Live Radio Keeps Listeners Entertained 24/7 at AirVenture

By Maria Morrison

For the past 22 years, EAA radio has been broadcasting live at AirVenture. What began as a few people reading the day’s newspaper into the PA system has now grown into a 40-person operation that runs 24/7 during the week at Oshkosh.

On the first Monday of AirVenture, the EAA radio team begins broadcasting at 06:00. The programming runs throughout the day, with interviews being conducted until the airshow begins, and then the airshow commentary being broadcast. Through the night, the day’s show is repeated for international online viewers.

Jeff Montgomery, known as J Mont “G”, is one of the EAA radio hosts that has his own show, called “On The Fly”. Between 13:00 and 14:00 during the whole week of Oshkosh, Montgomery interviews different people around AirVenture. He then sends the audio live to the station via a personal wifi network.

On Friday, he was at the International Aerobatic Club to talk about the anniversary of the Christian Eagle. Although he prepares his interviews months in advance, he also needs to have good improvisational skills. “You learn how to stall as the years go by,” said Montgomery, “that's the toughest part to learn.” When one of the men he was set to interview didn't show, Montgomery had to improvise on the fly and get a pilot to come and speak with him. “With live radio, anything can happen.”

Every day, Montgomery works to highlight a different aspect of the fly-in, and will be going to the seaplane base on Saturday.

Also working with EAA volunteers like Jeff are interns from the nearby Saint Cloud State University. This year, there are 15 students working at the station. Their work for the week counts as one class credit. “We get better interns and staffers each year.” The interns work mainly with the radio and formatting aspects, and the volunteers schedule and conduct interviews. “Most of the staff are here because of a passion for aviation. There interns are here for the radio. We couldn't function without either one.”

(Staff images)

FMI: www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-radio