AirVenture 2019 – The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration

Being in Oshkosh for AirVenture 2019 was an amazing experience and a great way to end July!

This year’s event ran from July 21-July 28. Wisconsin was hit by a number of massive storms just prior to opening day, but you would never have known it. The event went off without a hitch.

This year was record-breaking with approximately 642,000 people in attendance over the course of the week.  The event is a huge attraction every year.  Anybody who is anybody in aviation goes to Oshkosh.

One of the many draws each year are the Lindy Awards.  Named for aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, Lindy Award judging takes into account not only how an aircraft looks, but also the degree of craftsmanship.  These aircraft are the best of the best and are carefully built, restored and/or maintained by their owners. Awards are given out across six categories: Homebuilts, Warbirds, Vintage, Ultralights, Seaplanes, and Rotorcraft.

This year a total of 2,758 show planes arrived in Oshkosh for AirVenture.  This included 1,057 homebuilt aircraft, 939 vintage airplanes, 400 warbirds, 188 ultralights and light-sport aircraft, 105 seaplanes and 62 aerobatic aircraft.

Aside from the thousands of gorgeous showplanes, more than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. At Wittman alone, there were 16,807 aircraft operations in the 11-day period from July 19-29 – an average of approximately 127 takeoffs/landings per hour.  This really was the biggest AirVenture yet.

The other draw each year is the endless number of forums, workshops and presentations that attendees can join.  This year a total of 1,500 sessions were attended by more than 75,000 people.  Planning for next year has already begun and it looks to be even bigger and better than this year. We’re looking forward to AirVenture 2020 next July!