What began as a small gathering of aviation enthusiasts in 1953 is Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has blossomed into the world’s largest aviation fly-in and annual convention. The EAA Airventure Oshkosh runs this year from July 20 to 26 and promises a full roster of activities for people who love things with wings.
EAA Airventure Oshkosh is a different beast than the Paris Air Show, which took place earlier this past month. The Paris Air Show is the world’s largest aerospace trade show with a focus on commercial and military sales, and the EAA Airventure Oshkosh is a full-fledged festival complete with concerts, movies, activities, air shows and more.
Here’s some numbers to show the scale of the magnificent aircraft event:
500,000: The number of visitors at last year’s event, compared to the 150 visitors who attended the first gathering in 1953.
20,000: The number of takeoffs and landings at Oshkosh’s Wittman Regional Airport for the week of the festival. During the convention, the airport becomes the world’s busiest.
10,000: The number of planes at the EAA Airventure Oshkosh in 2014. The inaugural convention in 1953 only featured 22 planes.
69: The number of nations sending registered visitors to the event.
