Oshkosh EAA Experience

Throughout my life so far, I had the opportunity to attend the international “Experimental Aircraft Association” airventure convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA in 2005, 2008, 2019, 2023! Huge thanks to my grandfather who introduced EAA to our family and planned summer trips to Oshkosh. My grandfather was always an aviation enthusiast, which obviously passed down the generations to me. I am certain I will be attending many more EAA airventure conventions in the foreseeable future! 

1. What is EAA?

EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) is an international organization that hosts an annual “Airventure” airshow convention that gathers aviation enthusiasts from all around the world! EAA typically occurs the last full week of July which hosts many activities, guest speakers, workshops, special presentation shows and, of course, the main attraction, airshows! 

Every year, EAA airventure has taken place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA and has attracted more than 600,000 people and 10,000 fly-in airplanes worldwide! EAA Airventure began in September 1953 at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Air Pageant. Due to the fast growing convention, the gathering had to move to Rockford (III.) Municipal Airport in 1959. After a decade in Rockford, the EAA committee had to decide where to relocate again because of the exponential growth of the convention. Oshkosh, Wisconsin became the lead vote due to (at the time), one of the few airports that could host such a large event. In 1969, EAA Airventure relocated to Oshkosh, Wisconsin and throughout the continued growth in the 70’s/80’s, the attendance has jumped dramatically reaching six figures and quickly became a nationwide must-see event! In the late 2000’s, EAA Airventure had reached “World Class” status, which caught the eye of people worldwide and quickly became an annual international gathering convention for aviation enthusiasts! Want to read the official “brief history page”? Please click here to read more.

2. Camp Scholler

Camp Scholler is the name of the official campground for EAA. People from all around the world travel to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to enhance their EAA experience by camping. The campground offers a variety of sites that can accommodate any type of camping! You can do the old-fashioned tent camping, vehicle camping, RV (Motor Home) camping and of course the unique fly-in camping. 

The fly-in camp site is incredible because international private pilot's park their aircraft in a huge field and live there for the duration of EAA! In addition to the campsite reservation, there are many washroom and shower facilities that the public can use 24/7. Most people already bring their food and goods before arrival, however, Camp Scholler also offers local convenience stores that act as a mini grocery store which provides food, ice, medicine and body care products! All hotels and motels in Oshkosh and the surrounding area tend to be full months in advance to the EAA convention, therefore, many people utilize Camp Scholler for a cheaper and convenient way to experience EAA because you are camping next to the convention. For many families, EAA has easily become an annual tradition where they stay for a few days or the entire convention. With many people sharing the same hobby/interest, you will easily make friends and connections at EAA for years to come!

3. Young Eagles Program and EAA membership

For anyone interested in obtaining an EAA membership, you can apply online by clicking here EAA Membership or if you are traveling to EAA for the first time, you can easily register at the “EAA membership vendor” in-person! Your official EAA membership card should arrive in the mail in 3-5 business days. Why get an EAA membership? You will be able to get priority treatment to many events, receive monthly newsletters in the mail as a subscriber to keep you up-to-date with aviation around the world and can purchase anything at EAA or online with a “membership discount”! 

Interested in getting the kids involved with the EAA aviation community? You can register your kids/youth to the “Young Eagles Program” to participate in many fun aviation activities, provide aviation career guidance as youth grow older and have the opportunity to go for short airplane rides (please refer to your local area for these opportunities). I am lucky to have had the opportunity to participate in the Young Eagles Program as I was registered at the young age of 7 by my parents with the guidance of my grandfather who has been an EAA member for almost as long as EAA has existed! If you want to spark a family interest and give your children an opportunity to experience aviation, this is a great program to get their journey started. 

4. Spectacular Airshows

Looking for an unforgettable airshow? The variety of aircrafts that are on display in time-separated showings throughout the week will leave you amazed with the twist and turns, different in-close formations and sound breaking speed! Some of the most popular aircrafts that are spectated include military aircrafts from the “Air Force” (F-22, C-130J), “Navy” (F/A-18, P-3, F-35C) and more from the Army! 

If you have an eye for something more interesting and maneuverable, then aerobatics airplanes are the best performers for small twists and turns due to their small specially built body to weave on a dime! With many more aircrafts on display, you will have to look at the official EAA program schedule brochure for showtimes where aircrafts will be presented by world-class performers.

5. Vendors

There are many vendors that fill the air show grounds! From education and career paths to live in-person workshops with professionals in aviation, to history displays of countless aircrafts, I am sure there will be something that will catch your eye! All of these vendors and more can be found on the official EAA program schedule brochure! Personally, my favorite event is the evening and night time outdoor movies that occur near Camp Scholler because the atmosphere of everyone along with guest speakers truly connects the EAA community together! My grandfather once saw well known actor Harrison Ford, a pilot and aviation enthusiast, at airventure!

6. Fireworks

The fireworks have to be THE best time of EAA! Roughly lasting about an hour, aircrafts continue to do tricks, formations and beautiful displays as they paint the sky and clouds with their colored exhaust! After the aircrafts light up the sky with one last display before EAA is finished for the day, a fantastic fireworks show takes over and leaves the audience starstruck! Two fireworks shows occur over the weeklong EAA event, so if you are swinging by for a short visit, be sure to be in attendance for at least one of these fireworks showings! 

7. EAA Museum

Area 1 - Theatre room: The theatre room will have special short films related to aviation and EAA documentaries; be sure to check out the schedule outside the main theatre doors to catch a viewing!

Area 2 - Gift Shop: EAA Museum is definitely unique and one of my favorite memories of EAA Airventure, therefore, purchasing a souvenir at the gift shop will make sure you bring home memories of this fantastic trip!

Area 3 - Guest Speakers Room: As you enter, you have a choice of going downstairs to the bottom (Main) floor or stay right on the second floor. If you stay on the second floor, you may be able to catch a guest speaker presenting their experiences in a small room in the far corner after the “honour donations wall”.

Area 4 - Aircraft Anatomy: The rest of the second floor breaks down aircrafts to show people how aircrafts are made piece by piece. For anyone wanting to know this information or need some guidance on making an aircraft yourself, the second floor is the place to learn in the museum.

Area 5 - Library and Founders: Any history enthusiasts? In the far left room on the second floor, you will pass glass containers of collector items throughout the years at EAA and stands displaying information of the EAA history. If you continue past this area, you will enter a life-like setting of the EAA founders and displays of where aviation all began!

Area 6 - Kidz Playroom: If you are traveling with family and need to give the kids a place to expend their energy…you can head to the last area on the second floor and check out the variety of activities in the “Kidzone”! This can easily take an hour out of your tour, so plan accordingly if you decide to check out this area.

Area 7 - Downstairs (Aircraft models): If you are looking to just admire aircraft models and read detailed information about them, downstairs is the main area for this as the main floor is filled with aircrafts everywhere! You are guaranteed to see your favorites and learn something new here.

Area 8 - Outdoor exit to food vendors and helicopter rides: Once you are done with your tour of the EAA museum, be sure to head through the downstairs exit and get a bite to eat before heading across the field to catch a helicopter ride! If your group is not in the mood for either, you can head straight in line to the bus that will take you back to the main EAA bus terminal area.

Click here for more details about the EAA museum.

8. Seaplane Base

Seaplane base is one of my personal favourite attractions at EAA! At the bus park tower, there is a bus scheduled to depart every hour to the seaplane base located along the shore of lake Winnebago. Throughout airventure week, the seaplane base showcases a variety of vendors as you enter the main area from the entrance trail, and attendees will be greeted with seaplanes parked within the inland marsh. The seaplane base is a great way to escape the bustling busyness of the main EAA grounds, in addition the base offers a great amount of shade which is important due to the extreme summer heat throughout airventure week. Make sure you take advantage of a free pontoon boat ride that showcases the different types of seaplanes parked around the pond, along with an informative guided tour led by the captain's crew. There are opportunities to converse with seaplane pilots who arrived via the “fly-in” and other aviation enthusiasts who enjoy seaplane aircrafts! Click here for more information about the seaplane base.