Helicopter Association International is partnering with EAA to establish a new, dedicated “home away from home” for the international helicopter community at EAA AirVenture 2011 in Oshkosh this summer.

The partnership unites the producer of HELI-EXPO®, the world’s largest trade show dedicated to helicopters being held here through March 8, with the organizer of the world’s largest general aviation event, AirVenture, to be held July 25-31, 2011.

“HAI is dedicated to advancing the international helicopter community and we are proud to partner with EAA, which is committed to nurturing the spirit of flight throughout the world,” said HAI President Matt Zuccaro. “AirVenture Oshkosh provides an excellent opportunity to promote the unique contributions vertical flight offers to society and will complement our growing success with HELI-EXPO as well as our other exhibit and outreach efforts around the world.”

“We’re excited to welcome HAI and its Heli Center to EAA AirVenture beginning this year,” EAA president Rod Hightower said. “Helicopters are an exciting and innovative part of aviation, and are a passion for thousands of aviators. We’re glad to be welcoming more of those helicopter owners and pilots, and their aircraft, to Oshkosh through HAI’s Heli Center.”

Under the partnership, HAI will set up and operate the Heli Center, a pavilion on an 80X200-foot site close to the flight line and show center at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis., home to what has come to be known as “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration!” AirVenture draws more than 500,000 attendees from North America and around the world and 10,000-plus aircraft to Wittman Regional and other airports in east-central Wisconsin, including more than 2,600 show planes.

The Heli Center will provide a central location for helicopter-related exhibitors to highlight their products and services to those attendees and re-introduce many fixed-wing fans to the helicopter. HAI also will become a named sponsor of AirVenture’s Forums Building and host helicopter-focused presentations and discussions there.