EAA AirVenture | The Aviation Enthusiast's Dream

This post is going to be around EAA AirVenture, as why it's one of the most recognized events in the aviation world. Most people count down to major holidays throughout the year; but if you ask most aviation enthusiasts, we are counting down to EAA AirVenture every year. Are you familiar with AirVenture but not entirely sure what it is? Let me give you a quick rundown of some of the major components of the event and some of the stats for AirVenture 2023 (which was the 70th anniversary, by the way!).

1. Location: Whittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Crazy to think the world's largest and busiest airshow resides in northern Wisconsin, right?

2. Airplanes....: Everywhere.... To the tune of 10,000+ aircraft that flew in for the event in 2023. Every direction you look, you are nearly guaranteed to see an airplane. You can't escape it. And it is truly fascinating. Airplanes are the reason for the event! If we didn't have passionate pilots who love flying various aircraft through the skies, we wouldn't have AirVenture. Seeing every airplane on the grounds is remarkable when you think of each plane coming from its "home" somewhere. Thinking of the stories surrounding each airplane (like the beautiful P51 Mustang in the picture below). Where its flown, how many owners its had, how many "oh crap" landings it has been through, how many inspections its gone through... All of these questions start screaming through your mind. Every airplane has its own unique story, and if you're lucky, the owner/pilot will be around to fill you in on those stories.

3. Air Traffic Control: The true heroes of the event! In 2023 alone, there were 21,822 individual aircraft operations during the 11-day span of the event; which was an average of 148 takeoffs/landings per hour while the airport was open. 2.5 takeoffs/landings per minute, for 11 days. FUN FACT: Each year during AirVenture, Whittman Regional Airport becomes the busiest airport.... IN THE WORLD. It surpasses traffic numbers and aircraft operation numbers of every airport across the globe, including New York JFK, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, Chicago O'Hare, London Heathrow, and Dubai. So, we all owe the ~65 air traffic controllers from across the nation a BIG thank you for their efforts in keeping everything running as smooth as possible during AirVenture.

4. Camping: In 2023, there were over 13,000 camping sites during the event. Split between aircraft and drive-in camp sites, with the majority being aircraft camping sites. This accounted for 40,000 visitors alone. I have never camped at AirVenture, but it is certainly on my bucket list to fly in, and stay for a few days camping in a tent underneath the wing of an airplane.

5. Exhibitors: Nearly 850 commercial exhibitors joined AirVenture in 2023 (including me!). Centered around the Boeing Plaza on Celebration Way, the exhibitors, tents, food vendors, and gift shops span quite some distance. From companies like Boeing and Airbus, all the way down to small family-owned businesses trying to show off their products and services; you won't have enough time in just one day to visit everything. It's quite remarkable to see some of the amazing exhibits that are set up all over the grounds.

6. Airshows/Forums/Workshops/Presentations: This year, there were over 1,400 different Forums/Workshops/Presentations throughout the week. Each providing their own unique educational purpose, attendees can sit it on any of these that they'd like to listen to. You name the topic.... it is likely to be a presentation somewhere during AirVenture. Airshows, demonstrations, fireworks shows... These all steal the attention throughout the week. At any random moment, you will have an F-22 Raptor screaming so fast overhead that you don't have time to look up and see it before your eardrums get blown out. The airshows are captivating... you can't help but stop in your tracks and watch for a little bit.

The experience at AirVenture is like none other. There are constantly things going on around you. Airplanes taking off, airplanes landing, helicopters giving tours overhead, airshows and demonstrations, campsite parties, you name it... There is simply always something to do or see. I have talked to many people at AirVenture who aren't even pilots, but they drive from their homes in Wisconsin a couple hours away just to see all of the action and experience the marvel of AirVenture. It's something worth seeing, I can guarantee you that!

Hopefully this "glimpse" of EAA AirVenture gives enough insight to understand why pilots and aviation enthusiasts count down to this event every year. While the 2023 countdown is done, and the show is complete, the 2024 countdown begins. And at the time of writing this, we are only 332 days away!

Blue skies.