There Will Be No More AirVentures for Me

Final fly-in to Oshkosh wasn't exactly a pleasant experience.

Martha Lunken

Friday, October 03, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The author shares an aerial photo from arrival to a previous AirVenture at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. [Courtesy: Martha Lunken]

Key Takeaways:

The author's decades-long relationship with AirVenture evolved from initial awe and enthusiasm in 1968 to varied experiences as an FAA inspector, columnist, and guest.
Experiences ranged from enjoying airshow spectacles and exclusive VIP perks at the *FLYING* pavilion to navigating challenging FAA airspace presentations and logistical issues.
Frustrations with complicated arrival procedures, unhelpful staff, inconvenient parking, and high costs during a final visit led the author to decide it was their "swan song" at Oshkosh.

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It’s been a volatile love affair beginning in 1968 when “Oshkosh” still happened at Rockford, Illinois.

Ebby let us use one of his Midwest Airways DC-3s with friend and Proctor & Gamble pilot Will Adams up front. Early in the morning, with a full load of local pilots fortified with a bunch of sweet rolls and coffee, we arrived about 10 a.m. I was overawed with everything, especially watching for the first time Bob Hoover fly that piston Aero Commander, disappearing into low clouds at the top of his vertical maneuvers.