Few general aviation pilots haven’t heard the iconic call “rock your wings” — a signal that marks arrival at Oshkosh and the moment when aviation passion becomes part of something greater. That simple wing-rocking gesture, confirming arrival to air traffic controllers above Wittman Regional Airport, is a symbol of unity and excitement that draws pilots, enthusiasts, innovators, and visitors from all over the world to EAA AirVenture each year. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 concluded its most spectacular edition yet, attracting a record 704,000 visitors from across the globe. The world’s largest fly-in aviation gathering once again turned Oshkosh into the hub of global general aviation, with this year’s slogan “One Week – Infinite Possibilities” coming to life through a wealth of activities, innovation, and community spirit that defined each day of the event.
During the event, over 10,000 aircraft landed in the eastern region of the central U.S. state of Wisconsin, with 16,246 aircraft operations recorded at Wittman Regional Airport alone between July 17 and 28 — an average of 108 landings or takeoffs per hour. A total of 2,543 aircraft were on display, including 995 vintage aircraft, 910 homebuilts, 361 warbirds, 101 ultralights, 75 aerobatic aircraft, 74 seaplanes, 18 helicopters, and 9 balloons. More than 15,000 camping sites, including those next to aircraft, hosted over 40,000 visitors, further confirming the massive appeal of this one-of-a-kind event.
The organization of this logistically demanding event relied on the dedication of nearly 6,000 volunteers, who collectively contributed approximately 300,000 work hours. EAA President and CEO Jack Pelton highlighted this collective effort as the key to success, adding that this year’s results exceeded all expectations thanks to the incredible commitment of volunteers, staff, and partners. He also noted that final figures were boosted by an exceptionally well-attended closing weekend, particularly Saturday, July 26.
EAA AirVenture also welcomed a record number of commercial exhibitors this year — 962 in total — while more than 1,600 educational sessions, forums, and workshops were held across 65 different venues. The strength of this event was evident not only on the ground and in the air but also across digital platforms. More than 21.2 million people were reached through EAA’s social media channels, with over 20.3 million video views and 44,000 new followers. These numbers confirm that interest in aviation transcends both borders and generations.
Oshkosh once again served as a global gathering point. In the International Visitors Tent, 2,305 guests from 94 countries officially registered — including the first-ever registered visitor from Senegal. Since many international guests do not register formally, the actual number of foreign attendees was likely even higher. The event also hosted 901 media representatives from six continents, further underscoring AirVenture’s global significance.
The humanitarian aspect of AirVenture also achieved remarkable results. The traditional charitable event “The Gathering,” aimed at supporting EAA Aviation Foundation’s educational programs, brought together over a thousand guests and raised $2.49 million. The funds will support continued efforts to promote aviation participation through education.
According to research conducted by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, the total economic impact of this year’s event amounted to $257 million for the five counties in the Oshkosh region — including Winnebago, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Brown — reaffirming the event’s importance not only for the aviation world but also for the local community.
At the conclusion of this extraordinary week, Pelton stated that organizers would take a short break to celebrate this year’s achievements, but planning for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 is already underway. He emphasized that ideas are never in short supply, coming from the community of members, visitors, volunteers, and partners — and that this very energy will be the driving force again next year, when the gates to the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” reopen from July 20 to 26.
