(Oshkosh) The Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture convention begins in Oshkosh Monday. Every year, more than 500,000 aviation enthusiasts and EAA members from more than 80 countries descend upon Wittman Regional Airport. Director of Communications Dick Knipinski details some of the features at this year’s show.
“Some of the big features that come in, you can see some of the world’s finest civilian aerobatic pilots are here flying their routines,” Knipinki says. “You have formation flights, G6s, for instance from the aeroshell aerobatic team. More of them fly very close formations, and of course a lot of people love the warplanes, World War Two airplanes, Korean War era airplanes that go up and provoke history. Some of the legacy of the military in aviation.”
Throughout the week there will be daily airshows, aerobatics and pyrotechnics, feature films at the Fly-In Theater, among other fun activities. Knipinski says the attendance has been steady over the years.
“Last year we had a record crowd. We had 650,000 in total attendance,” says Knipinski. “That is an aggregate attendance throughout the entire week. Along with that, there are about 10 to 12,000 airplanes that come to the Oshkosh area. That includes as many as 8,000 through the week here in Oshkosh, but also 1,000 in Appleton, [and] another 1,000 or so in Fon du Lac. The Dodge County Airport gets a tremendous number of airplanes to come in.”
The EAA AirVenture Convention runs through this Sunday, July 30th.
