AirVenture Gets a Facelift With Ground Improvements

April 27, 2017 - As part of EAA’s ongoing attempt to make AirVenture as accommodating as possible for hundreds of thousands of visitors, several changes have been made to the 2017 Oshkosh grounds.

“Every year, we look to make improvements on the grounds that will benefit EAA members and AirVenture attendees, and make their Oshkosh experience even better,” said Steve Taylor, EAA’s director of facilities. “Many of the ideas come from those who have attended in past years, and we incorporate that feedback into our planning. We can’t get to every idea every year, but include as many as time and budget will allow each year.”

The Blue Barn is one new addition. It serves as a home base for events such as chapter forums and meet-and-greets, and can be found across from the Forums Plaza, adjacent to Aviation Gateway Park.

The Warbirds in Review area has undergone some changes since last year. Audience space has been expanded, and a Quonset hut will provide additional staging and support for various presenters.

A new social pavilion will be present in the Homebuilts area. Ace’s Bistro is now the Tailwind Café, and it has a covered pavilion for improved attendee seating.

Attendees who enjoy the Activities Center and Craft Tent — and who stay in Camp Scholler — will be pleased, as the center has moved from the Homebuilts area to a new location between the Fly Market and Hangar D, which is a closer location for patrons coming from Camp Scholler.

GES Services has also moved from the west side of Hangar D to the Vintage and Ultralights entrance for improved UPS and FedEx delivery. A service center outside of Hangar A will be available for attendees to pick up mail.

A new judging facility is in Vintage this year, along with a charging station where visitors can drop off electronic devices for charging. Both the flightline and Theater in the Woods have improved audio systems, and Theater in the Woods also has a new ramp for increased accessibility.

The tram service is no more, as the shuttle service replaced both the trams and buses that ferry attendees around the AirVenture grounds.

Finally, all grocery needs are being fulfilled by stores on the grounds operated by EAA. In the past, these stores were run by outside vendors. Additionally, the VAA Red Barn will feature some improvements for better traffic flow throughout the week.