Oshkosh hosts record-breaking EAA Airventure
OSHKOSH, Wis. (CBS 58) -- EAA Airventure has had its highest attendance ever!
According to a news release, approximately 677,00 people attended the EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, over a span of 11 days. More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin.
"We had record-setting totals of campers, exhibitors, volunteers, and more", said Chairman Jack Pelton. "It was also a challenging year at times with weather, logistics, and other factors, which makes me even more proud of the efforts by our volunteers and staff to organize an outstanding event.”
The airshow featured a variety of aircrafts. There were 3,365 aircraft vehicles, leading to a record of1,497 registered in vintage aircraft parking, plus 1,067 homebuilt aircraft, 380 warbirds (up 3% from ’22), 194 ultralights,134 seaplanes and amphibians,52 aerobatic aircraft, and 41 rotorcraft.
About 40,000 campsite visitors were in attendance. Guests came from all over, not just the Midwest, but from around the world. International visitors returned in a big way in 2023, with 2,372 attendees registering the International Visitors Tent from a record-tying 93 countries outside the U.S. Adding a significant number of international visitors who do not register at the tent when they arrive, the actual total is much higher.
The event was put on by more than 5,500 contributing, and 848 commercial exhibitors.
The airshow was successful on social media as well. More than 18.3 million people were reached by EAA’s social media channels during AirVenture (up 78% over 2022), with engagement of 1.9 million; More than 189,000 hours of viewing EAA video clips online also occurred during the event (more than double the 2022 total). There was international media coverage as well. 863 media representatives were on-site, from six continents.
The 2024 airshow will take place in Oshkosh. Pelton says plans for next year will begin soon.
"We’ll start planning for EAA AirVenture 2024 a little later in August, but we are already looking at a number of big activities, including the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force," said Pelton. " Plenty of ideas have also been forwarded to us from EAA members and others that will be part of the planning for 2024.”
To learn more about the EAA Airventure, click here