The Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, made a triumphant return after missing a year due to Covid… and it didn’t fail to deliver!
Words Ed Hicks & Photography Leo Correa-Luna
4 August 2021
After peak Covid pandemic conditions caused the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture 2020 event to be cancelled, it’s fair to say there was a huge amount of pent-up desire for its big return to Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 2021.
This year’s event, billed as ‘The wait is over’, incorporated a number of Covid-safe precautions around the site, and some of the larger public events, such as the Monday night opening concert, were put to one side. But that didn’t stop AirVenture 2021 from making a BIG return. Good weather in the run-up to the event saw higher than normal fly-in visitors, even before the official opening day.
By the end of the seven-day event, visitors tallied 608,000, swelling the City of Oshkosh’s normal population nearly 10-fold. More than 10,000 aircraft flew in, including 3,176 show planes including a record 1,420 vintage aircraft, 1,089 homebuilt aircraft, 354 warbirds, 148 aerobatic aircraft, 112 seaplanes, 33 ultralights, and 27 rotorcraft.
For the many international visitors unable to attend, including FLYER, due to Covid travel restrictions, we can look forward to AirVenture 2022, dates for which are already set for July 25-31… See you there!
This 1949 Cessna 140A is nicknamed Uno because it’s the very first example of the type. An absolutely perfect restoration right down to the inclusion of an original radio, it was completed just weeks before AirVenture by Lorraine and Ken Morris. The aircraft was a very worthy winner of the Classic Aircraft Grand Champion award.
Ever wanted to be woken up by the sound of multiple P-51 Mustangs taking off into the early morning sunrise? Then we can recommend camping at Oshkosh… you’ll get it every day. Bliss… unless you’re tired.
You’ll find truly staggering examples of craftsmanship among the homebuilt parking at Oshkosh. Carlo Cilliers Hatz Classic, powered by a Rotec radial engine, cowled in a hand-formed speed-ring cowl, was just one of them. A five-year project, Carlo’s Hatz was crowned reserve Grand Champion in the plans-built category.
On two nights during the Oshkosh week there’s a full-on night airshow including a wide array of aircraft and pyrotechnics, brought to a conclusion with a giant wall of fire… It’s LOUD!
