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

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Key Takeaways:

The author observed a noticeable decline in attendance and crowds at Oshkosh this year, suggesting that the event's usual "illusion" of aviation's widespread popularity is becoming harder to maintain.
A recent survey on aircraft interior shops received significantly fewer responses than a similar one in 2008, indicating either a drop in owners spending on upgrades or reduced engagement with aviation media.
These trends are troubling for the aviation industry, signaling an erosion of aviation as a popular habit and interest, which could hinder the adoption of new products and overall growth, especially for high-cost certified items.

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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.