AirVenture went off without a hitch, despite some challenges. “We had the dispute and the conflict with FAA over air traffic controller fees,” said Dick Knapinski with the EAA. “That on is moving through the court system right now, and we still had the controllers here.” And sequestration meant there were no current military aircraft at AirVenture this year. “They’re nice to have, but it’s merely one segment of aviation that’s represented here most years.”
There were milestones, including appearances by “Jetman,” and the flying car. Knapinski said attendance was similar to last year. “A little bit over 500,000 of our closest aviation friends came to Oshkosh from more than 64 countries,” said Knapinski. That’s a clear indication of the event’s high profile in the aviation world.
There are some big aviation anniversaries next year, including the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I and the 75th anniversary of the jet engine.