Every summer, the quiet city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, becomes the busiest airspace in the world. Over 10,000 aircraft fly in from across the country, transforming Wittman Regional Airport into a living showcase of aviation past, present, and future. This incredible event is called EAA AirVenture, and it’s not just for pilots and aviation enthusiasts—it’s a goldmine of inspiration and opportunity for your students. 

Whether your students are dreaming of a future in science, engineering, mechanics, drones, or even aerospace medicine, AirVenture puts real-world STEM careers on full display in a way that few events can match. 

Hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), AirVenture is the world’s largest airshow and aviation gathering. The week-long event, held annually in late July, brings together everyone from amateur aircraft builders to aerospace engineers, airline pilots, and spaceflight companies. 

The event features daily airshows, hands-on workshops, flight simulators, speaker sessions with astronauts and industry leaders, and miles of static aircraft displays—including historic warbirds, experimental homebuilts, electric aircraft, military jets, and commercial planes. 

For students, it’s a chance to see real STEM applications in action—from the aerodynamics of aerobatic teams like the Blue Angels, to the engineering behind next-generation electric aircraft. 

EAA AirVenture is more than just an airshow—it’s a hub for innovation, education, and connection in the aviation industry. Companies like Boeing, SpaceX, Garmin, Textron, and hundreds of aviation-focused startups use AirVenture to debut new technology, discuss future trends, and recruit young talent. 

Educational organizations and universities also have a strong presence, offering scholarship opportunities, career talks, and hands-on demonstrations. It’s the kind of event where a student could go from watching a flight demo to meeting a test pilot or aerospace engineer—all in the same afternoon. 

This makes AirVenture a powerful entry point for high school students to explore STEM careers. They don’t need to be future pilots to get value from the experience. AirVenture showcases pathways in engineering, manufacturing, air traffic control, drone operations, weather science, communications, aviation maintenance, and beyond. 

For students who think STEM is just textbook work, AirVenture is a vivid reminder that STEM is action. It’s in the roar of a jet engine, the precision of a flight path, the data behind a weather balloon launch, and the design of a cockpit interface. 

Even if your students can’t attend AirVenture in person, the event is highly accessible online. EAA provides virtual museum tours, YouTube livestreams, educational videos, and behind-the-scenes content that teachers can bring directly into the classroom. 

Encouraging students to explore events like AirVenture helps make STEM tangible, exciting, and real. It shows them where their interests in science, tech, math, or even art and design can lead. 

And for educators, it’s a chance to connect classroom learning with real-world applications—especially as aviation and aerospace industries continue to grow and evolve. 

Beyond this annual event, there are many ways to connect students to the world of aviation—and one of the best is through EAA’s Young Eagles program. 

The Young Eagles program, offered through EAA chapters all over the United States, provides free discovery flights for students ages 8–17. These flights are made possible by local volunteer pilots who are passionate about sharing their love for aviation and inspiring the next generation. For many students, this is their very first time flying—and it often sparks a lasting interest in STEM, flight, or aerospace careers. 

California Aeronautical University (CAU)—the institution behind Navispire—is a proud partner of the Young Eagles program and supports its local chapter by allocating two university aircraft.