Think Again!

The world's biggest aviation celebration, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, will begin one day earlier next year under a schedule shift that takes effect with the 2005 event.

Beginning in 2005, EAA AirVenture will operate on a Monday-through-Sunday format, instead of the Tuesday-through-Monday schedule of the past several years. That means EAA AirVenture 2005 will begin on Monday, July 25 and conclude on Sunday, July 31.

"This year we surveyed a cross-section of EAA members, exhibitors, sponsors and other participants," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman. "We found that the travel patterns of those who attend EAA AirVenture have changed in recent years. We want to make sure we have activities and services for those who arrive at any time during the event. We also knew that scheduling the final day on Monday had not worked as well as hoped for attendees or exhibitors, so we wanted to improve that situation."

Attendee surveys confirmed that a large number of EAA members, particularly aircraft and motor vehicle campers, arrived before the start of the event. Under the new schedule, more activities and facilities will be open to them as they first arrive. In addition, special activities can be planned for the final two days of the event, as they fall on a weekend.

"We know that the EAA AirVenture experience is an outstanding one, regardless of which days an aviation enthusiast attends the event," Poberezny said. "We plan to continue enhancing the site and available activities to meet the needs and wishes of EAA members, their families and the thousands of other aviation enthusiasts who know EAA AirVenture as the world's greatest aviation celebration."

FMI: www.eaa.org, www.airventure.org