The campgrounds at EAA AirVenture [image by LeRoy Cook]
I was standing wearily beside the North 40 aircraft camping perimeter road when, as is often the case, a driver of a golf cart pulled up and inquired, “Where are you headed?”
“Registration,” I replied, and his response was immediate, “Hop in, I’ll take you there.”
Such is the kindness and helpfulness of Oshkosh.
We engaged in the necessary introductions, and it turned out that my benefactor was one of the 27 EAA board members, out on volunteer tours for those unfamiliar with AirVenture and the organization. The fact that he would pick up a humble hitchhiker like me speaks volumes about the kind of person making up EAA’s directorship.
It emerged that we knew some of the same people and were familiar with each other’s hometowns. But, that’s simply Oshkosh for you. In his words, “Oshkosh is how the rest of the country should be throughout the year.”
We gather here due to our common interest in aviation, and regardless of the specific persuasion that most ignites our flying passions, we set aside our differences to discuss aircraft. Before long, we have forged new friendships, shaped, as you might have guessed, by Oshkosh.
Like me, you might be fed up with hearing Paul Poberezney’s quote, “You come for the airplanes, but you stay for the people.” But it is undeniably true; our summer would not be the same without encountering old acquaintances and making new ones.
Hardware and prompt answers can be found online. Here, you can meet the person behind the website, listen to a presentation directly, and rub shoulders with like-minded souls who own an airplane similar to yours, which is the advantage of being at AirVenture.
The sentiment on the AirVenture grounds runs deeper than a one-day trip to a tourist trap. We are like a family here, looking out for one another. If you need someone to watch your child for a moment, it’s perfectly fine to ask, and if a child strays, you can rest assured they will be taken care of. I personally know of wallets that have been lost, found, and returned completely intact, with the money still inside and the credit cards untouched. And not a single finder accepted a tip. After all, this is Oshkosh, and that simply wouldn’t be appropriate.
When I bring someone to AirVenture for the first time, I have to explain the protocol: Smile, nod, exchange greetings, and give space. Pick up any trash that has fallen, even if it isn’t yours, and be kind to the volunteer workers who are donating their time.
Yes, I left the airplane unlocked; one of our row-mates might need to borrow something. Theft would be beneath the code of Oshkosh’s refined behavior. If you can afford to come here, you most likely don’t need to steal.
May we carry a piece of Oshkosh home to transplant and nurture throughout the year.
–LeRoy Cook, reporting from Oshkosh since 1976.
