A record number of people attended EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024.
According to officials with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), approximately 686,000 people attended the show — the highest total on record.
The previous highest number of attendees was in 2023 with approximately 677,000.
“This year’s tag line was ‘Inspiring the Future of Aviation’ and AirVenture 2024 certainly did that in countless ways,” said EAA CEO and Chairman Jack Pelton. “The mix of innovation, history, excitement, and fun that is a hallmark of Oshkosh was present throughout the grounds and made the event a memorable one, filled with numerous ‘Only at Oshkosh’ moments in the air and on the grounds.”
Also breaking a record was the number of commercial exhibitors at the show, with 861, association officials said.
By The Numbers
Total aircraft
More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. At Wittman alone, there were 16,780 aircraft operations in the 11-day period from July 18-28, which is an average of approximately 113 takeoffs and landings per hour when the airport is open, EAA officials reported.
Total showplanes
2,846 including 1,200 vintage aircraft, 975 homebuilt aircraft, 337 warbirds, 154 ultralights and light planes, 82 aerobatic aircraft, 65 seaplanes and amphibians, 23 rotorcraft, and 10 balloons.
Camping
More than 15,000 sites in aircraft and drive-in camping accounted for more than 40,000 visitors.
Volunteers
Nearly 6,000 volunteers contributed more than 250,000 hours.
Forums, Workshops, and Presentations
More than 1,600 sessions were hosted during the week at 65 venues.
International guests
A total of 2,581 attendees registered at the International Visitors Tent from a record-setting 98 countries outside the U.S., a 9% increase over 2023. As a significant number of international visitors do not officially register at the tent when they arrive, the actual international visitor total is much higher, EAA officials explained.
The Gathering shines
The EAA Aviation Foundation’s annual event to support its aviation education programs attracted more than 1,000 people and raised a record $2.8 million that will be focused on EAA’s mission of growing participation in aviation.
Planning Begins for 2025
What’s ahead for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025, which is slated for July 21-27?
“We’ve already received plenty of ideas for next year and a little bit later this summer, we’ll begin reviewing what might be possible for 2025,” Pelton said. “Our annual goal is to create a gathering of people and airplanes that is found nowhere else in the world, and continue to improve the experience for EAA members and visitors.”
For more information: EAA.org
I arrived in my Class B RV on Monday noonish, to find Scholler jam packed, and a new field opening south of Ripple. So obviously there are more and more Scholler campers each year. It all worked, though, just made it a little farther to get to the show. Glad I brought my Vespa along!
I was disappointed only in the operation of the air shows. Both the day shows and night shows had way too long of gaps between performers. As always, the performers were superb, and especially I enjoyed seeing the Snowbirds. But in past years, one act would end and another would be on deck, ready to go right away. This year, it was as if one act would land, and another wouldn’t be ready to start for another 15 minutes (I didn’t actually time the gaps).
As always, the volunteers did a stellar job, and overall it was a great week. I reconnected with friends, and I made new friends, which to me is the best part. I left Sunday shortly after noon, but instead of waiting for the 3 block tank dump line, I elected to tanker my poop to my next stop on the way home—much more convenient! See ya all next year!
Car parking was fiasco. D and G lots were reserved for vendors. People who brought the money had to walk long distances to wait and catch a bus to gates.
Another excellent Airventure! We were only there 2 days, loved every minute.
Note: the sound from planes is not noise (opinion) to me. It is music (opinion) to me. Sound is fact, noise is opinion.
2023 was the longest arrival (10mi south of Endeavour Bridge) plus extended holding over the lakes and longest departure (just shy of three hours) that I ever experienced. After all the back-talking and cussing I heard on freq., I’m guessing a lot of those did not return this year. And the same thought crossed my mind.
But we were pleasantly surprised this year by a Green Lake transition on Sunday straight in to 36L and even more impressed by the brilliant idea of 6-8am “departure only” on Thursday. We were airborne within 15min of engine start. Big difference. We’ll be back 😉
My wife and myself (we are from Canyon lake Texas now) and four friends from Mississippi were six of the attendees from Saturday before show to Thursday and Friday.
Love the noise and RV camping (no Generator and right by the highway). No bother from highway. Jet noise part of living the experience (we all started coming in 1988 and have only missed about 8 years along the way). Used to fly in (Beech 35P) and camp by the plane tenting. When we turned 80 years of youth (in 2017) Wife said no more tenting. So we RV’d.
I’m ASES, ASMEL, Commercial Helo, AGI, CFII, IA, A&P. Twenty years DPE. Member SETP.
It was a great week, as always! The weather was much milder this year versus the past couple of years, which was a pleasant surprise. Forums, vendors, static displays, everything was fantastic. I love that there is so much going on simultaneously all the time — there is truly something for everyone and as usual, there was way more to see and do than possible in a week. Having recently retired from the Air Force Test Center, I was thrilled to see the test airplanes on display and the AFTC mission highlighted along with the other Air Force displays that let people know about opportunities for civilians in the Air Force.
The food trucks have been my favorite addition over the past few years. I have yet to try them all. And where else but Wisconsin would you find Cheese Curd Tacos? They were delicious!
I was there all week. Good weather helped, although storms here in the Southeast made it difficult to fly up. There was nothing really special in the airshows, other than that they were way too loud. Frankly, as an exhibitor, the jets on burner are a real annoyance when trying to speak with customers. Better would be to wait on the loud jets until after 5PM and on the final Saturday for the local public crowds. In Camp Schoeller the massive RVs with generators are taking over. I had to camp among the handful of tent campers at the very southern end. While the RV noise was less there, noise from the nearby highway was constant throughout the night. Got some earplugs and that helped. Breakfasts in the Tall Pines Cafe, run by Vintage Aircraft volunteers, was great. The food in the other places was bland and expensive as always. We went out to eat in the evenings. My favorite places are Wendt’s on the Lake, Acee Ducee in downtown Oshkosh, and of course Ardy’s and Ed’s for a perch sandwich and a malted.