EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, July 21-27
I would be remiss if I didn’t start this list off with the world’s largest airshow and fly-in. For one week at the end of every July, 600,000 aviation enthusiasts from all over the world gather at Wittman Field (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for a party like no other. Aside from being able to lay eyes on almost any airplane you could imagine, AirVenture features a top-notch daily airshow, educational seminars, a seaplane base, two nighttime airshows, and some of the best root beer floats and cheese curds money can buy. If you can only pick one of these events to attend this year, I highly recommend prioritizing “the world’s greatest aviation celebration” over any other event.
Triple Tree Fly-In, September 22-28
If you’re located anywhere close to Greenville, South Carolina, Triple Tree Aerodrome’s annual Triple Tree Fly-In is a nonnegotiable. Even if you aren’t close to Triple Tree, I wholeheartedly believe every aviator needs to make the flight at least once. Triple Tree has a 7,000-foot grass runway that rivals the grass of the Augusta National Golf Club. Each year, approximately 1,000 airplanes fly in for Triple Tree’s famous fun, fellowship, and hospitality. Unlike AirVenture, this event operates at a much slower pace without the commercial feel of larger events. Attendees are encouraged to sit back, relax, judge landings, and enjoy the company of their friends and family. Although there are a few seminars and activities throughout the day, the bulk of the fun happens in the evening with unique, delicious dinners consisting of barbeque, steak, and even samplings of all the best dishes of the area.
