Page 6 - Volume 17 Number 7

OshkWhyThe AttractionWhen the world of general aviation turns toward a medium-size Wisconsin city every summer, there’s a seismic hiccup in the ordering of aerial priorities. Airports along the route to Oshkosh see a blip in traffic, fuel sales register a spike, parts and charts are accumulated in the months preceding, and our aviation-affinity credit cards pile up balances. We may struggle with the airplane’s justification for eleven months out of the year but, come July, any decision to sell is put on hold until “after Oshkosh.”What is the draw of EAA AirVenture, hereinafter referred to as “Oshkosh”? It’s different for just about everyone. In 40-some years of going there, I’ve come to view it as an annual reunion; friends and business contacts that can’t be seen all the rest of the year can be found at Oshkosh for a handshake and back-slap. For other people, it might be comparison shopping; it’s all there, ready for you to walk up and touch. Others may be into the restoration of antique, classic, homebuilt, or military aircraft; the best examples will be at Oshkosh. And the great afternoon airshows are always a crowd-pleaser.4 • TWIN & TURBINE JULY 2013