|
The most common way to measure the success of
an event is through statistics, and for the recently concluded EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh 2007, the numbers describe yet another terrific week.
But there are other ways to measure success, as EAA President Tom
Poberezny noted at the conclusion of the World's Greatest Aviation
Celebration. "I believe we can use the term 'the best ever' in
describing this year's event," he said. "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."
"The upbeat attitude, the future
developments on display here, new airframe announcements,
innovations-everything shows a bright future for aviation, and it was all
on display at Oshkosh this year," Poberezny added.
As for the numbers…more than 10,000
airplanes descended on Wittman Regional and overflow East Central
Wisconsin airports, including 2,647 showplanes, 985 homebuilts, 1,014
vintage aircraft, 365 warbirds, 136 ultralights, 117 seaplanes, and 30
rotorcraft. There were nearly 800 exhibitors, 900 media representatives,
and overall attendance was estimated at 560,000, up about 3.2 percent over
2006, including close to 40,000 campers.
Maintaining its global popularity,
approximately 1,700 international visitors registered from 60 nations. (As
this number represents non-U.S. visitors who register at the International
Visitors Tent, the actual international contingent is undoubtedly larger.)
Poberezny observed that EAA AirVenture is now mentioned in the same breath
as the large European air shows at Farnborough and Paris. "Not that
Oshkosh is bigger, but that it is as important to aviation."
Plans are already under way for next year,
Poberezny said, and longer-range, a comprehensive site plan is in the
works.
"EAA is developing an overall site
plan to better serve EAA members, other visitors, exhibitors and
others," he said. "We expect to have further details over the
next year and begin this multi-year evolution following AirVenture
2008."
|
