Aviation Quiz: What city has more airplanes than all of Asia and Europe combined, and the busiest airport in the world?
Hint: It is also well-known for manufacturing overalls.
From July 28 through Aug. 3, the answer is Oshkosh, Wis.
During that week this year, the central Wisconsin town (a three-hour drive from Chicago) will be host to the 42nd Annual Experimental Aircraft Association International Fly-In Convention and Sport Aviation Exhibition.
The event is a must to those who fly. It is the largest aviation event in the world, and to airplane aficionados from around the globe it is simply called “Oshkosh.”
“There are a number of things that are special this year,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA president. “One is the return of the Concorde.”
One of British Airways’ supersonic transports is scheduled to arrive on Saturday and depart Tuesday. “The Concorde will eventually be retired, and many people will never have the opportunity to see one close up,” Poberezny added.
For those who really want to fly in a Concorde but can’t afford the $9,000 round-trip fare to Europe, an hourlong (subsonic) ride will be available at $715 per person.
During the convention, about 15,000 aircraft will be parked on the field, and 2,000 show aircraft will be on display on the 1,200-acre site. Airplanes will be parked in neat rows and grouped in general classes.
“From north to south it’s warbirds, then the home-builts, antiques, classics and ultralights,” Poberezny said, describing the flight line area.
“The flight line is 1.6 miles long, so if you can only spend a day you have to pick and choose. You have to be prepared to say to yourself, `What do I want to see for sure?’ Then anything else is gravy,” he said.
The airshow will start between 2:45 and 3:45 p.m. (it varies a little each day) and lasts from 2 1/2 to three hours, Poberezny said. “Prior to the show is the Showcase Fly-in, a choreographed flyby of planes that are not doing aerobatics, but are unique. That lasts about 90 minutes.”
The convention site has two areas. “The flight line, which is where the aircraft are, and the exposition area with the forums, workshops and a few aircraft on display,” Poberezny said. “From either area you can see the airshow very well, and both are covered by the public address system.”
The exhibition area is open to the general public with no restrictions, the flight line is for EAA members, members of other aviation organizations, pilots and their guests.
Admission: (exhibition area) non-members-$15 for adults, $8 children (8-13) and seniors (62 and over); EAA members-$5 adults, $3 children (8-13) and seniors. If you qualify for a flight line pass, it costs $20 (non-members, adults), $10 (children 8-13); or $11 (members, adults), $5 (children 8-13). A weekly pass for adult members is $66, $18 for children 8-13. (The flight line pass also admits you to the exhibition area.) Parking is $4 ($2 for members). Annual EAA membership is $35. Checks are accepted, but not credit cards.
In addition to the displays, there will be a special recognition of the 25th anniversary of the first walk on the moon during the event. Of the 25 living Apollo astronauts, 15 have said they will attend, Poberezny said.
“Those include (Buzz) Aldren, (Neil) Armstrong and (Michael) Collins, the crew of Apollo 11, the first trip to the moon,” Poberezny said. “We will have a series of small programs through the convention that will feature them.”
But people don’t go to Oshkosh just to see the Concorde or an astronaut. They go for the total aviation experience: to walk and gawk at every type and size of airplane, from giant transports to tiny Piper Cubs.
They go to sit and listen to the roar of the jet, or the steady and powerful sound of the bi-winged open cockpit Stearman or just to talk aviation with others who share the love and fascination with flight.
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For more information, call the EAA at 414-426-4800.
