EAA AirVenture 2026 Prepares For Launch

Long a fixture in AirVenture photos, the air traffic control tower at Wittman Regional Airport is a prominent feature at AirVenture. As the show prepares to open, smoke from Canadian wildfires lowered visibility in the area, impacting some of the early arrivals. As the smoke clears, visual flight rules resumed as well.

A Cirrus Vision Jet on display at Cirrus Aircraft exhibit at AirVenture Oshkosh.

Diamond Aircraft’s exhibit at AirVenture Oshkosh on the day before the show opens.

Epic Aircraft’s all-composite, single-engine E1000 at Oshkosh.

Jim Thomas from Yukon, Oklahoma, has been flying to Oshkosh for AirVenture for the past 40 years, starting in 1986. During that time, Thomas, 73, has missed only four--two because of rain, one during the COVID-19 pandemic and once when he was ill. Thomas flies from Oklahoma in his Duflunkee Cub, the only one like it in the world, he says. Here, he camps by his aircraft and meets up with friends.

Jim Thomas packs the backseat of his Duflunkee Cub with what he needs to camp out during the week of AirVenture Oshkosh.

Aircraft at one of the camping sites at AirVenture Oshkosh.

Tecnam plans to unveil a new program on Tuesday,  July 21 at AirVenture. "A new era of personal flying arises," it says.