EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021 – A Look Back at the Final Stats and Figures

Jim Tobul's Corsair and the Warbird Heritage Foundation's FG-1d Corsair performing the NAVY Legacy flight in formation with two U.S. Navy Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 EA-18G Growler
United Fuel Cells

MAST Asia 2017, Tokyo, Japan - Day ...
MAST Asia 2017, Tokyo, Japan - Day 2: International Presence

Once again, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021 proved to be the world’s greatest aviation event. Better known simply as “Oshkosh” to those who love aviation, the event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin showcases many incredible aircraft for one week each summer to the several hundred thousand enthusiasts who fly in from across the globe to witness or participate in the spectacle.

And “Oshkosh” is now in the books for 2021. As ever, it proved highly successful, with another record attendance. The Experimental Aircraft Association’s CEO and Chairman, Jack Pelton, had the following to say in a formal press release celebrating this year’s accomplishments. “This was perhaps the most challenging set of circumstances we’ve ever faced as an organization to make the event happen. I could not be more proud of our volunteers, staff, and participants for the way they came together to exceed our expectations and make AirVenture 2021 a truly memorable experience. We went into this year not knowing what AirVenture would look like and how big of an event was possible. The aviation community spoke loudly, though – it was ready to come to Oshkosh and we were happy that we could welcome them. Our theme was ‘The Wait is Over,’ and indeed it was. And the wait was worth it. There was joy and excitement throughout the grounds and it set the stage for the return of AirVenture, making us very excited for the future.”

 

Attendance: Approximately 608,000 – Only the third time attendance has surpassed 600,000 and within 5 percent of 2019’s record total.

Total aircraft: More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. At Wittman alone, 16,378 aircraft operations took place in the 10-day period from July 22-31, which is an average of approximately 116 takeoffs/landings per hour when the airport is open.

Total showplanes: 3,176, which  included: A record 1,420 vintage aircraft registered, plus 1,089 homebuilt aircraft, 354 warbirds, 148 aerobatic aircraft, 112 seaplanes, 33 ultralights, and 27 rotorcraft.

Camping: More than 12,000 sites in aircraft and drive-in camping accounted for an estimated 40,000 visitors.

Volunteers: More than 5,000, who contributed in excess of 250,000 hours.

Commercial exhibitors: 747.

Forums, Workshops, and Presentations: A total of 1,055 sessions took place throughout the week.

Social Media, Internet, and Mobile: The EAA’s social media channels reached more than 18.95 million people during AirVenture, with an engagement of 1.08 million; EAA video clips during the event were viewed 3.48 million times.

International guests: Despite travel restrictions that greatly limited the number of attendees from other nations, the EAA still welcomed visitors from 66 countries during the week.

The Gathering shines The EAA Aviation Foundation’s annual event to support its aviation education programs attracted more than 500 people and raised more than $1.7 million dollars which will be focused on EAA’s mission of growing participation in aviation.

Media: 567 media representatives on-site, from four continents.

Economic impact*: $170 million for the five counties in the Oshkosh region (Winnebago, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Brown). * – based on a 2017 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh economic impact study

On July 30, 2021, the American Flight Museum’s AC-47 from Topeka, Kansas, and an AC-130J Ghostrider from the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida, conducted a gunship legacy flight around Wittman Regional Airport during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021. Air Force Special Operations Command airmen and aircraft were one of the featured programs at AirVenture, giving attendees the opportunity to learn about recruitment opportunities, specialized airpower, military aviation heritage, and humanitarian capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Reft)
 

From a warbird perspective, EAA AirVenture 2021 saw the first Oshkosh appearance of the magnificent  Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat belonging to Fagen Fighters WWII Museum. This WWII naval fighter made its first post-restoration flight on January 3, 2021, following a two and a half year restoration with Steve Hinton, Jr. at Fighter Rebuilders in Chino, California. The aircraft won the Grand Champion Warbird Award this year, which was not a surprise to anyone who’d followed the Hellcat’s journey back to flight. Another ‘first appearance’ on the big stage was the Warbird Heritage Foundation’s Goodyear FG-1D Corsair (BuNo. 92050, N194G). Following an eight-year restoration, Mike Schiffer flew the Corsair for the first time on March 9, 2021. The airplane has been finished in an authentic Naval Reserve paint scheme for the former NAS Glenview. Bernie Vasquez brought the Dakota Territory Air Museum‘s recently restored Hawker Hurricane Mk.XII (RCAF 5708). Another first appearance was the OV-10 Squadron’s North American-Rockwell  OV-10 Bronco, which they flew all the way from Chino, California. This aircraft, OV-10A BuNo 155474, was the 164th example off the production line and a veteran of three different wars. In February 1969, it deployed to Vietnam with the Black Ponies of Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4), serving there until April 1972 (look for a full feature on ‘474 in a future issue of Warbird Digest Magazine).

As many will know, hundreds of gorgeous, strikingly presented airplanes arrive at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh each and every year hoping to win a Lindy Award. Of course, only a handful can come away with any kind of award, but fewer still earn a Lindy. These awards range across six categories: Homebuilt, Warbird, Vintage, Ultralight, Seaplane, and Rotorcraft. Entrants can only receive consideration for one category in any given year, and are not eligible for the same or any lower-tier awards if they have won previously. While the award judges consider an aircraft’s looks in their deliberations, the quality of craftsmanship on display is a crucial factor as well. Careful construction and/or restoration, as well as tireless maintenance, are essential to winning a Lindy.

Here is the list of the winners in the Warbird category.

Preservation Awards John Schaefer Waterloo, Illinois Cessna O-1A Bird Dog, N413PG Pete Bales Janesville, Wisconsin Hughes OH-6A Cayuse, N67PB Lou Feldvary Hardy, Virginia North American T-6D Texan, N757LF Blake Bosley Richmond, Texas Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, N60591 Judges’ Choice: Military Transport United States Air Force Pittsburg, Pennsylvania Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, 02-1099 Judges’ Choice: Light Attack Aircraft Douglas F. Kulick Reno, Nevada Piper PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer, N2650A Judges’ Choice: Brody Equipped Grasshopper Ric Woldow Morton, Illinois Piper L-4, N50364 Judges’ Choice: Primary Trainer Richard Smith Austin, Texas Fairchild PT-19A, N48671
Judges’ Choice: T-34 Gary Otto/CAF Wisconsin Wing Pewaukee, Wisconsin Beechcraft T-34A Mentor, N5347W Judges’ Choice: Fighter Warbird Heritage Foundation Waukegan, Illinois Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, N194G Dirty Bird Hunter Hamilton Colorado Springs, Colorado Beechcraft C-45/SNB-5, N97001 Best Military Transport Joseph Anderson Phoenix, Arizona Douglas DC-3A, N8336C Silver Wrench Aerometal International Inc. Aurora, Oregon Best L-Bird Phil Hein Burlington, Wisconsin Stinson L-5G Sentinel, N2584B Silver Wrench Fred Wright Phoenix, Arizona Best B-25 Betty’s Dream LLC Minot, North Dakota North American B-25 Mitchell, N5672V Silver Wrench Aero Trader Chino, California Best Navy Fighter American Honor Foundation Ocala, Florida Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair, N240CF Silver Wrench American Honor Foundation Ocala, Florida Best T-34 Mike Reirdon El Cajon, California Beechcraft A-45 Mentor, N4982N Silver Wrench Blackwell Aviation Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania Best T-6/SNJ Daniel Van Buskirk Bismark, North Dakota North American T-6 Texan, N72176 Silver Wrench Springer Aeronautics Toronto, Ontario, Canada Best Fighter Hannu Halminen Orono, Ontario, Canada North American P-51 Mustang, N951HB Silver Wrench Glenn Wegman Fighter Enterprises Indiantown, Florida Returning Best of Class — Large Plaque Robert Stoney Mercer Island, Washington Cessna O-1E Bird Dog, N4848M Returning Grand Champion — Large Plaque Keith Brunquist Wasilla, Alaska Boeing YL-15 Scout, N477OC
Keep ‘em Flying Award — Large Plaque Dan Blackwell Irwin, Pennsylvania Beechcraft T-34A Mentor, N557DB Silver Wrench Dan Blackwell Irwin, Pennsylvania Keep ‘em Flying Award — Large Plaque Jimmy Hayes Sarasota, Florida Aero Vodochody L-39X Albatros, N395MK Silver Wrench Code One Aviation Rockford, Illinois Keep ‘em Flying Award — Large Plaque Joe Roetering Naples, Florida Beechcraft T-34B Mentor, N434JR Silver Wrench Blackwell Aviation Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania Phoenix Award Steve Miller Naperville, Illinois Lockheed Airtrooper N100GR Gold Wrench George Robertson Jim Fernandez Sorrell Brothers Reserve Grand Champion: Post-World War II American Honor Foundation Ocala, Florida North American F-86 Sabre, N386BB Gold Wrench American Honor Foundation Ocala, Florida Reserve Grand Champion: World War II Jordan Deters/CAF Minnesota Wing Hermantown, Minnesota Vultee BT-13A Valiant, N52411 Gold Wrench CAF Minnesota Wing Grand Champion: Post-World War II James and Pat Harker Forest Lake, Minnesota Convair L-13A, N6615C Gold Wrench James and Pat Harker Forest Lake, Minnesota Grand Champion: World War II Fagen Fighters WWII Museum Granite Falls, Minnesota Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, N9265A Gold Wrench Fighter Rebuilders Chino, California

So now we turn to next year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Jack Pelton noted that: “Planning is well underway for next year’s event, including discussions during AirVenture 2021 about possible features and attractions for 2022. We also look forward to welcoming more international visitors next year to return AirVenture to a truly global reunion. In the next few months, we will be finalizing highlights in all areas to make the 69th EAA fly-in convention the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.”

Some of the many wonderful people who attended this year’s event!  

Be the first to comment

Graphic Design, Branding and Aviation Art

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*