2025 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh sets records
It was a record-breaking year for the EAA AirVenture
OSHKOSH — Several records were set at this year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, drawing well over half a million people.
To kickoff the weeklong event, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. donated its last remaining blimp gondola frame to the EAA Aviation Museum as part of a new children’s exhibit. The gondola frame is from Goodyear’s GZ-20 model era of blimps that spanned nearly 40 years. In that time period, as one blimp retired, its gondola was often refurbished for a new blimp. The gondola frame being donated to the EAA museum was previously used on the Europa, Goodyear’s blimp that flew throughout Europe in the 1980s, and on the Florida-based Stars and Stripes in the early 2000s.
Jack Pelton, CEO and Chairman of EAA, said their theme of One Week – Endless Possibilities certainly was true this year. “Whether it was aviation history or innovation or camaraderie, it was present in countless ways during the week,” said Pelton. “This year’s highlights and activities also set the foundation for what’s to come in the world of flight, and that is perhaps the most exciting development of all.”
This year's event saw just over 700,000 attendees, which is a new record. The previous record was set last year with 686,000 attendees. “We found ourselves revising our initial attendance estimate upward once all the final weekend’s numbers were in, including from a tremendous day on Saturday, July 26,” added Pelton. “This year’s success is a credit to our 6,000 volunteers, our staff members, and our partners as they continue to raise the bar on what’s possible as we bring the aviation world to Oshkosh.” Those volunteers contributed nearly 300,000 hours.
More than 10,000 aircrafts arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. In Oshkosh alone, there were 16,246 aircraft operations in the period between July 17th and July 28, which is an average of approximately 108 takeoffs/landings per hour when the airport is open. There were 2,543 show planes including: 995 vintage aircraft, 910 homebuilt aircraft, 361 warbirds, 101 ultralights and light planes, 75 aerobatic aircraft, 74 seaplanes and amphibians, 18 rotorcraft, and nine balloons.
READ MORE: EAA AirVenture provides $257 million economic impact annually
There was more than 15,000 sites in aircraft and drive-in camping accounted for more than 40,000 visitors according to the EAA. A total of 2,305 attendees registering at the International Visitors Tent from 94 countries outside the U.S., including the first-ever registered visitor from Senegal. As a significant number of international visitors do not officially register at the tent when they arrive, the actual international visitor total is much higher.
“There is never a shortage of ideas from EAA members, AirVenture attendees, our partners, and from inside our own volunteer corps and staff,” said Pelton regarding next year’s AirVenture. “We’ll take a little time to enjoy this year’s accomplishments but will soon start planning for next year’s edition of The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.” He has no plans to step down from his post. Pelton, 66, became the organization’s third chairman after taking over from the late Tom Poberezny, who resigned in 2011.
Follow WKTS News on Facebook and Instagram for the latest local news.