Page 10 - July19TNT

Farmland across from Wittman Regional Airport is now filled with large exhibit hangars as the event has made room for more attendees, exhibitors and airplanes. And for 11 days each July, it’s the busiest airport in the world – last year averaging 134 takeoffs/land- ings per hour.
“Over 50 years, nearly every signifi- cant aircraft type in the world has land- ed on the runways at Wittman Regional Airport to be part of the EAA fly-in,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs,
She was in the area to fly her first aerobatic contest in a Super Decathlon at Fond du Lac. Just two months earlier, she had performed in her first air show, an event in Alaska, where she was liv- ing at the time.
She returned to Oshkosh in 1987 to fly a white Pitts S-2S after “Duane Cole, famous author and aerobatic performer and instructor, put in a good word for her.” She estimates this year will be her 25th time to perform at OSH.
In between those 25 appearances, Wagstaff has crafted a National Aviation
of pilots, performers and many others who understand aviation more than the average air show audience.
Such a passionate, enthusiastic atmo- sphere allows EAA to recruit the world’s best performers. This year’s schedule includes no fewer than 30 pilots and performing teams. The daily air shows range from precision aerobatics to the latest innovations to rare and unique flying machines as well as warbirds and vintage aircraft. Wagstaff will f ly her Extra 330LX on two days and participate in other activities.
Patty Wagstaff is one of the 30-plus performers on the schedule for 2019, marking her 25th Oshkosh appearance.
who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “More important are the stories of the people who have come to be a part of this event and the legacy of what is now known simply as Osh- kosh. That is what we will be celebrat- ing in 2019.”
Hall of Fame career, including becom- ing the first woman to win the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship in 1991 (flying an Extra 260), a title she would win for three straight years. Wagstaff said OSH is one of the most inspiring places to perform.
“I think sometimes in our day-to-day flying, it’s easy to lose our connection with the reason we started flying in the first place – freedom, challenge, beauty, getting above it all. But being at Oshkosh brings all of that back into focus,” she said.
Performing at Oshkosh is like per- forming in front of 100,000 of her clos- est friends, she said. The crowd is full
“I’m just happy to be invited back to perform again,” Wagstaff said. “It’s been a privilege to have been a small part of a big event for so many years.”
The Exhibitors
Among the 800 exhibitors who are showcasing their products and ser- vices this year, there are several who also had booths in 1970. Two exam- ples are Avemco Insurance Company, based in Frederick, Maryland, and Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co., based in Southern California.
“For 50 years, AirVenture in Oshkosh has been the most important week of
To commemorate Oshkosh at 50, here are some of those stories from people who have a history with Oshkosh and opinions on why it is so special.
The Performer
The first time Patty Wagstaff attend- ed the fly-in was 1984. It was also the last time she came to the event as a non-performer.
8 • TWIN & TURBINE / July 2019