A record number of visitors attended this year’s EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, held from July 25 to 31. Jack Pelton, CEO and Chairman EAA, points to a range of factors as being responsible for this year’s record attendance; from aerial displays to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force to the return of more international vistors.

“We introduced a tagline of ‘Unlike Anything Else’ for this year’s AirVenture event and 2022’s fly-in proved to truly be unlike anything else,” said EAA CEO and Chairman Jack Pelton. “We had seven days of nearly perfect weather, along with this year’s programs and activities, which brought out people and airplanes in numbers that we haven’t seen before.”

Attendance:
Approximately 650,000 – A record total (previous mark: 642,000 in 2019) and 7 per cent above 2021’s attendance of 608,000.

Total aircraft:
More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. At Wittman alone, there were 18,684 aircraft operations in the 11-day period from July 21-31, which is an average of approximately 121 takeoffs/landings per hour when the airport is open.

Total showplanes:
3,226 which included 1,375 registered in vintage aircraft parking, plus 1,156 homebuilt aircraft (up 6 per cent over 2021), 369 warbirds (up 5 per cent from ’21), 137 ultralights, 87 seaplanes, 77 aerobatic aircraft, and 25 rotorcraft.

Camping:
More than 12,000 sites in aircraft and drive-in camping accounted for an estimated 40,000 visitors.

Volunteers:
More than 5,000 contributing in excess of 250,000 hours.

Commercial exhibitors:
803.

Forums, Workshops, and Presentations:
More than 1,400 sessions hosted throughout the week.

Social Media, Internet and Mobile:
More than 10.6 million people were reached by EAA’s social media channels during AirVenture, with engagement of 1.1 million; More than 83,000 hours of viewing EAA video clips online also occurred during the event.

International guests:
Attendees from 92 countries outside the U.S., just one behind the record total from 2019.

(Photo: Adobestock)