Boeing Plaza Hosts Historic and Modern Aircraft at Oshkosh AirVenture 2026
Boeing Plaza, the large aircraft ramp of the EAA AirVenture showgrounds, becomes the center of the aviation universe in less than two weeks when Oshkosh 2026 gets underway. The fly-in convention runs from July 20-26, and the aircraft on display on the central grounds will likely change day by day. According to the Experimental Aircraft Association, the 2026 lineup features an eclectic mix of modern military aircraft, the latest innovations, cultural favorites, and historic aircraft both civilian and military. Decades of aviation will be on display and it's a bit of a thrill to see a modern Boeing B-29 parked a few feet away from a Boeing C-17 and a B-52, or a modern airline a few feet from a DC-3 that your grandparents might have flown in. EAA said the lineup will change through the week as some airplanes are visiting for only one day, while others will remain for several. The theme of the Boeing Plaza display is AirVenture's salute to America's 250th birthday.. READ MORE: NASA's Super Guppy Will Miss AirVenture Due to Storm Damage READ MORE: Wingfoot One Returns to AirVenture "There is no place else in the world where one can see a combination of noteworthy aircraft and people as you can on Boeing Plaza during EAA AirVenture," said Rick Larsen, EAA's vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates the annual event's features and attractions. "Nearly every notable type of airplane of the past 35 years has appeared in that area at some point." Aerial view of Boeing Plaza at EAA AirVenture in 2025 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin [Credit: EAA] Larsen gives a nod to the folks tasked with getting those airplanes in and out of the plaza—AirVenture's dedicated (and skilled) volunteers. You will see them in the safety vests working as a team to maneuver and place those often-rare aircraft. "[These are people] who have probably pulled and tugged more aircraft types than any ramp crew in the world," Larsen said. Aircraft scheduled to be displayed on Boeing Plaza: • U.S. Air Force B-52 • C-5 and C-17 • F-16, F-35, and F-15 • Airliners in special livery designs from Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Aerial view of Boeing Plaza at EAA AirVenture in 2025 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin [Credit: EAA] Boeing Plaza was created in the late 1980s as a taxiway with four aircraft parking "fingers." As the AirVenture show grew in attendance, there was a need for more space, and it was expanded into the full ramp in 1993. Boeing Plaza also provides a popular photo-taking platform, as large group portraits, such as the annual Women In Aviation gathering, are done on the ramp.
