Will the last one out the door …

One of the beautiful things about Oshkosh is the self-deception: Stand in the middle of the crowded grounds, teaming with people and aircraft, and you can enjoy the momentary illusion that aviation is actually a popular, well-attended activity.

stevel

Friday, August 01, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The author observed notably lower attendance and thinner crowds at Oshkosh, challenging the perception of aviation as a widely popular activity despite major new product announcements.
A survey on aviation interior shops received significantly fewer responses (132 vs. 238 in 2008), suggesting aircraft owners are deferring upgrades or fewer people are engaging with aviation media.
These trends indicate a troubling decline in consumer spending, engagement, and the overall popularity of aviation, which could hinder industry growth, particularly for high-cost certified products and the recruitment of new pilots.

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The illusion gets harder to maintain each year because age (and time spent working beside Paul Bertorelli) forms an ever-thickening cynical crust. This year should have marked a brightening in the aviation outlook—there were major product announcements from $515,000 diesel-powered Skylanes to $1000 combo ADS-B/GPS/AHRS units that turn your iPad into a handheld glass panel and fit in your pocket (see page 17). But it was notably lacking in what Oshkosh is almost always good for: people.