"The Best Ever" Following Adjustment To '06 Numbers

It was a banner year for attendance at AirVenture 2007... but with an asterisk attached. That's the word from the Experimental Aircraft Association, which estimates some 560,000 people took in the festivities at the weeklong event.

"After seeing the tremendous week of activity at EAA AirVenture 2007, I believe we can use the term 'the best ever' in describing this year's event," said EAA President Tom Poberezny. "The number of aviation innovations and introductions we saw at Oshkosh were unprecedented, and there was a very positive feeling among pilots and aviation enthusiasts.

"In addition, exhibitors throughout the grounds noted strong interest and, in some cases, record sales," Poberezny added.

The numbers represent a 3.2 percent increase in attendance over 2006... and this is where that asterisk comes into play. During a detailed review of prior years' attendance calculations, the EAA says it discovered a segment of attendees that had been counted in two categories. That led to a revised 2006 attendance figure of approximately 545,000.

"Among the reasons for this year's attendance increase were a strong lineup of features and attractions, a large number of significant announcements within the aviation community, and good weather nearly every day of the event," Poberezny added.

The EAA also notes over 10,000 planes visited Wittman Field and other airports in east-central Wisconsin, including 2,647 showplanes at OSH. More than 38,000 people camped out in Camp Scholler.

So, what's ahead for 2008?

"We are already planning for EAA AirVenture 2008, and are looking forward to another outstanding fly-in next year," Poberezny (above) said. "EAA is also developing an overall site plan to better serve EAA members, other visitors, exhibitors and others. We expect to have further details over the next year and begin this multi-year evolution following AirVenture 2008."

FMI: www.airventure.org