It’s been quite some time since I have stayed at Airventure Oshkosh for the entire event. It is impossible to see everything, even staying the week.
The figures for 2023 Airventure have been released – a record-breaking year with 677,000 attending.
As par for the course over this past surreal year, I have gone with the flow and came out in a beautiful place and not where I’d expected.
The last time I stayed at Oshkosh for the entire event, it was in the 1990’s and my dad and uncle would have had a trailer there, and depending on life, the bonanza was flown up as well.
This time around, I was more a part of setting up both arrangements and living through what happened as a result.
Both restorers were asked to judge at Airventure again this year, which requires a week’s commitment regardless of the weather. Rosie and her family were on hand for the entire week as well with one day going out with the restorers while they judged aircraft to understand the process better.
This year’s weather gave smoke, and thunderstorms as well as heat, it’s fortunate our immediate group did not have an airplane on the grounds.
I am a bit conservative when it comes to standards I’ll fly in, the visibility due to smoke (usually reported as haze) brought conditions between VFR and MVFR – okay to fly in visually but limited ceilings or visibility to be considered.
The influx of airplanes for the show is akin to moths flying towards a flame – everywhere. Screenshots of the arrival procedure hammer down the scale with airplanes lined up for miles.
Allergies and sinus issues were of consideration for some due to the conditions. We bought more allergy medicine for one of our group as sinus and allergy issues made camping outside less than desirable.
The idea of flying into Oshkosh and camping beside an airplane is a dream for some pilots as they attain flight time and pursue experiences.
The reality is that the weather will play a large part of the time there. Smoke and heat like this year color the entire convention along with ceilings on Tuesday and Wednesday changing the air show being a hiccup to be dealt with.
While storms roll through every year, sometime mid-week, and this year was no different. Wednesday morning before dawn brought a storm through with rain threatening through the remainder of the day, luckily becoming better for the Womenventure photo late morning.
Camping is a great option for a couple of days then heading back to air conditioning and running water. As per usual after the night air show on Wednesday airplanes head out back to their real lives.
The storms south of Oshkosh and in the vicinity late in the week did not allow for additional airplanes to fill the spots left on the field.
Friday night brought a second round of storms, which looked similar to Wednesday’s in severity but proved to be an intense thunderstorm.
Airports, hotels, and home rentals are at capacity in the hour to two-hour vicinity of Oshkosh. The entire region, not just Oshkosh experience an influx of visitors for the annual air show and convention.
The end of the week brings more military flying, usually highlighting current technology alongside a warbird like the P-51 Mustang and this year the Corsair.
The night air show on Wednesday and Saturday nights have changed the dynamic of the shows. Airplanes using flares, and LED lights to accompany fireworks bring a change of pace for the usual air show routines.
For as long as I can remember, I would use the time during the convention to think through where I am at in life and what I would like to do with the next year. For some years, the memories and safety of being at the show were enough to bring tears that would not come normally. After Dad died on Veterans Day weekend, I was finally able to let go during what was our yearly vacation.
Catching up with friends and airplane family during the week is what makes the convention more than just airplanes. Yes, everyone comes because of aviation; they return because of the people that make the journey more.
My dad’s EAA chapter holds a brat fest on the Friday of Oshkosh each year, as I was finally at the show for Friday, it was good to see people I hadn’t seen in years. Having grown up with some of them, it was like going down memory lane with the dishes served, especially the potato salad recipe passed from grandmother to granddaughter.
There are moments that highlight times passage; Fifinella and the baby barnstormer running back to their trailer before the noise of the afternoon air show and news of an early mentor who had not made it to Airventure as she was no longer able to travel bookends on the march of time.
Finding air conditioning in the worst parts of the day was essential for this year’s show. Just as essential as afternoon ice cream in the shade has been since my first Oshkosh.
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