The numbers were up in all categories at AirVenture 2016 according to figures released by EAA Tuesday. The organization said about 563,000 people attended the weeklong show, up 1 percent from last year, despite several days of rain and storms. The weather was sunny and mild every day of the 2015 show. Chairman Jack Pelton said that on the rainy days the 5,000 volunteer groundskeepers “did a superb job” keeping the airport from turning into a mud pit. Commercial exhibitors were up by 10 percent to 891 and there were 5,710 “please judge me” aircraft on the grounds. The number of registered international visitors was also up to 2,369, with Canada leading the visitor tally at 578.
Pelton credited the higher numbers with a solid lineup of attractions that included the RCAF Snowbirds, a celebration of the two millionth Young Eagles flight and the first awarding of the Founders Innovation prize. He said “… there was an energy that reinvigorated everyone involved in aviation.” Planning for next year is already underway with the 80th anniversary of the Piper Cub and the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force expected to highlight. Next year’s concert headliner is Canada’s Barenaked Ladies. The group’s lead singer Ed Robertson is an experienced floatplane pilot.
