AirVenture 2023

Facts and figures from the Experimental Aircraft Association

This year’s annual convention turned out to be another record-setting year.

L-39 formation at AirVenture 2023 - Polaris Program / John Kraus

“There was so much going on during the week that encompassed the entire world of flight, from the presence of the U.S. Air Force Training Command and NASA, to magnificent aircraft restorations and exciting new flying technology,” said EAA Chairman and CEO Jack J. Pelton. “Oshkosh was again the place that brought the aviation world together.”

This year’s attendance was approximately 677,000, up from the previous record of 650,000 last year. But attendance numbers weren’t the only record.

“We had record-setting totals of campers, exhibitors, volunteers, and more,” said Jack. “It was also a challenging year at times with weather, logistics, and other factors, which makes me even more proud of the efforts by our volunteers and staff to organize an outstanding event.”

Here are some additional details from this year’s fly-in:

Total aircraft: More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. At Wittman alone, there were 21,883 aircraft operations in the 11-day period from July 20-30, which is an average of approximately 148 takeoffs/landings per hour when the airport is open.

Total showplanes: 3,365 including a record 1,497 registered in vintage aircraft parking, plus 1,067 homebuilt aircraft, 380 warbirds (up 3 percent from 2022), 194 ultralights, 134 seaplanes and amphibians, 52 aerobatic aircraft, and 41 rotorcraft.

Camping: More than 13,000 sites in aircraft and drive-in camping accounted for an estimated 40,000 visitors.

Volunteers: More than 5,500 contributing in excess of 250,000 hours.
Commercial exhibitors: 848 (another record number).

Forums, Workshops, and Presentations: More than 1,400 sessions hosted throughout the week.

Social media, internet, and mobile: More than 18.3 million people were reached by EAA’s social media channels during AirVenture (up 78 percent over 2022), with engagement of 1.9 million; More than 189,000 hours of viewing EAA video clips online also occurred during the event (more than double the 2022 total).

International guests: International visitors returned in a big way in 2023, with 2,372 attendees registering the International Visitors Tent from a record-tying 93 countries outside the U.S. Adding a significant number of international visitors who do not register at the tent when they arrive, the actual total is much higher.

The Gathering: The EAA Aviation Foundation’s annual event to support its aviation education programs attracted more than 1,000 people and raised more than $2 million dollars that will be focused on EAA’s mission of growing participation in aviation.

Media: 863 media representatives on-site, from six continents.

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

By the time you read this, planning for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 will have begun in earnest.

“We are already looking at a number of big activities, including the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force,” said Jack. “Plenty of ideas have also been forwarded to us from EAA members and others that will be part of the planning for 2024.”