Every year, aviation lovers from around the world set their sights on Oshkosh, Wisconsin—and pilots are already gearing up for AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, running July 20–26. Flight plans are being penciled in, camping gear is coming out of storage, avionics upgrades are getting scheduled, and anticipation is building for another unforgettable week of aviation overload.
As excitement grows for what’s ahead, it’s worth looking back at Oshkosh 2025, when Leading Edge Avionics made a major splash by showcasing not one, but two fully restored legends: the North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco and the Grumman HU-16 Albatross.
Both aircraft were fan favorites—drawing crowds, selfies, and excitement. And best yet, both aircraft feature full avionics stacks by Leading Edge Avionics.
But beyond the planes, the people, and the sunburns—here’s a by-the-numbers look at just how wild Oshkosh got this year:
The Big Stats
Attendance
Approximately 704,000 people touched down at the event. That’s more than the population of Boston—plus everyone’s cousin who knows how to fly.
Aircraft
Over 10,000 aircraft arrived, filling runways, grass strips, and probably a few spare parking lots.
Showplanes
A whopping 2,543 showplanes were on display—including vintage classics, fiery warbirds, sleek experimentals, and two Leading Edge headliners.
Commercial Exhibitors
A record 962 commercial exhibitors set up shop, showing off the latest in avionics, gear, tech, and camping chairs you can actually sleep in.
Volunteers
Nearly 6,000 volunteers made it all happen—fueling airplanes, guiding traffic, and somehow finding room for one more plane.
Time for a Mid-Air Stretch
Before we go further, let’s be clear: This wasn’t just a fly-in—it was a full-throttle aviation festival. And with our OV-10 Bronco parked in the warbird section, surrounded by a gaggle of admirers asking “Can I climb in it?”—the excitement was real.
Meanwhile, our Grumman Albatross practically had its own gravity well. Kids, veterans, and fellow pilots couldn’t get enough of its vintage rescue plane vibes.
Now back to the stats…
Economic Impact
Oshkosh delivered an estimated $257 million in regional economic impact. Not bad for a week of prop noise and bratwursts.
Aircraft
2,305 international visitors checked in from 94 countries, proving once again that aviation is a truly global language (spoken mostly in hand signals and excited yelling over engines).
Forums & Workshops
There were more than 1,600 forums, workshops, and presentations, covering everything from avionics wiring to how not to get yelled at by tower controllers.
Commercial Exhibitors
The EAA’s social platforms reached nearly 22.9 million people, racking up 2.2 million engagements. Pretty sure 90% of those were people reposting the Albatross.
Camping
Over 15,000 campsites filled up with tents, trailers, RVs, and one questionable hammock suspended from a Cessna 150.
And Then... There’s the “Real” Oshkosh Experience
Because not all numbers involve aircraft...
Multiple hangovers
Multiple hangovers were reported from the SOS Brothers tent. As tradition demands.
Sunburns and dehydration?
Sunburns and dehydration? Easily in the hundreds. SPF 50 was no match for Wisconsin sun and tarmac reflection.
Thousands of blisters
were spotted on feet from marathon walks between aircraft rows. Tip: do not break in new boots at Oshkosh.
One wrong takeoff...
on a taxiway. We won’t name names. But the good news? Nobody got hurt, and someone probably got a great GoPro video.
Zero arrests
That's right—700,000 pilots, mechanics, air traffic controllers, and superfans... and not a single pair of handcuffs. Aviation: the friendliest crowd in town.
Looking Back, and Ahead
Oshkosh 2025 reminded us what aviation is all about—passion, innovation, history, and community. It’s about seeing the kid in the front row stare up at the Bronco like it’s a spaceship. It’s the WWII vet who walks up to the Albatross, puts a hand on its hull, and says, “I flew in one of these.”
For Leading Edge Avionics, it was more than a trade show. It was a celebration of flight, restoration craftsmanship, and the power of keeping legends flying. We were proud to be there—not just showing off avionics, but showing off what happens when engineering meets aviation heritage.
See you in 2026. (And yes, we’re already prepping our display… just maybe with more sunscreen.)
