A Wisconsin Air Show Dazzles Visitors

Natalie poses in front of a historic military plane on display at the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

“Whoosh!” One airplane after another whizzed overhead at the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. EAA stands for Experimental Aircraft Association. The group hosted their annual event at the Wittman Regional Airport from July 22-24. 

This year saw record attendance, with nearly 700,000 visitors arriving by plane or car. A total of 98 countries were represented at the air show, including Australia, Canada, and South Africa.

Miss America Madison Marsh, who is an active-duty Air Force lieutenant, was among those who attended. Jimmy Graham, a former All-Pro tight end for the New Orleans Saints, was also at AirVenture. Graham is chairman of EAA’s Young Eagles program, which introduces children to the aviation world through flight demonstrations. 

In July, nearly 700,000 people visited AirVenture and the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. 

A GATHERING OF AIRPLANES UNLIKE ANY OTHER
What is the purpose of AirVenture? “It’s a gathering of airplanes and people in one place that is not done anywhere else in the world,” said Dick Knapinski, EAA’s director of communications. “From the smallest ultra-light to massive airliners and cargo aircraft, they are all in Oshkosh. AirVenture is one of the biggest aviation trade shows each year with more than 800 exhibitors. It’s also one of the biggest aviation educational events, with more than 1,500 presentations.”

During AirVenture, visitors were able to watch planes flip and somersault through the air. The event also featured aerobatics, pyrotechnics, and helicopter and airplane rides. 

Military jets, including the F-35 and the F-22, were on display, and the Snowbirds, members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, put on an aerobatics show. Visitors could even check out futuristic aircraft, including electric airplanes.

Pilots ranged in age from 17, the earliest age to get a pilot’s certificate, to 101-year-old James Harvey. Harvey is a retired Air Force pilot and former member of the Tuskegee Airmen, an African American fighter squadron known for their heroics during World War II. He led the first-ever winning team in the 1949 “Top Gun Competition,” which tested rocket firing skills and more. 

For many who attended AirVenture, a visit to the EAA Aviation Museum was a must. The museum includes more than 200 historic aircraft, four movie theaters, and even rides on a vintage airplane. 

“Aviation is a field that is growing and is very exciting,” Knapinski said. “There are opportunities for many young people, even if they’re not pilots. What happens at Oshkosh is just a slice of all the possibilities within aviation.”