OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – Day 4 of 2025’s edition of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh saw some high heat indexes, similar to Day 3, and aviation enthusiasts cooled off by the seaplanes down by Lake Winnebago.
Local 5’s Ellie Davis spoke with numerous individuals who spoke about these seaplanes and what makes them different from your typical aircraft.
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One of the main differences between a typical land aircraft and a seaplane is, of course, that you land on the water versus on a runway. One attendee who flew in called it an ‘absolute blast.’
“You don’t have a runway or even a direction you have to land in, so you figure out the wind and you land straight into it,” Ed Bonifas of Chicago said. “Everywhere is your runway, it’s great.”
Seaplanes aren’t just used to provide more different spots to land, as one nonprofit group, Samaritan Aviation, was in attendance explaining how it uses them to deliver medical care.
Samaritan Aviation operates out of Papua New Guinea, and they transport people from river villages to hospitals that are sometimes days away by other traveling methods, rescuing mothers in labor and those with infections.
“They don’t have access to the basic healthcare we are used to,” Jennifer Visser said. “There’s a lot of deterrence for them to get the medical care they need.”
Click here to learn more about Samaritan Aviation and its mission.
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The 2025 edition of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh enters the back half of its week with Day 5 on Friday, and seaplanes will still be out and about for aviation enthusiasts looking to learn more.
Click here to read about Day 3, which featured some custom-built aircraft.
