I’m personally leading another small group tour to the 2024 EAA Oshkosh Airshow and also taking in a side trip to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Arizona (A.K.A “The Boneyard”) and also the largest USAF Air Museum in Dayton.
Join me on an escorted group-led tour taking in one of the biggest and most mind blowing airshows you’ll ever see – EAA’s annual AirVenture Oshkosh! Words cannot do justice to the vast array and variety of aircraft (static and displays) you’ll ever witness.
EAA Oshkosh Airshow
This week-long extravaganza of static, aerial displays, mock battles, night displays and fireworks is something that you’ve never experienced before. From every aspect of aviation: WW1, WW2, post war, homebuilds, general aviation, the latest in current military as well as commercial aircraft.
The 2023 EAA Oshkosh Airventure show was outstanding! The year’s attendance was approximately 677,000, up from the previous record of 650,000 in 2022. More than 10,000 aircraft arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and total showplanes of 3,365 including a record 1,497 registered in vintage aircraft parking, plus 1,067 homebuilt aircraft, 380 warbirds, 194 ultralights, 134 seaplanes and amphibians, 52 aerobatic aircraft, and 41 rotorcraft.
This years week long show was mind blowing with so many aircraft on static and flying display along with the Wednesday and Saturday night displays and fireworks.
Like a city, EAA AirVenture is made up of many neighborhoods, each with its own distinct personality and with a unique assortment of aircraft that you’ll only find at Oshkosh.
Boeing Plaza is AirVenture’s marquee display area that is home to many of the featured attractions, ranging from historic warbirds to the latest innovations in flight.
- Homebuilts: marvel at craftsmanship and dedication as you walk among the thousands of homebuilt aircraft flown to Oshkosh.
- Warbird Alley: see historic World War II, Korea and Vietnam-era military aircraft at one of the most popular attractions.
- Vintage: take a trip way back in time to the early years of aviation where authentic and replica aircraft will bring you back to its roots.
- Ultralights: take in the laid-back style the lighter side of Oshkosh offers.
- Aerobatics: the world’s best aerobatic performers and their aircraft converge each year at Oshkosh.
- Seaplane Base: take a shuttle down to the Seaplane Base, nestled deep in the trees in a picturesque cove along Lake Winnebago.
- EAA Museum: make sure you visit this incredible museum with its hundreds of rare and unique airplanes. Access is included with your admission wristband.
The airshow starts on Monday and ends on the following Sunday- however we will be departing on the Sunday to Dayton to visit the museum. The last day is fairly quiet so not much to miss. This week-long extravaganza of static, aerial displays, mock battles, night displays and fireworks (Wednesday and Saturday) is something that you’ve never experienced before. From every aspect of aviation: WW1, WW2, post war, homebuilds, general aviation, the latest in current military as well as commercial aircraft. There’s outdoor garden bars, places to eat, exhibits, kids activities centre, expos, workshops, training seminars, presentations from famous aviators, International Visitors tent, concerts, fireworks displays and more!
If you really want to treat yourself, don’t miss out on seeing the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration® from above. There are plenty of opportunities to take flights at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and gain a unique perspective of the massive convention grounds from a Ford Tri-Motor, Bell 47 Souix, a B-25 Mitchell bomber and more. My last trip I was in the nose cone of a B-17 Flying Fortress flying over the field looking below at P-51 Mustangs that were buzzing the field!
Oshkosh University Accommodation
Accommodation is in the air-conditioned suite rooms. These are private 4 room (single bed in each room) apartment style set ups. So there are 4 separate private rooms, a lounge, kitchen and 2 bathrooms in each suite. These are much better than the single air-conditioned rooms with 2 single beds that have no lounge or kitchen or private bathroom. Room layout below on each so you can see. So even if you’re travelling as a single or in a couple you still have the feeling of privacy. There are a number of options for dining around campus and also restaurants/bars as well.
There are a number of options for dining around campus and also restaurants/bars as well. Transfers to and from the campus to airshow each day are by shuttle bus which runs every 20 mins from outside the university. SO you can come and go whenever you want during the day. Trip takes about 20mins each way.
Pima Air & Space Museum – A.K.A- “The Boneyard”
To top this week off we will be visiting the Pima Air & Space Museum – A.K.A- “The Boneyard”, located in Tucson, Arizona – one of the world’s largest non-government funded aerospace museums. The museum has grown immensely and today encompasses six indoor exhibit hangars (three dedicated to WWII) across over 250,000 square feet of indoor display space. It also spans across 80 acres and has over 400 aircraft on display. Featuring about 400 historic aircraft, from a Wright Flyer to a 787 Dreamliner. Sitting on 80 acres, the museum opened its doors to the public in May of 1976.
Spending two nights here, we will experience The Tram Tour – a 45 minute narrated tour of the planes located in the outdoor display area of Pima Air and Space Museum. This tour will take us through the museum’s 80 acres on a 1.5-mile circuit. We will view more than 150 planes in their collection and hear highlights of significant aircraft. The second tour is a 45-minute walking tour of the Main Hangar of the museum. We’ll see some of the museum’s most popular aircraft on this tour, including the SR-71! After the tour, we will be able to explore the rest of the museum at our own pace.
National Museum of the United States Air Force. Dayton/Ohio
The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, six miles northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world, with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display. Tours are approximately one hour and 15 minutes in length and include; “Early Years, WWI and WWII Galleries”, “Korea and SE Asia Galleries”, “Space, Research & Development, Global Reach and Presidential Galleries” and the “Cold War Gallery”.
Package includes: return flights from Auckland to Tucson on United Airlines (international flights include meals, drinks, movies and baggage), return airport to hotel transfers, 2 nights accommodation in Tucson, daily breakfasts, return transfers from hotel to Pima Air & Space Museum/Boneyard, entry into the Museum, morning tram tour*, lunch at the Flight Grill restaurant, afternoon walking tour*(as above*), flight from Tucson to Appleton airport (baggage to be paid direct), return shuttle transfers from airport to Oshkosh University, 7 nights air conditioned suite room accommodation, weekly unlimited shuttle bus pass from university to airshow grounds entry gate, transfers from university to Appleton Airport, flight from Appleton to Dayton (baggage to be paid direct), return airport to hotel transfers, 2 nights hotel accommodation, daily breakfasts, return transfers from the hotel to the museum, entry into the National Museum of the USAF, 4 tours and lunch at the Valkyrie café.
Twin Share Packages start from $6,949 per person.
NOT included yet (ticket Prices for the airshow yet to be released) but usually around USD$180 for the week (which includes your EAA membership).
Ballpark prices are based on current fares available, subject to exchange rates up until balance is paid, availability and confirmation of arrangements.
If you would like to travel from a domestic city to join the Auckland departure flight then please let me know and I can add these on. Or, if you’re from a different country, I can tailor flights to suit to depart from your own country to the USA, or to Auckland to join our group departure.
Changes to the above can possibly be made to tailor your own travel plans either before or afterwards.
Please get in contact with me ASAP – spaces are extremely limited as this is a small private group tour led by myself.
