By Aletha Lenz
For thousands of aviators, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh isn’t just a celebration of aviation — it’s a launchpad for personal growth. Whether you’re a weekend flyer, a student pilot, or a seasoned ATP, this year’s event buzzed with a common energy: pilots looking to push their limits, earn new ratings, and explore new types of flying.
At Oshkosh 2025, expanding your aircraft portfolio isn’t just a personal goal — it’s become part of the aviation community’s mindset. Pilots often describe their certificate as “a license to learn.” At AirVenture, that phrase is more than a cliché… it’s a lifestyle. From tailwheel and seaplane endorsements to multi-engine and even type ratings, pilots at Oshkosh are embracing diversity in their flying experience. Not for logbook padding, but for the challenge, the confidence, and the sheer fun of it.
AirVenture is uniquely positioned as a hands-on, try-something-new environment. This year, several areas on the grounds featured concentrated opportunities for pilots to explore new paths. Oshkosh thrives on pilot stories. Each tent, tiedown row, and campfire circle seems to hold someone who’s made an inspiring leap in their flying journey. Sometimes, that story is your own. For me, it was reconnecting with one of my student pilots, someone I taught to fly 27 years ago. We laughed, shared memories, and reflected on how aviation has continued to shape our lives in ways we never could have predicted. It was a powerful reminder that our passion for flight doesn’t fade… it deepens.
Your first solo will always be a milestone. But aviation is full of new firsts: your first tailwheel landing, your first night cross-country in a twin, your first takeoff from glassy water. At Oshkosh 2025, the message was clear… the sky’s not the limit, it’s just the beginning.
Whether you’re looking to fly something faster, lighter, heavier, or stranger, AirVenture is the place to imagine what’s possible and plan your next step. EAA is more than an organization… it’s a global community of dreamers and doers, builders, flyers, restorers, and instructors, united by an enduring love of aviation. AirVenture is where we reconnect, refocus, and reignite the spark. No matter where you are in your journey, there’s always another horizon ahead.