Attendance was down 10-12 percent, but EAA still pleased with
the results
Preliminary figures from the Experimental Aircraft Association's
52nd annual EAA AirVenture fly-in convention indicate that the
world-renowned event launched the "Next Century of Flight" with
great success, as hundreds of thousands of EAA members and aviation
enthusiasts enjoyed a week filled with glimpses of the future of
flight along with celebrations of aviation's past and present.
Although total estimated attendance figures show a 10- to
12-percent decrease from last year's estimated attendance of
770,000, due to weather, economic factors and other reasons, EAA
President Tom Poberezny found little over which to be disappointed
following this year's event.
"Everyone associated with this year's EAA AirVenture, be it
members, visitors, exhibitors or sponsors, was very pleased with
the enthusiasm and activity throughout the grounds," Poberezny
said. "A near-record number of vendors throughout the grounds
reported brisk sales and interest, while visitor surveys show their
experiences were overwhelmingly positive. EAA again brought
together the world of flight for a celebration that is unmatched
anywhere else in the world for its size and scope."
EAA AirVenture's activities attracted such luminaries as
Harrison Ford, Burt Rutan, Mike Melvill and Paul Tibbets to the
event, while more than 10,000 airplanes (including nearly 2,500
showplanes) made the trek to the annual fly-in. In addition,
EAA members enjoyed more focused activities than ever, primarily
based around the new EAA Member Village in the center of the
grounds.
Among the final figures for the event were:
- More than 10,000 airplanes from North America, Europe, South
America, Africa and Australia
- Among those airplanes were nearly 2,500 showplanes that were
eligible for judging in one of 11 different categories
- A near-record 802 commercial exhibitors (record: 807 in
2003)
- More than 30,000 campers housed along the EAA AirVenture flight
line in aircraft camping areas or in the drive-in Camp Scholler
facility adjacent to the flight line
- Approximately 700 reporters from five continents, sending
coverage worldwide
- In excess of 4,000 volunteers who contributed more than 250,000
hours of service
- A total of 1,429 international aviation enthusiasts from 61
nations who registered at the International Visitors Tent (top
three nations: Canada 438, Germany 144, Australia 117).
"Along with the basic facts and figures, EAA AirVenture is a
remarkable event because it truly does bring together all of
aviation, including every facet of recreational flight," Poberezny
said. "In addition, the nation's top policymakers such as the
top officials from FAA, NASA and NTSB, as well as leading
Congressional representatives, came to Oshkosh. Those
relationships built and strengthened by EAA here pay dividends for
all of aviation throughout the year."
A special highlight of this year's event was the introduction of
the new sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule, a much-anticipated
set of regulations that will open the world of recreational flight
to many more people by reducing time and cost barriers. FAA
Administrator Marion Blakey spent two days at Oshkosh, emphasizing
the new opportunities available through sport pilot.