Contact: Rep. Tyler Vorpagel, (608) 266-8530, Rep. Terry Katsma, (608) 266-0656
Madison—The Wisconsin State Assembly, on the motion of Representative Tyler Vorpagel (R–Plymouth) and Representative Terry Katsma (R–Oostburg), has officially designated the Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin as the State of Wisconsin’s Aviation Heritage Center, bestowing honor on all those who have worked to preserve the unique civil, commercial and military aviation history of Wisconsin.
The Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin was founded in 2005 by a dedicated group of volunteers and EAA Chapter 766. The Center is a nonprofit organization that receives no government support and charges no admission or fees; its mission focuses mainly on the aviation history of Wisconsin.
Among the attractions housed by the Center is the Governors Kohler Aviation Conference Room and exhibit. This exhibit pays tribute to former Wisconsin Governor Walter J. Kohler, Sr. (1929-1931), who was the first U.S. politician to use a private aircraft to campaign for public office and carry out the duties of the governorship, as well as former Governor Walter J. Kohler, Jr. (1951-1957), who was a private pilot and a World War II U.S. Navy veteran.
Other attractions at the Center include the Annual Air Clinic, held every July, which involves some of the world’s rarest military aircraft; a 1946 Douglas DC-3 airplane that flew for 24 years as part of the North Central Airlines regional Great Lakes fleet; and a T-28 aircraft used to train Hmong pilots in Thailand in support of U.S. operations in the “Secret War” in Laos during the Vietnam War.
The Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin hosts thousands of visitors annually from across the state, nation and world. It is located within Sheboygan County Memorial Airport in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.
Senate Joint Resolution 4, designating the State of Wisconsin’s Aviation Heritage Center, was concurred in by the Wisconsin State Assembly on Thursday, March 9th. The measure was adopted by the Wisconsin State Senate on February 8th on the motion of Senator Devin LeMahieu (R–Oostburg).
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