The Liberty Gazette
August 17, 2021
Ely Air Lines
By Mike Ely and Linda Street-Ely
Just before school started up again, aviation lovers flocked to Oshkosh in east-central Wisconsin for the largest annual convention of any kind, anywhere: AirVenture. Hosted and managed by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), AirVenture was the place to be, for the 68th year. Many industry participants, including aircraft manufacturers, headset makers, avionics companies, and others reserve major company announcements for AirVenture. This year, there were 747 commercial exhibitors, and 1,055 workshops, presentations, and forums during the 10-day super-event.
Stepping out with the theme, “The Wait is Over,” organizers weren’t sure what to expect, given the presence of biological warfare still floating around in the air. But propeller heads and jet jockeys alike made it clear. It’s time to live life. So they flew in, more than 10,000 aircraft making an average of 116 take-offs and landings per hour when the airport was open. A real lollapalooza! The airport closed for daily and nightly air shows as well as overnight. The night air shows are a fan favorite and include fireworks, some of which are popped off from the ground, but the most spectacular are those that are fired from wild aerobatic routines.
More than 5,000 volunteers as well as a lean staff made it all happen. They welcomed guests, 40,000 of which set up in 12,000 campsites, and another 568,000 stayed in nearby dormitories, houses, or hotels. People from over 66 different countries were willing to put up with all the crazy travel restrictions just to be part of something that made them feel like things were normal again—the real normal, in a family-oriented atmosphere.
This event did indeed pump lots of much needed money into the area’s economy. Over $170 million, in just ten days. Pilots and friends were elated to put AirVenture back on the calendar and didn’t mind spending money during their long-awaited playtime. Venturers spread excitement and joy across the extensive airfield grounds, further fueled by those who couldn’t make it there, with over 20 million social media engagements sparked by EAA alone. That doesn’t even count all the tweets, Instagram and other posts by the rest of us.
Amid the thousands of show planes and hundreds of media representatives from around the globe, the EAA Aviation Foundation held its annual fundraising event for aviation education programs, and this year, they raised more than $1.7 million. Plus, there’s always KidVenture. Under 18 gets in free to all of AirVenture, and once inside, kids find a variety of hands-on STEM activities, can fly U.S. Air Force F-16 simulators with VR goggles, and build their own rockets. Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship winners show kids how to preflight an airplane, and those who complete aircraft mechanic activities receive an EAA toolset of their own.
So now that school is back in, as those special children in your life think ahead about possibilities for their future, consider introducing them to the wonderful world of all things aeronautical. The scholarships are abundant, the camaraderie superb, and the job market is always taking off.
ElyAirLines.blogspot.com
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