OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – The return of EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh is less than two weeks away, and crews are making the final preparations to welcome visitors from around the world.
“Most of the planning is done. Now, we move into execution mode and it’s all those little things that need to get done, whether it’s a fence post, the garbage cans, a spot of paint here and there, or big lists of people who are supposed to be some place at some time,” said EAA Spokesman Dick Knapinski. “We’re not any different than any big public events, whether it’s the Packers, badgers, Summerfest state fair, or any of those things. As you head in for what’s a little bit different feel, while trying to keep a lot of it the same as you did a couple of years ago.”
But all of that planning didn’t come without a few hiccups and challenges. Especially after canceling last year’s event due to the pandemic.
“Like any big public event, you take a year hiatus and I think one of the biggest challenges for us is – where did we put that box back in 2019 that we need now?” Knapinski said. “A lot of things will seem like AirVenture has in the past. We’re going to have thousands of airplanes coming our way, the nearly 800 exhibitors going to be here, media people from all over the world coming in, thousands of people who will be camping right on site, all of that will be taking place…The return of air shows, night air shows over seven days, the Goodyear blimp coming to visit us for the first time in 6 or 7 years, all of those things.”
While most of the EAA staff that has worked on planning the event before was able to shake the rust off from a year in the hangar, not everyone on board was familiar with the flight plans.
“There are also people who have not been part of that process, so they’re learning on the fly. That adds an extra dimension and extra challenges as we bring together all the various facets of airplanes and events and logistics and so forth,” Knapinski told WTAQ News.
There have been some changes in lieu of the pandemic, but most of those changes won’t have a significant impact on the actual operation of AirVenture itself.
“More sanitization, there’ll be 750 hand sanitizers throughout the grounds added to the ones we already had. Little more distancing in the food court areas – so it’s an interesting hybrid of how things have developed following CDC guidance,” Knapinski said.
Another change – admission for kids 18 and under is free, thanks to a partnership with Boeing.
While some volunteers and campers are already arriving on the grounds, EAA AirVenture officially runs from July 26 through August 1st.
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