So, I decided to go to the EAA AirVenture event in Oshkosh this year. I started planning a few months ahead, just to make sure I had everything sorted out. The first thing I did was check out the dates and made sure they worked with my schedule. It was from July 22nd to July 28th, so I cleared my calendar for that week.
Next, I booked my flight to Wisconsin. I got a pretty good deal, which was nice. After that, I found a place to stay. I opted for a cozy little Airbnb near the event grounds. It looked comfy and was reasonably priced, so that was a win.
I also started reading up on what to expect at the event. I saw that it was organized by the Experimental Aircraft Association, which sounded pretty legit. They were expecting a huge crowd, something like 677,000 people, which is wild.
Once I got there, the first thing I did was just walk around and take it all in. There were so many planes! Big ones, small ones, old ones, new ones—it was quite a sight. I even saw some folks camping out, which looked like a lot of fun. I made a mental note to consider that for next time.
Highlights of the Event
- Record Attendance: This year, the attendance was massive, about 677,000 people. It felt like the whole world was there, all excited about planes.
- Air Shows: The air shows were the best part. They started at 2 p.m. and went on for about four hours. I found a spot near the flight line to get a good view. The planes did all sorts of cool tricks, and it was just amazing to watch.
- Variety of Aircraft: There were 21,883 aircraft operations during the event. That’s a lot of planes coming and going! It was cool to see so many different types of aircraft in one place.
I spent a lot of time just wandering around, checking out different exhibits, and talking to people. Everyone was super friendly, which made the whole experience even better. There were folks from all over, sharing stories and tips. It was a real community vibe.
I also made sure to catch some of the talks and presentations. They had some really interesting stuff on the history of aviation and new technologies. I learned a lot, which was great. I even picked up some souvenirs to remember the trip by.
By the end of the week, I was pretty tired but also really happy. It was such a cool experience to be around so many people who love aviation as much as I do. I’m already thinking about going back next year and maybe even bringing some friends along.
Overall, it was a fantastic week. Good weather, a massive crowd, and tons of amazing planes. If you’re into aviation, I highly recommend checking out the EAA AirVenture. It’s a blast!
