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OSHKOSH -- There's a new venture for EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh this year in the form of an EAA Museum surplus sale of airplane parts donated to the museum over the years -- the last 43 in Oshkosh.
From pictures to propellers, wings and even a jet engine, pilots and plane builders began scouring the one-of-a-kind warehouse sale on Monday, July 23rd.
"There is a lot of stuff that is just not part of the EAA collection policy, so why keep it hidden in a barn like this? Turn it back to the people that use it or collect it so that it gets back into aviation," EAA Surplus Sale Director Chuck Parnall said.
Many of the parts are still airworthy with a little work, and for the do-it-yourself pilot, the savings can really add up when working on a tight budget.
"Everything in aviation is incredibly expensive, so if somebody like me had to buy new parts, I probably wouldn't be flying, so in many cases, it's the only way to stay in the air," St. Paul Minnesota pilot Dan Bredvold said.
Among the more unusual finds in the surplus tent is a radio-controlled drone, used to train Army anti-aircraft gunners after WWII. Not everything is for sale. Some items are still part of the museum collection, but never put on display, presenting a sort of backstage look at aviation history.
"It's a variety of parts, from historic right up to the present," Parnall said.
Museum officials say despite the price markings, most items, like most garage sales are negotiable.
CLICK HERE for more on the surplus sale via the EAA - AirVenture Museum's Facebook page.