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Only Thing Better Than EAA AirVenture? Bringing Someone Who’s Never Been

It’s been hugely rewarding to share the annual fly-in experience with newcomers and see it through their eyes.

An extra 3-pound tent and an invite can provide a friend with an epic introduction to AirVenture. [Courtesy: Jason McDowell]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh is celebrated as a massive, unparalleled annual aviation event offering a magical and immersive experience for all attendees.
  • The author's personal journey illustrates how the AirVenture experience deepens over time, from a renter to an enthusiast to an airplane owner, with ownership providing the ultimate immersion.
  • A key takeaway is the author's profound joy and "moral obligation" to share the unique wonder of AirVenture with newcomers and friends, reliving the magic through their eyes.
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June is upon us, and with it comes eager anticipation for the general aviation event of the year, EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. After months of seemingly endless cold weather and extended hours of darkness, we’re on the brink of epic times with lifelong friends.

AirVenture (July 21-27) is a massive fly-in where over 10,000 airplanes arrive for a weeklong celebration of all things aviation. It’s best experienced as an airplane owner. There’s nothing quite like waking up beneath your own wing to the sound of P-51s taking off in formation only a few hundred feet away. “Bad” days are still fantastic, even when they involve heavy rain or clouds of mosquitoes so thick they deserve mention in METARs.

Jason McDowell

Jason McDowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin. He enjoys researching obscure aviation history and serves as a judge for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. He can be found on Instagram as @cessnateur.

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