Truck offers
unique opportunity at EAA’s Gathering of Eagles on July 27
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin —
(June 29, 2017) — Ford Motor Company is again supporting EAA’s youth aviation
programs by auctioning a one-of-a-kind vehicle, but this year with a new twist
— the creation of a specially built “F-22 Raptor” F-150 Raptor for EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh 2017.
The truck will be put up for bid during the
annual EAA Gathering
of Eagles
on Thursday, July 27. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017, the 65th annual Experimental
Aircraft Association fly-in convention, is July 24-30 at Wittman Regional
Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
“Ford’s support of EAA and AirVenture has
allowed thousands of young people to discover, enjoy, and pursue aviation,”
said Dave Chaimson, EAA’s vice president of marketing and business development.
“The unique F-22 version of the tremendously popular Ford F-150 Raptor truck
will be an enormously popular highlight of the Gathering of Eagles auction, and
we’re very grateful for Ford’s support for our initiatives.”
The modification of a 2017
Ford F-150 Raptor
is led by Ford design manager Melvin Betancourt with engineering led by the
Ford Performance Team. The goal was to strive for a creative connection to the
Lockheed F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft while highlighting the unique style,
capabilities, and design features of the 2017 F-150 Raptor.
Among the modifications to the truck are a
twin-turbo, Whipple intercooled, high-output EcoBoost engine, along with
enhancements to the suspension, wheels, brakes and lighting. The F-150 Raptor
also features a purpose-built audio system and interior modifications. It is
the latest in a series of Ford specialty vehicles that have to date raised more
than $3 million for EAA’s youth aviation initiatives.
“This F-150 Raptor is a new look at Ford’s
tradition of building unique vehicles in support of EAA’s youth aviation programs,”
Betancourt said. “We know this truck will create an unmatched buzz around this
year’s Gathering of Eagles auction.”
Attendees at the Gathering of Eagles are
eligible to bid on the F-150 Raptor, as are those prequalified to bid by phone
during the sale. For more information, contact EAA’s development office at
(800) 236-1025 or at gathering@eaa.org.
EAA’s Gathering of Eagles is held annually at
the EAA Aviation Museum, drawing more than 1,000 aviation enthusiasts who
support the aviators, engineers, and flight professionals of tomorrow. The
event has drawn such personalities as actors Harrison Ford, John Travolta, and
Morgan Freemen, sports luminaries Ken Griffey Jr. and Jack Roush, and aviation
legends such as astronauts Jim Lovell and Frank Borman.
About
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh is the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” and EAA’s
yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including
advance ticket and camping purchase, is available online at www.eaa.org/airventure. EAA members receive lowest prices on
admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call
1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org. Immediate news is
available at www.twitter.com/EAA.
Labels: aircraft, airplanes, airshows, Airventure, auction, EAA, EAA Young Eagles, experimental aircraft, F-150, Ford, Gathering of Eagles, pickup, Raptor, trucks