OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — We’re officially two weeks away from the world’s biggest air show and convention.
More than 600,000 people and 10,000 airplanes come to Oshkosh for EAA’s AirVenture every year.
Preparations for the convention have been happening since the end of last year’s event.
As soon as the snow melts and the ground firms up, which is usually around May, that’s when volunteers kick it in full gear making sure these grounds are in the best shape possible for when AirVenture takes flight for its 70th year.
“We’ve got a lot of staffing that’s been taken care of already, there’s still a few openings so if people are interested they can get a hold of us,” said Dick Knapinski, EAA spokesperson.
Volunteers and crews have been busy setting up tents and taking care of landscaping.
With the dry weather we’ve been having, the grass may look a little brown, but Knapinski says the ground has been able to stay firm, resulting in getting some projects done faster.
“In fact some of the people who usually are mowing grass, we moved them to other areas so they can get other things that, so on that, we’re ahead of schedule,” said Knapinski.
The campground opened on June 30. Knapinski says people started flying in that day.
“We’re getting a regular stream of campers each day and you’re going to see them over the next two weeks really start to flow in and fill those campgrounds right on the edge of Highway 41,” said Knapinski.
“I’ve been doing this consistently for five years now since I’ve retired,” said Dave Shaw, a volunteer.
Shaw arrived in Oshkosh four days ago all the way from Atlanta.
He says being a volunteer can be overwhelming, but very humbling.
“There are some pretty hard jobs, I’ll admit, you can work as hard as you want and they’ll let you go for it,” said Shaw. “I’m a member, a volunteer but I also look at myself as a guest, the EAA treats the volunteers very well.”
Shaw met his wife at AirVenture years back when she worked for EAA’s Oshkosh Chapter, and he worked for Atlanta’s.
“We came up here, met her to do some business and we just kind of connected, had a couple year long distance relationship and romance and we got married in 1993,” said Shaw. “Actually, they let us get married right here in the Fergus Chapel on the grounds so we’re very much tied to EAA.”
Even after weeks of hard work being a volunteer, Shaw says some of his favorite moments and friends have been made at AirVenture throughout the years, and he’s ready to make more at this year’s event.
“The airplanes are probably the reason why we come but all of a sudden the memories and friendships is really what it’s about, that’s what brings people back,” said Shaw.
EAA AirVenture begins Monday, July 24 and goes until Sunday, July 30.
For more information about EAA AirVenture, click here.
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