Flags of various countries seen at EAA. July 23, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Oshkosh every July for EAA’s annual AirVenture.
“The spirit of aviation — you don’t feel that any other place,” Panama native Gustavo Arosemena said. “Just here in Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and I feel like a kid every year I come.”
Many of those visitors come from outside the U.S. Last year, that included nearly 2,000 international guests from 92 different countries in six continents.
“We could very well top that total again this year,” EAA Director of Communications Dick Knapinski said. “It seems like every time a new country is founded, somebody from there shows up at AirVenture in the next couple of years.”
Knapinski said the most countries represented at a single AirVenture was 93. But the real total could be even higher.
“All over the world from eastern Europe, there are people from Asia,” Arosemena said. “We are like a family.”
That total only takes into consideration those who check in at the international visitors tent. Many keep coming back because of the feeling of having a home away from home.
“We love all airplanes so this is the main reason we’re here,” Germany native Justin Doelp said. “And the second reason is because we’re kind of a family right now. Everybody saw me growing up here. I was eight my first time. Now I’m 28.”
AirVenture has become a tradition spanning two decades for Doelp. He’s only missed two years- but not by choice.
“The pandemic year there was no EAA and the next year we weren’t able to enter the U.S,” Doelp said. “It was a hard and tough year because you know that it’s happening there but you can’t really visit it.”
Others may have spent fewer years visiting Oshkosh, but share the same enthusiasm.
“It was like love at first sight you know? I couldn’t stop coming,” Arosemena said.
The tradition dates back to 2015 for Arosemena. He first learned about AirVenture from a fellow pilot. After visiting once, there was no looking back.
“If I’m healthy and have enough money to come I will continue my time here,” Arosemena said. “It’s something- I wait for this the entire year, to see the people, friends, and also fly here.”
A sentiment expressed by many of EAA’s international visitors.
“I want to keep doing it forever,” Doelp said. “Let’s see how long.”
During last year’s event, 13 countries were represented for the first time. Twenty-seven countries had a higher attendance in 2022 when compared to 2019.
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