Come see a panel discussion with Eileen A. Bjorkman, David-Paul Hedberg, Dana McCullough, and Richard “Dick” VanGrunsven. This is a unique opportunity to hear stories and learn about Oregon’s role in developing a robust aviation community and industry around what is known as Experimental: Amateur Built aircraft.
If you want to prepare yourself to better understand what they will be talking about, you can peruse the information available on this webpage: George Bogardus – EAA105.
Doors open at 6pm, program begins at 6:30pm.
Free and open to the public.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
6:30PM – 8PM
Oregon Historical Society
1200 SW Park Ave
Portland, Oregon 97205
During the 1930s, a decade shaped by economic depression as well as innovation, new career opportunities emerged for men and women as flight schools sprang up in the region and commercial passenger service lifted off. Oregon’s “golden age of aviation” included technological advancements that led to the creation of faster, more efficient, and affordable aircraft, testing the limits of what was possible. Amidst much national uncertainty, the wonder of flight brought hope and promise, connecting communities quite literally through the building of new small airports and the popularity and excitement of airshows.
This panel discussion features four individuals whose deep knowledge of this history comes through personal experience, archival research, and hands-on interactions with the era’s artifacts — including the plane featured in our current exhibition, She Flies with Her Own Wings: Oregon’s Golden Age of Aviation. This special evening, open to the public, will also include a screening of a portion of panelist David-Paul Hedberg’s documentary, The Mighty Wimpy: The Oregon Homebuilt Airplane that Inspired the Experimental Aircraft Movement.
https://www.ohs.org/events/oregons-golden-age-of-aviation.cfm