By Tom Steber, EAA 144044
To celebrate 50 consecutive years of fly-in conventions in Oshkosh, we’re featuring Stories of Oshkosh told by attendees remembering their special moments at EAA’s long-standing home. If you or someone you know would like to share your own Story of Oshkosh, email editorial@eaa.org
This summer will be my 50th year in a row of attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. I will be 53 in September. Needless to say, my first convention was attended in a stroller!
My dad was a pilot. He started training in 1938 and received his private pilot certificate in 1939. He trained in an Aeronca K on skis, eventually becoming a Navy blimp pilot in World War II. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, he had to retire from flying just after I was born, but he remained involved with the flying community for many years.
Mom and Dad used to go to the convention when it was in Rockford. In fact, we still have home movies from then. In the summer of 1970 I was allowed to come along. I don’t remember much, if anything, of that year. Back in the ’70s and ’80s we would only go for one or two days.
What I do remember about some of those early convention days is very special to me. Jim Bede had a small kid-sized mockup of a Bede 4 that I used to love to sit in. I loved seeing many of the air show acts of that era like Ed Mahler, Bob Lyjak, Bob Hoover, Duane Cole, and The French Connection. I remember seeing the Tora! Tora! Tora! show in ’77, along with the B-17 Texas Raiders doing a one-wheel touch-and-go while trailing smoke in the “attack.”
Some other highlights over the years have been seeing the Voyager, Concorde, and an AN-124 and C-5 parked nose to nose, the introduction of all the Rutan designs, SpaceShipOne’s arrival, and seeing three Fieseler Storchs taking off in formation.
Meeting so many aviation legends and all of the people and plane owners that have shared time with me over the years has been great, even if it was only in passing. Everywhere you look there’s another only-in-Oshkosh moment.
As time went on, I became the main family member to continue going every year. Mom stopped going followed by Dad a few years later (Dad died in 2000). My oldest brother continues to come with me every year for at least one or two days.
In 2002 I moved to De Pere, Wisconsin. Now I’m only an hour away by car and, with my wife’s encouragement, I began attending for the entire week in 2004. She also attends one or two days a year as does my stepson when his work allows. I’ve had the joy of introducing many first-timers to the Oshkosh experience over the years and always have room for someone to come along. I prepare them by letting them know to bring comfortable shoes and plenty of sunblock! A typical day for us at AirVenture is arriving on the field by 7 a.m. and leaving by 7 p.m. — rinse and repeat.
There are so many reasons to keep going back every year, it’s just become part of me. I couldn’t imagine not going. I’m counting down the days until this year’s convention; I look forward to all the sights, sounds, and smells of Oshkosh. Thank you EAA for a great organization and event. I don’t take for granted that I live only an hour away from the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration!