The EAA just announced it. Tuesday, July 21, will be “Future of Flight” day at AirVenture Oshkosh 2026—and it’s shaping up to be the most concentrated showcase of emerging aviation technology the 73-year-old airshow has ever assembled. Boeing Plaza and the afternoon air show demonstrations will feature electric aircraft, eVTOLs, autonomous drones, and the companies racing to certify them. The lineup signals how seriously the industry is moving toward commercial advanced air mobility.
Five companies have already confirmed for flight demonstrations: Bye Aerospace, Jetson, BETA Technologies, American Drone, and ScaleWings. All will fly or display hardware during Tuesday’s afternoon air show. Wing—the Google-backed autonomous delivery company—will conduct demonstrations as part of Twilight Flight Fest at 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, showcasing the same cargo drone operations now live across Dallas-Fort Worth, Charlotte, Houston, and Atlanta.
What’s Flying on Tuesday
BETA Technologies will bring both variants of its ALIA platform: the CX300 electric conventional-takeoff aircraft and the A250 eVTOL. The A250 is a 6,000-pound electric vertical-lift aircraft with four wing-mounted rotors and a pusher prop for forward flight—it’s become BETA’s flagship. CEO Kyle Clark expects FAA certification for the CX300 in the second half of 2027, with the A250 following years after. Days before AirVenture, BETA completed the first operational flights under the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, carrying manufactured organs from Vermont to New York. That milestone underscores how advanced the hardware already is despite certification still pending.
Bye Aerospace will display and fly its eFlyer 2—an all-electric two-seat trainer designed to certify under Part 23 Amendment 64 with deliveries targeted for 2028. The aircraft recharges in under 30 minutes and promises operating costs well below legacy piston trainers, a critical draw for flight schools. Jetson will fly its single-seat One eVTOL. ScaleWings brings the SW-51, a high-performance retro-styled homebuilt. American Drone will round out the flight demonstration roster, with ag-drone demos also scheduled.
The aviation gateway park will feature additional eVTOL and advanced vertical-lift platforms in static display. Traditional warbirds anchor the conventional air show schedule—including a P-38 and DC-6 from The Flying Bulls of Austria on a rare U.S.-only AirVenture appearance.
Why Tuesday Matters
“EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the focal point of the calendar for the aviation community every year, making it the perfect opportunity for companies to showcase what is on the horizon,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs. “The collection of innovations taking the stage on Tuesday represent just part of where aviation is heading.”
BETA carries particular weight here. The company conducted daily demonstration flights at AirVenture 2025 and appeared at the 2025 Paris Air Show before more than 600,000 attendees. A week before Oshkosh, the RAF Red Arrows made a surprise formation pass over Burlington International Airport, landing directly at BETA’s production facility in South Burlington, Vermont—a symbolic moment underscoring how fast the technology is maturing.
Wing’s participation signals something else: commercial viability. In 2019, it became the first U.S. drone delivery company to earn a Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate. Today it operates from more than 50 locations with DoorDash, Papa Johns, and Walmart. Seeing autonomous cargo operations at AirVenture—not as concept art but as scheduled evening demonstrations—confirms the inflection point the industry has reached.
What’s Next
Afternoon air shows run 2:15 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday; Twilight Flight Fest begins at 8 p.m. The July 21 schedule remains subject to change per EAA. AirVenture runs July 20–26. Tickets and details at eaa.org.
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