The jets that make up Ghost Squadron were in town on Day 1 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin this evening. Shortly after the airshow ended, the MiG-29, L-39 Albatross, and Alpha jets taxiied and took off for a presumed practice run over Lake Winnebago.
In the morning the aircraft were parked in the Warbirds area of the venue making them accessible to the public. Jared “Rook” Isaacman, the pilot of the MiG-29, arrived around midday and spoke with aviation enthusiasts and guests of AirVenture, standing in front of his jet.
Many people started to form a line to meet the twice-commander of missions to space. With Inspiration 4 in 2019 and Polaris Dawn most recently in September 2024, Isaacman has become a “frequent flyer on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
In preparation for both flights, Isaacman would reportedly take his fellow crew mates to the Polaris Program base in Bozeman, Montana for flight training.
Isaacman expressed excitement for being at the centerpoint of aviation in a podcast interview with Glenn Beck released on July 19.
“I’m actually on my way to America’s biggest airshow, Oshkosh, and I’m flying the MiG-29 in it,” said Isaacman when discussing Draken, his company which contracted with the Department of Defense. On his way out before flying tonight, Isaacman gave the crowd on the flightline a wave.
In various recent media interviews, Isaacman has discussed potentially keeping a foot in politics in the future. This comes despite being axed as a NASA Administrator nominee days before the full Senate confirmation hearing.
Isaacman has stated that he may have been the collateral damage as a result of a public falling-out between two individuals, as he puts it in the interview with Beck.
Despite the turmoil that come with polities, the soft spoken pioneer in aviation and spaceflight sent full afterburners tonight rounding out a hot first day of EAA AirVenture.
