View source for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

{{short description|Experimental Aircraft Association annual convention and air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name               = AirVenture
| image              = 7-29-17-boeingplaza.jpg
| image_size         = 270px
| caption            = View of Boeing Plaza at EAA Airventure 2017
| status             = Active
| genre              = [[Air show]]
| dates              = Typically the last full week in July
| begins             = {{start date|2025|07|21}}
| ends               = {{end date|2025|07|27}}
| prev               = July 21–27, 2025
| frequency          = Annually
| venue              = [[Wittman Regional Airport]]<br>[[Pioneer Airport]]<br>Vette/Blust Seaplane Base
| location           = [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin|Oshkosh]]–[[Nekimi, Wisconsin]]
| established        = 1953
| attendance         = 686,000 (2024)<ref>{{cite web | title= EAA AirVenture Oshkosh marks another year of record attendance. Here are 2024’s final numbers. (n.d.). In Oshkosh Northwestern.|url= https://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/news/local/oshkosh/airventure/2024/07/30/eaa-airventure-oshkosh-2024-had-record-attendance-2846-show-planes/74608618007/ | access-date=30 July 2024}}</ref>
| activity           = [[Aerobatic]] displays, static displays
| organized          = [[Experimental Aircraft Association]] (EAA)
| website            = https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure
}}

'''EAA AirVenture Oshkosh''' (formerly the '''EAA Annual Convention and Fly-In'''), or just '''Oshkosh''', is an annual [[air show]] and gathering of [[aviation]] enthusiasts held each summer at the [[Wittman Regional Airport]] and adjacent [[Pioneer Airport]] in [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]], United States. The southern part of the show grounds, as well as "Camp Scholler", are located in the town of [[Nekimi, Wisconsin|Nekimi]]<ref>{{cite map |map = Town of Nekimi Demographic Data and Boundary Map |map-url = https://wisconsin.hometownlocator.com/counties/subdivisions/data,n,town%20of%20nekimi,id,5513955850,cfips,139.cfm |title = Wisconsin Gazetteer |publisher = HTL |access-date = July 8, 2018 }}</ref> and a [[seaplane base|base]] for [[seaplane]]s is located on [[Lake Winnebago]] in the town of [[Black Wolf, Wisconsin|Black Wolf]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.eaa.org/airventure/eaa-fly-in-flying-to-oshkosh/eaa-seaplane-base-arrivals |title = Seaplane Base Arrivals |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.airnav.com/airport/96WI |work = Airnav.com |title = Vette/Blust Seaplane Base (96WI) }}</ref>

The airshow is arranged by the [[Experimental Aircraft Association]] (EAA), an international [[general aviation]] organization based in Oshkosh, and is the largest of its kind in the world.<ref name=ThreeGreatAccomplisments>{{cite web |url = http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/perspectives-homebuilding/paul-poberezny%E2%80%99s-three-great-accomplishments |title = Paul Poberezny's Three Great Accomplishments |first = David |last = Gustafson |year = 2012 |access-date = February 24, 2015 |work = Flying |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140821121333/http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/perspectives-homebuilding/paul-poberezny%E2%80%99s-three-great-accomplishments |archive-date = August 21, 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref> The show lasts a week, usually beginning on the Monday of the last full week in July. During the gathering, the airport's control tower, frequency 118.5, is the busiest in the world.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=246265 |title = EAA AirVenture takes flight for the future |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081013043244/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=246265 |archive-date = October 13, 2008 |work = [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] }}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Heritage - Flickr - Beige Alert (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[North American F-86 Sabre|F-86 Sabre]] (top), [[Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10 Thunderbolt II]] (mid), and [[P-51D Mustang]] (bottom) performing at Oshkosh in 2009]]
EAA was founded in [[Hales Corners, Wisconsin]] in 1953 by aircraft designer and military aviator veteran [[Paul Poberezny]], who originally started the organization in the basement of his home for builders and restorers of recreational aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/about-eaa/eaa-history/eaa-notable-dates-and-milestones |title = EAA Notable Dates and Milestones |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association |access-date = August 1, 2014 }}</ref> Although [[Homebuilt aircraft|homebuilding]] is still a large part of the organization's activities, it has grown to include almost every aspect of recreational, commercial and military aviation, as well as [[aeronautics]] and [[astronautics]]. The first EAA [[fly-in]] was held in September 1953 at what is now [[Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport|Timmerman Field]] as a small part of the Milwaukee Air Pageant, fewer than 150 people registered as visitors the first year and only a handful of airplanes attended the event. In 1959, the EAA fly-in grew too large for the Air Pageant and moved to [[Rockford, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/about-eaa-airventure-oshkosh/history/the-early-years-of-eaa-fly-in |title = The Early Years |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association |access-date = August 1, 2014 }}</ref> In 1970, when it outgrew its facilities at the Rockford airport (now [[Chicago Rockford International Airport]]), it moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/about-eaa-airventure-oshkosh/history/home-in-oshkosh |title = Home in Oshkosh |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association |access-date = August 1, 2014 }}</ref> Much of the convention's growth and prominence on the world stage is credited to founder Paul Poberezny's son, aerobatic world champion and longtime EAA president [[Tom Poberezny]],<ref name="AircraftSpruce"/><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.flyingmag.com/former-eaa-president-tom-poberezny-dies/ |title = Former EAA President Tom Poberezny Dies |last = Godlewski |first = Meg |work = Flying |date = July 25, 2022 }}</ref> who became chairman of the event in 1977.<ref name=Plane&Pilot>{{cite web |url = https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/news/the-latest/2022/07/25/longtime-eaa-president-tom-poberezny-has-died/ |title = Longtime EAA President Tom Poberezny Has Died |access-date = August 5, 2022 |last = Goyer |first = Isabel |work = Plane & Pilot |date = July 25, 2022 |archive-date = July 25, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220725142540/https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/news/the-latest/2022/07/25/longtime-eaa-president-tom-poberezny-has-died/ |url-status = dead }}</ref>

For many years, its official name was ''The EAA Annual Convention and Fly-In''. In 1998, the name was changed to ''AirVenture Oshkosh'',<ref name="World">{{cite web |url = http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/about-eaa-airventure-oshkosh/history/world-comes-to-airventure |title = The World Comes to AirVenture |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association |access-date = August 1, 2014 }}</ref> but many regular attendees still call it as ''The Oshkosh Airshow'' or just ''Oshkosh''. For many years, access to the flight line was restricted to EAA members. In 1997, the fee structure for the show was changed allowing all visitors access to the entire grounds.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1683&dat=19970727&id=q0MqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ky4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6597,7206628 |title = It's a bird; it's a plane; it's the Fly-In |newspaper = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |last = Jones |first = Meg |date = July 27, 1997 |access-date = August 2, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> EAA AirVenture holds nearly 1,000 forums and workshops,<ref name="World" /> in addition to their many vendors which bring a variety of aircraft supplies, general merchandise, and name brand sponsors such as [[Piper Aircraft|Piper]], [[Cessna]], [[Cirrus Aircraft|Cirrus]], and many others. 

The 2020 AirVenture convention and air show was canceled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title = EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2020 canceled due to coronavirus pandemic |url = https://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/news/local/oshkosh/airventure/2020/05/01/eaa-airventure-oshkosh-2020-canceled-due-coronavirus-pandemic/3063605001/ |last = Prinsen |first = Jake |website = Oshkosh Northwestern |language = en |access-date = May 1, 2020 }}</ref>

===Historical aircraft debuts===
[[File:ChristenEagleTakeoff.jpg|thumb|right|[[Christen Eagle II]] at AirVenture 2013]]
AirVenture has hosted the debut of numerous revolutionary designs. [[Van's Aircraft]] founder [[Richard VanGrunsven]] debuted his [[Van's RV-3|RV-3]] at the 1972 AirVenture Oshkosh, a homebuilt that defined new ways of aircraft performance. VanGrunsven would eventually go on to build more homebuilts than anyone else in the world, exceeding the annual production of all commercial general aviation companies combined.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1971-vans-rv-3---n17rv |title = 1971 Van's RV-3 |access-date = February 26, 2015 |last = EAA Aviation Center |date = n.d. |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association }}</ref> In 1975, aircraft designer [[Burt Rutan]] introduced his [[Rutan VariEze|VariEze]] [[canard (aeronautics)|canard]] aircraft at Oshkosh, pioneering the use of moldless [[fiberglass|glass-reinforced plastic]] construction in homebuilts, a technique that several aircraft went on to adopt in the ensuing years including composite [[airliner]]s.<ref name="EAAAirVentureMuseum">{{cite web |url = https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1975-rutan-varieze-prototype---n7ez |title = 1975 Rutan VariEze Prototype – N7EZ |access-date = February 26, 2015 |last = EAA Aviation Center |date = n.d. |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association }}</ref><ref name="AircraftSpruce">{{cite web |url = http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/kitspages/pobereznytom.php?clickkey=55532 |title = Tom Poberezny and the Maturing of EAA |publisher=[[Aircraft Spruce]]|access-date = February 26, 2015 |last = Gustafson |first = David }}</ref> At the 1987 AirVenture, [[Cirrus Aircraft]]'s founders, the [[Klapmeier brothers]], unveiled the [[Cirrus VK-30|VK-30]] kit aircraft,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1991-cirrus-vk-30---n33vk |title = Cirrus Design Corporation VK-30 – N33VK |access-date = February 26, 2015 |last = EAA Aviation Center |date = n.d. |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association }}</ref> which later led to the creation of the successful [[Cirrus SR20|SR20]] and [[Cirrus SR22|SR22]], the first designs to incorporate all-[[composite material|composite]] fiberglass construction, [[glass cockpits]] and airframe [[ballistic parachute]]s for use in manufactured [[light aircraft]].<ref name="AircraftSpruce" /><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/kitspages/rgoyer.php?clickkey=55532 |title = Robert Goyer, Editor of Flying Magazine, Talks Homebuilding |publisher=Aircraft Spruce|access-date = February 26, 2015 |last = Gustafson |first = David }}</ref>

Other past notable designs introduced at AirVenture include Frank Christensen's [[Christen Eagle II]] aerobatic kit biplane in 1978,<ref name="AircraftSpruce" /> Tom Hamilton's [[Stoddard-Hamilton Glasair I|Glasair 1]] in 1980,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1979-stoddard-hamilton-glasair-ham2---n88th |title = 1979 Stoddard-Hamilton Glasair 'Ham2' |access-date = February 26, 2015 |last = EAA Aviation Center |date = n.d. |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association }}</ref> and Lance Neibauer's [[Lancair 200]] in 1985.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1984-neibauer-lancer-lancair-200---n384l |title = 1984 Neibauer Lancer – Lanair 200 – N384L |access-date = February 26, 2015 |last = EAA Aviation Center |date = n.d. |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association }}</ref>

At the 2018 AirVenture, Jack Bally introduced his [[Bally B-17|Bally Bomber B-17]], a one-third scale, single seat homebuilt intended as a replica of the [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Bally Bomber Drawing Attention in Oshkosh|url= https://www.eaa.org/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-airventure-news/eaa-airventure-oshkosh/07-21-2018-bally-bomber-drawing-attention-in-oshkosh|publisher=EAA|date=21 July 2018|author= Ti Windisch}}</ref> and Mike Patey introduced [[PZL-104 Wilga#Variants|DRACO]], a highly modified [[PZL-104 Wilga]] made for [[STOL]] and [[bush flying]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inspire.eaa.org/2019/03/05/draco-a-beast-of-a-bushplane/|title=Draco – A Beast of a Bushplane|publisher=EAA|date=March 2019}}</ref>

==Attendance==
[[File:Airventure 2007 Aeroshell.jpg|thumb|Aeroshell Aerobatic Team performing at EAA AirVenture 2007]]
[[File:OSH-2011.jpg|thumb|right|Commercial display at 2011 airshow]]

The EAA estimated the attendance in 2021 at 608,000 people.<ref name="2021 Attendance">{{Cite news |last = Kernan |first = Megan |title = More than a half million people visit EAA AirVenture |language = en |url = https://www.wbay.com/2021/08/02/more-than-half-million-people-visit-eaa-airventure/ |location = Green Bay, Wisconsin |publisher = [[WBAY-TV]] |access-date = August 2, 2021 }}</ref> In 2018, 2,714 international visitors registered from 87 nations. There were approximately 10,000 aircraft, 2,979 show planes, and  976 media representatives on-site from six continents, along with 867 commercial exhibitors.<ref name="ABOUT EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH">{{cite web |url = https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-airventure-news/eaa-airventure-oshkosh/7-30-2018--eaa-airventure-oshkosh-2018-facts-and-figures |title = Overview |author = Experimental Aircraft Association |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association |access-date = July 31, 2018 }}</ref>

In the past, attendance at the event was tabulated on a daily basis rather than on an individual basis.<ref name="Zellmer 2006" /> It is unclear whether this practice still exists at EAA Airventure. For example, in 2006 the [[Oshkosh Northwestern]] reported that attendance was estimated at 625,000 by the EAA.<ref name="Zellmer 2006" /> The estimate was for total attendees each day, so one person attending 7 days would count as 7 attendees. The paper estimated that between 200,000 and 300,000 individuals attended the event.<ref name="Zellmer 2006">{{cite web |url = http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060802/OSH0101/608020375/1128/OSHnews |title = AirVenture attendance drops |first = Doug |last = Zellmer |newspaper = Oshkosh Northwestern |date = August 2, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060822055519/http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060802%2FOSH0101%2F608020375%2F1128%2FOSHnews |archive-date = August 22, 2006 |access-date = July 31, 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

EAA CEO and Chairman Jack Pelton announced that attendance at the 2024 event reached a record-breaking 686,000. This was the highest in the organization’s history, surpassing the previous record of 677,000 set in 2023. He also noted that approximately 10,000 aircraft arrived for the 2024 event.<ref name="EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024">{{cite web |url = https://www.eaa.org/eaa/about-eaa/eaa-media-room/airventure-news-releases/airventure-2024-numbers |title = EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2024 Facts and Figures |author = Experimental Aircraft Association |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association |access-date = May 2, 2025 }}</ref> EAA announced that attendance in 2025 was approximately 704,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2025 Facts and Figures {{!}} EAA AirVenture News |url=https://www.eaa.org/eaa/about-eaa/eaa-media-room/airventure-news-releases/airventure-2025-numbers |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=www.eaa.org |language=en}}</ref>

The large number of aircraft arrivals and departures during the fly-in week makes the Wittman Field FAA control tower the busiest in the world for that week in number of movements.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=246265 |title = EAA AirVenture takes flight for the future |date = July 24, 2004 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081013043244/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=246265 |archive-date = October 13, 2008 |work = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |first = Meg |last = Jones }}</ref> To accommodate the huge flow of aircraft around the airport and the nearby airspace, a special [[NOTAM]] is published each year, choreographing the normal and emergency procedures to follow. More than 4,000 volunteers contribute approximately 250,000 hours before, during and after the event.<ref name="facts">{{cite press release |url = http://www.airventure.org/2007/media/OSH2007_facts.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070117023951/http://www.airventure.org/2007/media/OSH2007_facts.pdf |archive-date = January 17, 2007 |author = Experimental Aircraft Association |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association |title = EAA Airventure Facts }}</ref>
[[File:F35 EAA AirVenture 2019.jpg|alt=The F-35 Lightning II at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019|thumb|The [[F-35 Lightning II]] at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019]]
[[File:Viking Air Canadair CL-215A.jpg|thumb|[[Viking Air]] [[Canadair CL-215]]A at AirVenture 2019|alt=Viking Air Canadair CL-415EAF at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019]]

==Economic impact==
The EAA AirVenture fly-in has a large economic impact on the Oshkosh area as well as the state of Wisconsin. In 1982, the [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] reported that the fly-in had a large economic benefit to the [[Fox Valley (Wisconsin)|Fox Valley]] region. At the time EAA estimated the benefit to be around $30 million (${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US|30000000|1982}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP}}) and the Oshkosh Convention and Tourism bureau estimated it to be lower, at $21 million (${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|21000000|1982}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP}}).<ref>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19820803&id=3GsWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JhIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6612,274588 |title = Fly-in has large impact on economy of region |newspaper = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date = August 3, 1982 |access-date = July 31, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1989, the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce said that [[Winnebago County, Wisconsin|Winnebago County]] had a $47 million benefit from the fly in. Additionally, a 1987 UW-Oshkosh study reported a $65 million (${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US|65000000|1987}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP}}) benefit to the entire state of Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19890801&id=N9kVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yxIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3597,140864 |title = Fly-in gives area economies a big lift |first = Mark |last = Savage |newspaper = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date = August 1, 1989 |access-date = August 1, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2008, a [[University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh|UW-Oshkosh]] Center for Community Partnerships study showed a $110 million economic impact for the Oshkosh area. Of that, $84 million was direct impact with a $26 million multiplier from secondary spending. Additionally, the fly in provided 1,700 jobs and $39 million in labor income for [[Winnebago County, Wisconsin|Winnebago]], [[Outagamie County, Wisconsin|Outagamie]], and [[Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin|Fond du Lac]] counties.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/36716829.html |title = EAA is huge boon to state |first = Meg |last = Jones |newspaper = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date = December 24, 2008 |access-date = July 31, 2014 }}</ref> In 2017, it was estimated that the event had an over $170 million economic impact on the surrounding area.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.eaa.org/eaa/news-and-publications/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/news/09-21-2017-airventure-contributes-more-than-170-million-in-economic-benefit-to-area |title = AirVenture Contributes More Than $170 Million in Economic Benefit to Area |author = Experimental Aircraft Association |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association |date = September 2017 }}</ref>

==Air-traffic operation==
[[File:FAA Oshkosh Tower team.jpg|thumb|right|FAA tower team in pink remotely managing departures in 2011]]
[[File:Oshkosh Tower.jpg|thumb|upright|Control tower in 2009 decorated with banner proclaiming "''World's Busiest Control Tower''"]]
{{mapframe|from=Oshkosh arrival.map|frame=yes|zoom=8|frame-lat=43.94|frame-long=-88.84|text=Fisk arrival}}

In 1961, the Rockford EAA airshow had 10,000 aircraft movements.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine = [[Flying Magazine]] |date = December 1961 |title = EAA Fly-In }}</ref> In 1971, the EAA airshow at Oshkosh brought in 600 planes and 31,653 movements.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= EAA |magazine = Air Trails |date = Winter 1971 |page = 4 }}</ref> Today AirVenture brings in more than 10,000 airplanes. Special air traffic procedures are used to ensure safe, coordinated operations. For example, in 2014 the special flight procedures NOTAM was 32 pages long.<ref name="2014 NOTAM">{{cite web |url = https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/notices/2014-7-24/OSHKOSH%20letter%20size.pdf |title = 2014 Oshkosh NOTAM |publisher = Federal Aviation Administration |access-date = July 30, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140809134457/https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/notices/2014-7-24/OSHKOSH%20letter%20size.pdf |archive-date = August 9, 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

FAA air traffic staff, including controllers, supervisors, and managers, compete throughout the FAA's 17-state Central Terminal Service Area to work the event. In 2008, 172 air traffic professionals representing 56 facilities volunteered to staff the facilities at [[Wittman Regional Airport|Oshkosh (OSH)]], [[Fond du Lac County Airport|Fond du Lac (FLD)]], and [[Fisk, Wisconsin|Fisk]]. They wear bright pink shirts to stand out in the crowd.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/index.cfm?newsId=56746&print=go |title = The Show Begins at AirVenture Oshkosh |publisher = Federal Aviation Administration |date = July 28, 2008 |access-date = July 30, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/notices/2014-7-24/OSHKOSH%20letter%20size.pdf |title = 2014 Oshkosh NOTAM |publisher = Federal Aviation Administration  |access-date = July 30, 2014 |page = 14 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140809134457/https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/notices/2014-7-24/OSHKOSH%20letter%20size.pdf |archive-date = August 9, 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

Due to the [[budget sequestration in 2013]], the Federal Aviation Administration announced that it was not able to send resources to support the AirVenture. Rather than cancelling the event, the Experimental Aircraft Association was forced to sign a $447,000 contract to repay the government for FAA resources during the AirVenture.<ref>{{cite web |first = Dan |last = Namowitz |url = http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2013/June/11/senators-got-19000-messages-against-airventure-fees.aspx |title = EAA agrees to pay FAA to save AirVenture, amid outrage |date = June 11, 2013 |access-date = July 30, 2014 |publisher = Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association }}</ref> EAA filed a petition in federal court arguing that the FAA could not withhold services without specific Congressional action. However, in March 2014 EAA signed a settlement agreement agreeing to pay the 2013 costs and a further agreement that guaranteed FAA participation for another nine years. The agreement required the association to reimburse the government for AirVenture specific costs that had been provided at government expense in the years prior to 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/advocacy/2014-03-21-eaa-faa-reach-agreement-on-airventure-atc-costs |title = EAA, FAA Reach Agreement on AirVenture ATC Costs |author = Experimental Aircraft Association |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association |access-date = July 30, 2014 |archive-date = August 15, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180815200926/https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/advocacy/2014-03-21-eaa-faa-reach-agreement-on-airventure-atc-costs |url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Host airports===
* [[Wittman Regional Airport]] (OSH): Airplanes
* [[Pioneer Airport]] (WS17): Helicopters and airships
*Ultralight Fun Fly Zone: Ultralights, powered parachutes, weight shift trikes, gyroplanes, homebuilt rotorcraft, and hot air balloons 
* Vette/Blust Seaplane Base (96WI): Seaplanes
* [[Fond du Lac County Airport]] (FLD): [[Diversion airport]], additional parking
* [[Appleton International Airport]] (ATW): Diversion airport, additional parking, [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection]] processing
* [[Austin Straubel International Airport]] (GRB): Diversion airport, additional parking
* Planeacres Airport (2WN7): Emergency diversion airport ([[Fisk, Wisconsin|Fisk]] approach)
<ref name="ultralight2">{{cite web |url = https://www.eaa.org/-/media/Files/AirVenture/FlyingIn/2019-NOTAM.ashx |title = EAA AirVenture Oshkosh NOTAM (2019) |publisher = Federal Aviation Administration }}</ref>

===Technical operations===
Several days prior to the event, members of the FAA's Technical Operation team from around the Central Service Area arrive in Oshkosh to set up the temporary communication facilities (mobile communication platforms, [[Fisk, Wisconsin|Fisk]] VFR approach control and [[Fond du Lac County Airport|Fond du Lac (FLD)]] tower). These technicians maintain the facilities during the event and tear down and store the equipment after AirVenture ends.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}}

==Volunteering==
EAA AirVenture relies heavily on [[volunteering|volunteers]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.airventure.org/volunteers/ |title = Be an EAA AirVenture Volunteer |access-date = December 23, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101212143609/http://airventure.org/volunteers/ |archive-date = December 12, 2010 |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.airventure.org/news/2010/100126_volunteer.html |title = Be an AirVenture Insider: Volunteer |publisher = Experimental Aircraft Association |access-date = December 23, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101212201248/http://airventure.org/news/2010/100126_volunteer.html |archive-date = December 12, 2010 }}</ref> who arrive in the weeks leading up to the air show. The tasks they perform range from parking cars and airplanes, to painting buildings, to helping set up and tear down concerts and shows presented by the EAA. Long-time volunteers receive free meals, tee-shirts, embroidered patches, and free admission into the EAA AirVenture event.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.thekathrynreport.com/2010/07/campers-volunteers-all-set-for-eaa.html |title = Campers, Volunteers All Set up for EAA AirVenture |website = The Kathryn Report |type = Blog |date = July 2, 2010 |access-date = December 23, 2010 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=July 2014}}

==National Blue Beret==
{{Main|National Blue Beret}}

National Blue Beret (NBB) is a [[National Cadet Special Activity]] in the [[Civil Air Patrol]]. The event is two weeks long and is set up so that the second week will overlap with the AirVenture airshow. Participants are Civil Air Patrol cadet and senior members who must go through a competitive selection process in order to attend the event. Participants help conduct event operations, including flight marshaling, crowd control, and emergency services.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Freeze |first1=Christopher |title=National Blue Beret: Behind the 8-Ball - In a Good Way |url=https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=66791&i=743089&p=30&pre=1&ver=html5 |website=Volunteer magazine |publisher=Civil Air Patrol |access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Colbegin|colwidth=30em}}
* [[EAA Aviation Museum]]
* [[EAA Biplane]]
* [[Jack Pelton]]
* [[Project Schoolflight]]
* [[Sport Aviation (magazine)|''Sport Aviation'' magazine]]
* [[Steve Wittman]]
* [[Sun 'n Fun]]
* [[Tannkosh]]
* [[Young Eagles]]
{{Colend}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite magazine |last = Povletich |first = William. |url = https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wmh/id/53730/rec/5 |title = The Little Fly-in That Could: How Oshkosh Landed the Largest Annual Aviation Event in the World |magazine = Wisconsin Magazine of History |volume = 105 |issue = 4 |date = Summer 2022 |pages = 24–37 }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|EAA AirVenture Oshkosh}}
* [http://www.airventure.org/ EAA AirVenture Oshkosh]
* [http://www.eaa.org/ Experimental Aircraft Association]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKX8u_Ed0tg "#OSH18 - EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh 2018"] (YouTube video) - overview shows the scale of the event and a variety of aircraft & places

{{Aviation in Wisconsin}}
{{International Airshows}}

[[Category:Air shows in the United States]]
[[Category:Culture of Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Oshkosh, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Winnebago County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1953]]
[[Category:Experimental Aircraft Association]]
[[Category:Aviation in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Organized events in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Summer in the United States]]
[[Category:1953 establishments in Wisconsin]]