Barry Jay and his father, Dr. Erwin Jay, have looked forward to the summer for the past 29 years for one reason: AirVenture.

Barry and Erwin are coming up on their 29th year attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as a father and son duo. As a child, Barry saw how much his father admired aviation. Erwin knew he always wanted to be involved with aviation, but instead of getting his certificate and ratings, he decided family was his priority. To meet the thirst for aviation, Barry and his father got into building model airplanes and then flew them together at a little radio-controlled field.

Barry went to Ohio State University, took ground school, and then later transferred to Cal State. He discovered the world of hang gliding and got involved in that industry after college. Around this time, Erwin finally decided to attain his pilot certificate. He also got his instrument rating and bought an A36 Bonanza. He decided to travel to AirVenture in 1976, and Barry finally agreed to join in 1994; since then, the father-son duo has made it a point to attend every year.

“After that first year, I said, ‘You know, that was a lot of fun. How about next year?’ Each year I ask him the same question, and I get the same answer,” Barry said. “I said, ‘You know, as long as you’re ready and willing and able to go, I’ll go, too.’ From that shared passion for aviation, we’ve had a wonderful time with each successive visit.”

In the early years of attending AirVenture together, Barry was a part of the Toyota Aviation Business Development Office and attended the fly-in convention for work. While this was happening, Erwin was also involved with aviation as a career. He is a doctor of optometry and is still in practice. He did some work for the Federal Aviation Administration and assisted many pilots in their vision test while renewing their medical certificates.

Aviation has played a significant role in both of their lives. Being able to share a similar passion and interact with the aviation world on a large scale is something they both hold close to them. They also see the creativity that comes with this event and the cutting-edge technology in all walks of life in aviation. Being a father and seeing his son grow, Erwin could not be more grateful and happy that he gets to share this one event every year with his son.

“I think I’m the most proud papa in the world because a lot of my friends who have children seldom communicate with their children. We do it at least once a year, father and son. We’re together seven days, eight days. It’s amazing.”

Not only do Barry and Erwin appreciate the father-son connection this event brings them, but also they think of AirVenture as their home away from home. Their shared passion for aviation has brought them a second family. It makes them feel close to the people they see only once or twice a year. Despite being away for so long, that shared passion is what drives them to have an environment to get reconnected.

“It’s a combination of we know what to expect, in terms of what aircraft are going to be where and all of that. It’s also the anticipation of seeing something new,” Barry said. “It’s like coming home; it’s almost a second home after all these years.”