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Paul Bennet will become the first Australian pilot to perform at the world’s largest airshow in the US.
Bennet is appearing at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Wisconsin, which runs from 21 to 27 July this year and regularly attracts more than 600,000 people and 10,000 aircraft. He will perform in Paul Bennet Airshows’ signature Wolf Pitts Pro.
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“The custom-built biplane is capable of reaching speeds up to 414km/hr and withstanding +12/-10G forces, allowing Paul to perform manoeuvres no other pilot in Australia can match,” Paul Bennet Airshows said in a statement.
“Paul Bennet’s appearance at Oshkosh will shine a global spotlight on Australian skill, innovation and aerial artistry.”
According to Bennet, it is “an honour to represent Australia on a world stage like Oshkosh”.
“To be the first from Down Under to fly there is a huge moment for myself and for Australian aviation,” he said.
“We’re very thankful and appreciative to have a great team of supporters and sponsors working behind-the-scenes to enable these international performances, including the crew at EMO Trans Australia, who have come onboard to help us co-ordinate the shipment of the Wolf Pitts Pro to the USA – a big project that we really couldn’t do it without their expertise.”
The news comes as Paul Bennet Airshows pilot Glenn Collins continues his recovery from injuries sustained in a crash at Avalon earlier this year.
The high-profile incident took place on the Friday evening of the airshow in March and led to all subsequent displays being cancelled until the next afternoon.
Despite suffering spinal injuries, Collins later told those who had donated on GoFundMe that he was on the road to recovery and was humbled by the level of support.
““I’ve been lucky to be in the care of amazing medical teams in both cities. Their skill, compassion, and dedication have been nothing short of extraordinary. Most of my general injuries are healing well, but I do have spinal damage,” he said in May.
“While I can move my legs – which I’m incredibly grateful for – I don’t yet have full feeling in my legs or waist. Ongoing rehabilitation will be key, and I’m giving it my all.”
In its preliminary report released earlier this month, the ATSB found Collins had started the final “triple avalanche” loop manoeuvre at just 100ft above the runway and peaked in altitude at 700–800ft, far lower than the 1,000ft attempted in a previous practice session.
