EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021 – A Look Back at the Final Stats and Figures

Once again, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021 proved to be the world’s greatest aviation event. Better known simply as “Oshkosh” to those who love aviation, the event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin showcases many incredible aircraft for one week each summer to the several hundred thousand enthusiasts who fly in from across the globe to witness or participate in the spectacle.

And “Oshkosh” is now in the books for 2021. As ever, it proved highly successful, with another record attendance. The Experimental Aircraft Association’s CEO and Chairman, Jack Pelton, had the following to say in a formal press release celebrating this year’s accomplishments. “This was perhaps the most challenging set of circumstances we’ve ever faced as an organization to make the event happen. I could not be more proud of our volunteers, staff, and participants for the way they came together to exceed our expectations and make AirVenture 2021 a truly memorable experience. We went into this year not knowing what AirVenture would look like and how big of an event was possible. The aviation community spoke loudly, though – it was ready to come to Oshkosh and we were happy that we could welcome them. Our theme was ‘The Wait is Over,’ and indeed it was. And the wait was worth it. There was joy and excitement throughout the grounds and it set the stage for the return of AirVenture, making us very excited for the future.”

Attendance: Approximately 608,000 – Only the third time attendance has surpassed 600,000 and within 5 percent of 2019’s record total.

Total aircraft: More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. At Wittman alone, 16,378 aircraft operations took place in the 10-day period from July 22-31, which is an average of approximately 116 takeoffs/landings per hour when the airport is open.

Total showplanes: 3,176, which  included: A record 1,420 vintage aircraft registered, plus 1,089 homebuilt aircraft, 354 warbirds, 148 aerobatic aircraft, 112 seaplanes, 33 ultralights, and 27 rotorcraft.

Camping: More than 12,000 sites in aircraft and drive-in camping accounted for an estimated 40,000 visitors.

Volunteers: More than 5,000, who contributed in excess of 250,000 hours.

Commercial exhibitors: 747.

Forums, Workshops, and Presentations: A total of 1,055 sessions took place throughout the week.

Social Media, Internet, and Mobile: The EAA’s social media channels reached more than 18.95 million people during AirVenture, with an engagement of 1.08 million; EAA video clips during the event were viewed 3.48 million times.

International guests: Despite travel restrictions that greatly limited the number of attendees from other nations, the EAA still welcomed visitors from 66 countries during the week.

The Gathering shines The EAA Aviation Foundation’s annual event to support its aviation education programs attracted more than 500 people and raised more than $1.7 million dollars which will be focused on EAA’s mission of growing participation in aviation.

Media: 567 media representatives on-site, from four continents.

Economic impact*: $170 million for the five counties in the Oshkosh region (Winnebago, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Brown). * – based on a 2017 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh economic impact study

From a warbird perspective, EAA AirVenture 2021 saw the first Oshkosh appearance of the magnificent  Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat belonging to Fagen Fighters WWII Museum. This WWII naval fighter made its first post-restoration flight on January 3, 2021, following a two and a half year restoration with Steve Hinton, Jr. at Fighter Rebuilders in Chino, California. The aircraft won the Grand Champion Warbird Award this year, which was not a surprise to anyone who’d followed the Hellcat’s journey back to flight. Another ‘first appearance’ on the big stage was the Warbird Heritage Foundation’s Goodyear FG-1D Corsair (BuNo. 92050, N194G). Following an eight-year restoration, Mike Schiffer flew the Corsair for the first time on March 9, 2021. The airplane has been finished in an authentic Naval Reserve paint scheme for the former NAS Glenview. Bernie Vasquez brought the Dakota Territory Air Museum‘s recently restored Hawker Hurricane Mk.XII (RCAF 5708). Another first appearance was the OV-10 Squadron’s North American-Rockwell  OV-10 Bronco, which they flew all the way from Chino, California. This aircraft, OV-10A BuNo 155474, was the 164th example off the production line and a veteran of three different wars. In February 1969, it deployed to Vietnam with the Black Ponies of Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4), serving there until April 1972 (look for a full feature on ‘474 in a future issue of Warbird Digest Magazine).

As many will know, hundreds of gorgeous, strikingly presented airplanes arrive at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh each and every year hoping to win a Lindy Award. Of course, only a handful can come away with any kind of award, but fewer still earn a Lindy. These awards range across six categories: Homebuilt, Warbird, Vintage, Ultralight, Seaplane, and Rotorcraft. Entrants can only receive consideration for one category in any given year, and are not eligible for the same or any lower-tier awards if they have won previously. While the award judges consider an aircraft’s looks in their deliberations, the quality of craftsmanship on display is a crucial factor as well. Careful construction and/or restoration, as well as tireless maintenance, are essential to winning a Lindy.

Here is the list of the winners in the Warbird category.

Preservation Awards

John Schaefer
Waterloo, Illinois
Cessna O-1A Bird Dog, N413PG

Pete Bales
Janesville, Wisconsin
Hughes OH-6A Cayuse, N67PB

Lou Feldvary
Hardy, Virginia
North American T-6D Texan, N757LF

Blake Bosley
Richmond, Texas
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, N60591

Judges’ Choice: Military Transport

United States Air Force
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, 02-1099

Judges’ Choice: Light Attack Aircraft

Douglas F. Kulick
Reno, Nevada
Piper PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer, N2650A

Judges’ Choice: Brody Equipped Grasshopper

Ric Woldow
Morton, Illinois
Piper L-4, N50364

Judges’ Choice: Primary Trainer

Richard Smith
Austin, Texas
Fairchild PT-19A, N48671

Judges’ Choice: T-34

Gary Otto/CAF Wisconsin Wing
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Beechcraft T-34A Mentor, N5347W

Judges’ Choice: Fighter

Warbird Heritage Foundation
Waukegan, Illinois
Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, N194G

Dirty Bird

Hunter Hamilton
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Beechcraft C-45/SNB-5, N97001

Best Military Transport

Joseph Anderson
Phoenix, Arizona
Douglas DC-3A, N8336C
Silver Wrench
Aerometal International Inc.
Aurora, Oregon

Best L-Bird

Phil Hein
Burlington, Wisconsin
Stinson L-5G Sentinel, N2584B
Silver Wrench
Fred Wright
Phoenix, Arizona

Best B-25

Betty’s Dream LLC
Minot, North Dakota
North American B-25 Mitchell, N5672V
Silver Wrench
Aero Trader
Chino, California

Best Navy Fighter

American Honor Foundation
Ocala, Florida
Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair, N240CF
Silver Wrench
American Honor Foundation
Ocala, Florida

Best T-34

Mike Reirdon
El Cajon, California
Beechcraft A-45 Mentor, N4982N
Silver Wrench
Blackwell Aviation
Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania

Best T-6/SNJ

Daniel Van Buskirk
Bismark, North Dakota
North American T-6 Texan, N72176
Silver Wrench
Springer Aeronautics
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Best Fighter

Hannu Halminen
Orono, Ontario, Canada
North American P-51 Mustang, N951HB
Silver Wrench
Glenn Wegman Fighter Enterprises
Indiantown, Florida

Returning Best of Class — Large Plaque

Robert Stoney
Mercer Island, Washington
Cessna O-1E Bird Dog, N4848M

Returning Grand Champion — Large Plaque

Keith Brunquist
Wasilla, Alaska
Boeing YL-15 Scout, N477OC

Keep ‘em Flying Award — Large Plaque

Dan Blackwell
Irwin, Pennsylvania
Beechcraft T-34A Mentor, N557DB
Silver Wrench
Dan Blackwell
Irwin, Pennsylvania

Keep ‘em Flying Award — Large Plaque

Jimmy Hayes
Sarasota, Florida
Aero Vodochody L-39X Albatros, N395MK
Silver Wrench
Code One Aviation
Rockford, Illinois

Keep ‘em Flying Award — Large Plaque

Joe Roetering
Naples, Florida
Beechcraft T-34B Mentor, N434JR
Silver Wrench
Blackwell Aviation
Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania

Phoenix Award

Steve Miller
Naperville, Illinois
Lockheed Airtrooper N100GR
Gold Wrench
George Robertson
Jim Fernandez
Sorrell Brothers

Reserve Grand Champion: Post-World War II

American Honor Foundation
Ocala, Florida
North American F-86 Sabre, N386BB
Gold Wrench
American Honor Foundation
Ocala, Florida

Reserve Grand Champion: World War II

Jordan Deters/CAF Minnesota Wing
Hermantown, Minnesota
Vultee BT-13A Valiant, N52411
Gold Wrench
CAF Minnesota Wing

Grand Champion: Post-World War II

James and Pat Harker
Forest Lake, Minnesota
Convair L-13A, N6615C
Gold Wrench
James and Pat Harker
Forest Lake, Minnesota

Grand Champion: World War II

Fagen Fighters WWII Museum
Granite Falls, Minnesota
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, N9265A
Gold Wrench
Fighter Rebuilders
Chino, California

So now we turn to next year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Jack Pelton noted that: “Planning is well underway for next year’s event, including discussions during AirVenture 2021 about possible features and attractions for 2022. We also look forward to welcoming more international visitors next year to return AirVenture to a truly global reunion. In the next few months, we will be finalizing highlights in all areas to make the 69th EAA fly-in convention the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.”

Some of the many wonderful people who attended this year’s event!

Moreno Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

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