Source: Photo Courtesy of the United States Air Force.
Jul 24, 2024, 7:55 AM CST
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OSHKOSH, WI – (WGBW & WISS) – EAA AirVenture 2024 is underway at Whitman Field in Oshkosh. Thousands of planes will be coming and going over this week. And because the Boeing Company has sponsored kids’ tickets, children 17 and younger get in free.
One of the most popular planes at EAA is the B-52. EAA Communication Specialist Drew Stephani said it made its way onto the runway Sunday evening.
“That was a crowd-pleaser for sure. For everybody who got in early. They were in for a treat,” said Stephani. “It truly is a graceful airplane. Looking at just the sheer size. It’s amazing to see that thing fly in the air every day.”
The B-52 will be on the EAA grounds all week. But Stephani said many more attractions will be on the ground and in the sky.
“As part of the airshows, the Snowbirds are going to be one of the big headlines this year, kind of at the tail end of the week. But earlier in the week we will have the Italian aerobatic team as well as several other demo jet teams; your F-35s, your F-22s, F-16s–All of that sort of fun stuff too. So there’s going to be plenty to see throughout the week,” said Stephani.
The Runway 5K is scheduled for Saturday. Stephani says it is one of the most unique ways to visit EAA.
“You actually get to run around the AirVenture grounds. You get to see a pretty good tour of it on foot!” Stephani said. “It’s a great experience. You get to see everything. And then you get a ticket to the show too. So you get to experience all the sights and sounds when you’re not competing trying to set a personal record.”
Stephani expects attendance for EAA AirVenture 2024 to be another banner year.
“A lot of the attendance is going to depend on the weather. But I would say, looking at the forecast so far, I think we’re going to be on par with prior years,” Stephani said. “I certainly think we’re expecting more than 600 thousand to walk through the doors throughout the week.”
Homebuilts, air taxis, personal aircraft, military jets, and more will all be on display throughout the grounds this week.
EAA AirVenture 2024 runs through July 28th.
