Bernie and Melva Fared enjoyed good weather on their trip to Oshkosh from San Antonio, Texas, in their Thorp T-18, N18XS. They arrived Friday afternoon and were able to join a handful of other airplanes in the homebuilt parking area before rain halted operations.

Wet conditions around the field Saturday morning brought operations at the homebuilt parking area at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh to a standstill. Dennis Hasha, homebuilt registration chairman, reports that registration numbers are about a quarter of the number they saw last year at this time— but he fully expects to see those numbers rise once normal operations resume at Wittman Regional Airport.

“We’re only running one registration computer at this time, but we are preparing for an influx of homebuilt registrations once ground conditions improve,” Hasha said.
“In the meantime, we are accommodating those who have already arrived by transporting them around the grounds and helping them at their campsites.”

Hasha and other volunteers have shifted gears during the slow period, doing what they can to help the larger cause. “We’ve begun placing wood chips around the grounds to help soak up extra moisture,” Hasha said. “AirVenture is going to continue rain or shine, and we’ll find a way to get things done.”

Though rain has created challenges for aircraft camping and parking areas, people’s spirits have remained high, Hasha said. “I arrived early one morning and saw people in the homebuilt camping area hanging out wet clothes and fixing their tents that had been blown over by the wind.

“When I approached them they were laughing and truly enjoying themselves,” he said. “It’s all about the attitude here at Oshkosh. EAA isn’t about planes or an air show, it’s about family, and adversity brings us closer together.”