It's In Oshkosh; It's Everything Aviation; It's AirVenture, And It's This Week

 

The Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) annual week-long AirVenture gathering in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, kicks off today. It's better known as "Oshkosh" to aviation enthusiasts and you can be assured that every one of them has the event on their bucket list. There's good reason. Imagine a fly-in attracting around 7500 airplanes. Imagine 2500 aircraft exhibits, 800 commercial exhibitors, daily world-class airshows, and a total of over 600,000 guests.

AirVenture at Oshkosh is far from your average fly-in

Organizers call the event "the world's greatest aviation celebration" and this year marks its sixty-ninth edition, a far cry from the small gatherings of friends and airplanes in the early years. The map below gives readers an idea of the scope and scale of Oshkosh and indicates why the event turns a rather sleepy Wittman Regional Airport into the busiest airport in the world for one week each year.

Airventure grounds - for scale, the runway at the top is 8000 feet

I had the privilege of attending the event several times in the last decade of my career. Energizing, informative, and significant, the show was a great vehicle for delivering an organizational message to a large, captured, and enthusiastic audience. You may ask why the National Park Service (NPS) would send a dozen or so employees and volunteers to work an air show. First, out of the agency's 423 units, over fifty have a significant link to an aviation theme. In addition, the Service maintains a fleet of fixed and rotary wing aircraft contributing over 20,000 hours of flight time annually in support of park operations, maintenance, and resource and fire management. Add to that interagency cooperation across departments as well as airspace regulation over the parks and the justification become clearer. In recent years the NPS's presence at the event has been reduced significantly and folded into a more cooperative effort with other federal agencies. In summation, it's a grand and demanding opportunity to reach out face-to face to thousands of guests who enjoy and impact resources and services they provide.

Nothing like fly-in camping with thousands of your best friends

If you can't attend AirVenture, the EAA maintains a comprehensive up-to-the-second website where you can spend hours reading, and watching and listening to events, many of them live. I've been looking up at the sound of an aircraft engine ever since I could lift my head. If you are blessed with the same response make your plans to attend the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture. You will not be disappointed. Until then "wheels up" every chance you get!

AirVenture 2018: Flying Machines And People Who Love Them

It's better known as "Oshkosh" to aviation enthusiasts and every one of them has the event on the bucket list for very good reasons. Imagine a fly-in attracting 7500 airplanes, 2500 aircraft exhibits, 800 commercial exhibitors, daily world-class airshows, and 500,000 attendee who are "plane" crazy. What organizers call "the world's greatest aviation celebration" kicked off it's sixty-sixth version on Monday. The event reached its midpoint today and will conclude on Sunday afternoon. This map gives readers an idea of the scope of Oshkosh and indicates why the event turns a rather sleepy Wittman Field into the busiest airport in the world for one week each year. For scale the runway at the top of the image measures 8000 feet.

I had the privilege of working in the Federal Pavilion at five AirVentures beginning in 1999. Some may interpret that as overkill, but each one left me thrilled at the thought of returning for another event. And you may ask why the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service would send a dozen or so employees and volunteers to work an airplane show. First, the agency has around forty out of 400 units with a significant link to an aviation theme. In addition, the Service maintains a fleet of fixed and rotary wing aircraft contributing over 20,000 hours of flight time annually in support of park operations, maintenance, and resource management. Add to that the interagency cooperation - including the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service - as well as airspace regulation over the parks and I think you can see the point. Regardless, it's a grand and demanding opportunity to distribute information and talk face-to-face with thousands of guests. 

Nothing can replace being at Oshkosh mixing with almost 20,000 folks who fly into the convention, thousands of exhibitor/participants, and all the visitors. Fortunately, if you can't attend, the EAA maintains a comprehensive up to the second website where you can spend hours reading, watching and listening to the day's/week's events. Facebook friends should be on the lookout for live broadcasts as well.

I've been looking up at the sound of an aircraft engine ever since I could lift my head.  If you are blessed with the same response make your plans to attend an Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture. You will not be disappointed.  Until then "wheels up" every chance you get!

Oshkosk/AirVenture: The World's Greatest Aviation Adventure

The world's largest fly-in is in full swing in Oshkosh, Wisconsin this week. It's the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) AirVenture 2017: The World's Greatest Aviation Adventure. This is the 65th edition of what started as a small convention at the Milwaukee airport in 1953. Today it's a week-long, world-class gathering that addresses virtually every aviation topic and turns two ordinarily quiet runways into the world's busiest airport.

I had the privilege of staffing the Federal Pavilion at five AirVentures beginning in 1999. Some may interpret that as overkill, but I left each one thrilled at the thought of returning for the next event.

Nothing can replace being at Oshkosh mixing with almost 20,000 folks who fly into the convention, thousands of exhibitor/participants, and a half million visitors. Fortunately, if you can't attend, the EAA maintains a comprehensive up to the second website where you can spend hours reading, watching and listening to the day's/week's events. Facebook friends should be on the lookout for live broadcasts as well. 

AirVenture at Whitman Field - for scale the runway at the top is 8000 feet long

Here's wishing everyone at AirVenture 2017 a safe and enjoyable experience. I'm with you in spirit and looking forward to returning to the event in the near future. 

AirVenture 2014 Kicks Off In Oshkosh

The Experimental Aircraft Association's 62nd version of AirVenture, the world's largest fly-in, begins tomorrow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The week-long event draws thousands of aviators, exhibitors, and airplanes as well as 500,000 or so visitors.

Wittman Regional Airport at the height of AirVenture 2011

I had the privilege of attending this event several times in the last decade of my career. Exhausting, energizing, informative, and significant, the show was a great vehicle for delivering an organizational message to a large, captured, and enthusiastic audience.  At the same time it was like turning a kid loose in a candy store. 

The map below gives readers an idea of the scope and scale of Oshkosh and indicates why the event turns a rather sleepy airport into the busiest airport in the world for one week each year.

For scale, the runway at the top of the map is 8000 feet long

If any readers have the slightest interest in an aviation theme, EAA's AirVenture needs to be in your travel plans. If you can't be there tomorrow, the event maintains a comprehensive website with several webcams, live coverage, and a host of other links. We have plans to visit the Upper Midwest in the coming years and you can bet that visit will be planned around AirVenture.

Oshkosh: The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration Starts Today

The EAA gathers annually with a few of its closest friends for planes in the air and brats on the grill

The Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) annual gathering is better known as "Oshkosh" to aviation enthusiasts and every one of them has the event on the bucket list. And for good reason. Imagine a fly-in attracting 7500 airplanes. Imagine 2500 aircraft exhibits, 800 commercial exhibitors, daily world-class airshows, and 500,000 attendee who are "plane" crazy. What organizers call "the world's greatest aviation celebration" will kick off it's sixty-first version today. This map gives readers an idea of the scope and scale of Oshkosh and indicates why the event turns a rather sleepy Wittman Field into the busiest airport in the world for one week each year.

For scale, the runway at the top of the map is 8000 feet long

OTR had the privilege of attending Oshkosh several times in the last decade of his career. Energizing, informative, and significant, the show was a great vehicle for delivering an organizational message to a large, captured, and enthusiastic audience.

Believe me, if any readers have the slightest interest in flying, EAA's AirVenture needs to be on your bucket list.  The event website has plenty of streaming links that will bring you lots of the excitement in real time. I wonder how many hardcore readers who find themselves stuck at home will arrive via Flight Simulator.

Here's wishing everyone at AirVenture 2013 a safe and enjoyable experience. Sure wish I could be there! Next year looks very promising.

EAA AirVenture 2012 Takes Flight July 23

It's better known as "Oshkosh" to aviation enthusiasts and every one of them has the event on the bucket list. And for good reason. Imagine a fly-in attracting 7500 airplanes. Imagine 2500 aircraft exhibits, 800 commercial exhibitors, daily world-class airshows, and 500,000 attendee who are "plane" crazy. What organizers call "the world's greatest aviation celebration" will kick off it's sixtieth version on Monday, July 23.  This map gives readers an idea of the scope and scale of Oshkosh and indicates why the event turns a rather sleepy Wittman Field into the busiest airport in the world for one week each year.

For scale, the runway at the top of the page is 8000 feet long

OTR had the privilege of attending Oshkosh several times in the last decade of his career. Energizing, informative, and significant, the show was a great vehicle for delivering an organizational message to a large, captured, and enthusiastic audience.

If any readers have the slightest interest in an aviation theme, EAA's AirVenture needs to be on your bucket list. If you can't change your plans over the weekend and be there next week, the event website has plenty of streaming links that will bring you lots of the excitement in real time. OTR wonders how many hardcore readers who find themselves stuck at home will arrive via Flight Simulator.

EAA AirVenture 2011 Heads For Weekend Wrap Up

The world's largest fly-in is in full swing in Oshkosh, Wisconsin this week. It's the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) AirVenture 2011. What started as a small convention at the Milwaukee airport in 1953 has grown into a week-long, world-class gathering that addresses virtually any aviation topic.

OTR had the privilege of working at five AirVentures beginning in 1999. Some may interpret that as overkill, but he left each one thrilled at the thought of returning for the next event.

Nothing can replace being at Oshkosh mixing with the 20,000 or so folks who fly into the convention, the thousands of exhibitors, and the half million visitors. Fortunately, if you can't attend, the EAA maintains a comprehensive up to the second website where you can spend hours reading, watching and listening to the day's/week's events.

OTR hopes to return to Oshkosh in the next few years. Can't wait, in fact. Hope to see you there.

The Venerable Warthog

Long-time readers know how much OTR loves airplanes. For newer reader, let it be said that I spent most of my first nine summers in an around a recycled World War II Quonset hut in West Virginia. It served as the hub of the small fixed base operation known as Baker's Air Park. After that experience, I never saw an airplane I didn't like. Any hint of sound in the air or sight of a contrail and my eyes were skyward. Still happens today.

When we lived on the great salt marshes east of Savannah and under a magnificent sky dome, it was great fun watching the endless air traffic on the Northeast to Florida jet route. Closer to sea level, we saw any number of military aircraft, but watching the training flights of one aircraft in particular was always an air show. That aircraft was the A-10 Thunderbolt, fondly known as the Warthog. Thirty five years later she is still at the battlefront as an essential close-in air support weapon.

The Warthog is quiet, nimble and deadly. Not much to look at, she's still loved by pilots and mechanics alike as a reliable flying cannon that almost always returns to base, even when missing parts and filled with holes. Blogger-journalist Michael Yon, reporting from Kandahar Airport, Afghanistan, earlier this month, has posted a beautiful photo essay on the Warthog. Although this essay hit news outlets and blogs in quick order today, I simply felt it could not be overlooked so here is your link. Hope you enjoy.

For the aviation enthusiasts among us, here's an interview on the A-10 conducted by Aero-TV at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture 2009, Oshkosh, Wisconsin: