EAA AirVenture 2026 Through the Eyes of JSSI’s Interns

• July 31, 2026

Hi, I'm Kelsey, JSSI's Marketing intern! On July 22nd, our intern class and a few JSSI team members had the opportunity to spend a day at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the largest aviation airshow in the world. We're grateful JSSI made this trip possible, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the summer so far.

For anyone unfamiliar with AirVenture, it's part airshow, part trade show, part educational conference, and part campground, with nearly a million aviation enthusiasts coming together every year to celebrate flight in every form.

Here's a look back at the day.

Booths and Hangars

After a three-hour bus ride, we arrived and spent the first few hours exploring the booths, hangars, and aircraft on display. Everyone found something that caught their attention.

Michael Herman got to see a Ford Trimotor up close. Christian Cairo spent time near the Air Force training jets and learned that sections of the wings are made from a woven lightweight fabric rather than metal, used to save weight and improve aerodynamics. Christopher Runde stopped by the Joby booth and learned about eVTOL air taxis: a glimpse at how short-hop flights could one day make getting around more efficient. And Kyle Vernon's favorite moment didn't even involve an aircraft. He got to sit on a Honda Fireblade motorcycle, a fun surprise find on the grounds.

The Airshow

The daytime airshow gave us front-row views of incredible aerial maneuvers.

Planes flipping upside down, falling through the sky, and making it back up with precision that made the whole crowd cheer. It was the kind of experience that's hard to fully capture in words.

The GAMA Booth

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was visiting the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) booth, where Lou Seno, JSSI Chairman Emeritus and International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) Executive Director, generously invited us to stop by. He took the time to walk us through what GAMA does and introduced us to several people working across the industry.

Christopher summed up what he took away from the conversation:

"Business Aviation is beyond being a pilot. There are many moving pieces behind the scenes that drive the rest of the aviation industry, and GAMA did a phenomenal job at explaining these roles to us, and proving we have a crucial part in building the industry up for the next generation."

We're thankful Lou and the GAMA team took the time to share that perspective with us directly!

Embry-Riddle BBQ

From there, we headed to the Embry-Riddle BBQ, which felt especially fitting since both Michael Herman and Daniel Cirone are among JSSI's Embry-Riddle alumni. We played some bags, enjoyed a great meal, and spent time getting to know other alumni before heading back in for the night show.

Night Airshow

The night airshow was a favorite for many of us. We watched military aircraft performing barrel rolls under the stars, planes lit up with LEDs, and a finale featuring an aircraft shooting fireworks mid-flight. It was a memorable way to close out the day before catching a shuttle back to Wittman Regional's Terminal 1 and boarding the bus home.

Advice for Next Year's Interns

We asked the group what they'd want next year's interns to know before their trip. A few pieces of advice came up often:

• Get there early: there's so much to see and experience.

• Bring some spending money: you are definitely going to buy merch.

• Pack water, comfortable walking shoes, and a portable charger.

• Find a good viewing spot for the night air show, you won't want to miss it!

Thank You

We're grateful to everyone who made this trip possible, from the team who organized it, to Lou Seno and GAMA for welcoming us so warmly, to the Embry-Riddle community for the great afternoon. Between the aircraft, the airshows, and the people we met, it was a day our intern class won't forget. We're already looking forward to seeing next year's interns experience it for themselves.

Authored by

Kelsey Vernon

JSSI Marketing Intern, Class of 2026

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