EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011 Facts and Figures

FACTS AND FIGURES

Comment from EAA president/CEO Rod Hightower:

* "This year's event was a tremendous success. From the arrival of the Boeing 787 to our tributes to Bob Hoover and Burt Rutan, all the way through the huge crowd on the flight line for Saturday's night air show, the spirit of aviation was alive and well at Oshkosh this year. You could sense the enthusiasm for aviation and the future of flight throughout the AirVenture grounds."

Attendance: 541,000 - Increase of 1.3 percent from 2010. Comment from Hightower:

* "The final attendance figure came in almost exactly where we thought it would. Opening day (July 25) was a tremendously successful day, while Friday (July 29) was very close to a record and Saturday (July 30) - with the superb lineup and night air show - was a big draw. Only some rainy weather in the middle of the week prevented the increase from being even greater."

Total aircraft: More than 10,000 aircraft arriving at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin.

Total showplanes: 2,522 (up 142 aircraft from 2010). Total includes 974 homebuilt aircraft, 899 vintage airplanes, 367 warbirds, 94 ultralights, 92 seaplanes, 36 aerobatic aircraft, 30 rotorcraft, and 30 miscellaneous.

Commercial exhibitors: 803 (up from 777 in 2010)

International visitors registered: 2,098 visitors registered from 68 nations, with Canada (551 visitors), Australia (297), and Brazil (257) the top three nations. (NOTE: This total includes only non-U.S. visitors who register at the International Visitors Tent, so the actual international contingent is undoubtedly larger.)

Media: 861 media representatives on-site, from five continents.

What's ahead for 2012? Comment from Hightower:

* "Next year, for the 60th annual EAA fly-in, we'll be honoring Paul and Audrey Poberezny for all that they have done for the aviator community. We'll also welcome the iconic Piper Cub on its 75th anniversary. We're encouraging all owners of this legendary airplane to come to Oshkosh and turn the field yellow. We are going to be hosting a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen, inviting all surviving members of this renowned World War II unit to join us at AirVenture. In addition, we'll recognize Van's Aircraft founder Dick VanGrunsven, whose RV series of aircraft have become the most popular homebuilt aircraft kits in the world. And, of course, there will be plenty of additions and one-of-a-kind surprises that can be found only at Oshkosh.

One Team - One Fight: A Blog for Veterans: Tuskegee Airmen ...

Aug. 4 was set aside to inspire the aviators of tomorrow. About 400 teenagers from across the nation began their day at Joint Base Andrews, Md. They toured static aircraft displays, watched operational demonstrations and tried on military gear. The teens then traveled to the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at the National Harbor where they enjoyed a lunch with influential aviation and military leaders, including the Tuskegee Airmen. "It's such an honor for us to be able to host the Tuskegee Airmen. They are American icons," said Aimie Gorrell, the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center director of public relations. "We were thrilled that about 400 of our staff were able to take time away from their work today to come out and do what we call a 'standing ovation.' We do a standing ovation for our very most VIP guests and customers, and certainly the Tuskegee Airmen are our true VIPs today.

Tuskegee airman, the biography of Charles E. McGee : Air Force fighter combat record holder

Tuskegee Airmen

Term Paper Resource Guide to African American History

The Tuskegee Airmen, The Men Who Changed a Nation

Benjamin O. Davis Jr., Air Force General & Tuskegee Airmen Leader