Believe it or not, it’s that time of the year again to start planning the trip to Oshkosh. The dates this year for Oshkosh are July 23 – July 29, 2012. Many of our members make the trip every year and have been for quite some time. Tom Henry will be volunteering his time at the repair barn and Dennis Crispin will be at campground registration. Don Shoemaker will be sharing stories about his Navion Harvester.
What is EAA AirVenture?
AirVenture takes place once a year around the end of July in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. EAA’s renowed annual Airventure Fly-in Convention showcases in one week what EAA is involved in throughout the year. All of EAA’s year-round activities encourage the open exchange information, discussing new ideas and transferring skills from one person to another from generation to generation. In short, they combine to provide a “gateway” to knowledge and new experiences. Thousands of people fly-in their planes that they own and/or have built themselves and share their experiences and expertise. AirVenture attracts people from around 60 different countries; in 2011, AirVenture welcomed 600,000 international visitors. As you can see, AirVenture is a meeting place for people from all over the world to come together and share their passion for aviation. At AirVenture, you will find many exhibits, vendors, conferences, workshops, aircraft on display, and much more.
Where to Stay
Many people choose to camp out on the campgrounds right there at AirVenture. Shower facilities and other accommodations are available. There are also dorms available in and around Oshkosh that are very affordable. Hotels are widely available in the area as well, however, you can expect to pay a premium price for a hotel in or close to Oshkosh during AirVenture. There is more information available on the AirVenture Website.

Admissions
Weekly and daily rates are available for admissions. As an EAA member, you are able to bring one guest and get them in at the discounted price offered to EAA members. The daily price for an adult EAA member is $27; non-EAA member is $41. Weekly pricing is only available to EAA members (and their guest) and is $115. Full pricing information is available on the AirVenture website.
Schedule of Events
Each day has a number of exclusive events planned. In order to take full advantage of AirVenture, it can be a good idea to look over the schedule beforehand to see what interests you. You can find Daily Highlights on the AirVenture website, along with a full schedule of events for each day.
AirVenture NOTAM
The FAA’s handbook for flying to AirVenture, the 2012 Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), has been completed and is now available either in online PDF format or in printed copies available through EAA’s membership services department. The 32-page booklet has several changes from the 2011 Oshkosh NOTAM, including VFR and IFR arrival procedures. Download or order your NOTAM copy.
We’ll have more information on AirVenture in the coming weeks!