route 51 traces the history of aviation in our region from Wisconsin’s First Home-Built Aeroplane to the Golden Age of Aviation to Aviators at War and beyond.

Host Rick Reyer will share the hour with John Chmiel, Manager of the Wausau Downtown Airport and President of Wausau Flying Service; John Dorcey, Secretary/Treasurer of the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame; and Robert (Bob) Wylie, pilot and author of Wings North: Wausau’s Aviation History.

We’ll also preview the upcoming EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh and the 2015 AirVenture Cup Race that places Wausau as the finish line.

Episode Credits

  • Rick Reyer Host
  • John Chmiel Guest
  • John Dorcey Guest
  • Robert (Bob) Wylie Guest

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