Aircraft from around the world land in Oshkosh for EAA AirVenture
OSHKOSH — Hundreds of aircraft from around the world have landed in Oshkosh for the annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts.
The Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture draws hundreds of thousands of people to Oshkosh for the seven-day convention. Daily airshows, military aircraft, the historic warbirds and the latest in aviation technology are all part of the air convention.
One of the most memorable adventures in space exploration will be highlighted at this week's event. Members of the Apollo 13 crew and team will take part in activities marking the 45th anniversary of the aborted moon mission. Commander Jim Lovell and flight director Gene Kranz will lead the team members in discussions about the preparation, circumstances and determination that brought the astronauts back to earth.
The EAA fly-in and convention began more than 60 years ago.
Governor Scott Walker has proclaimed July 20th to 26th as Wisconsin Aviation Week. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin (TDA) have teamed up to promote, educate and celebrate the state’s aviation industry.
Wisconsin aviation is a thriving industry, and boasts more than 722 landing facilities, 127 of which are public-use airports, linking Wisconsin’s residents and businesses to national and global markets.
Key Wisconsin aviation facts, according to the Governor's Office:
Aviation Week coincides with EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh – the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.”
“EAA AirVenture is something I look forward to attending every year,” Governor Walker said in a statement. “It’s a fun, exciting event for Wisconsin, and it’s great for our tourism industry. EAA AirVenture has an annual economic impact of more than $110 million on the state and local economy, attracting people from all over the world to our great state to one of the best aviation events in the world.”