Wittman Regional Airport

Wittman Regional Airport
General Aviation Terminal, built in 2021
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorWinnebago County
ServesOshkosh, Wisconsin
Passenger services ceased
March 2003 (2003-03)
Time zoneCST (UTC−06:00)
 • Summer (DST)CDT (UTC−05:00)
Elevation AMSL809 ft (247 m)
Coordinates43°59′04″N 088°33′25″W / 43.98444°N 88.55694°W / 43.98444; -88.55694
Websitewww.WittmanAirport.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
Interactive map of Wittman Regional Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18(R)/36(L)a 8,002 2,439 Concrete
9/27 6,179 1,883 Concrete
5/23 3,424 1,044 Asphalt
13/31 3,061 933 Asphalt
18L/36R (temporary)b 6,300 1,920 Concrete
15/33 (temporary)b 1,200 366 Turf
Statistics
Aircraft operations (2021)80,102
Based aircraft (2024)168
Sources: airport website,[1] FAA,[2] and EAA[3][4]
^a Referred to as 18R/36L during EAA AirVenture
^b Active during EAA AirVenture

Wittman Regional Airport (IATA: OSH, ICAO: KOSH, FAA LID: OSH) is a county-owned public-use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) south of the central business district of Oshkosh, a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States.[2] A large portion at the south end of the airport is located in the town of Nekimi.[5] It is located adjacent to Pioneer Airport, part of the EAA Aviation Museum.

It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2025–2029, in which it is categorized as a national general aviation facility.[6]

History

Oshkosh Airport, Inc. was established on 11 October 1927 and the field dedicated the following day.[7][8] By the end of the year, a 7,680-square-foot (713 m2) hangar had been completed and a flight and maintenance school was training students.[9] Airmail service was inaugurated by Northwest Airways in December 1928.[10] Steve Wittman became airport manager in March 1931 and by mid May 1936, he had started a flying service.[11][12]

The county voted to buy the approximately 298-acre (121 ha) airfield in October 1940, making it the Winnebago County Airport.[13][14] It was dedicated on 13 October 1946.[15]

In April 1950, the county approved construction of a 9,020-square-foot (838 m2) hangar for Kimberly-Clark to store a C-47 it was having converted for executive use.[16] The company began renting the newly built hangar in February 1951.[17] A pair of additions to the hangar to accommodate a second DC-3 were authorized in April 1954.[18] After initially requiring all hangars to be built and owned by the county, in September 1955, the county board changed its policy to allow the leasing of land.[19]

Infrastructure improvements

By 1955, the Quonset hut that was acting as a terminal building was outdated and inadequate.[20] Warren Basler, a student and employee of Steve Wittman, bought his firm from him in 1957 and renamed it Basler Flying Service.[21] A just over $300,000 project to build a control tower, extend the east-west runway, add a taxiway and make other improvements to the airport was approved by the state in 1958.[22] The county turned down a proposal for a joint airport with Outagamie County in 1960.[23] The new control tower went into operation in May 1962.[24]

In 1964, the state gave preliminary approval to a budget calling for the construction of a north-south runway at the airport.[25] However, the Federal Aviation Administration supported a plan to build a northeast-southwest runway as it would result in fewer airspace conflicts.[26] The city, in turn, objected that such an approach would interfere with an adjacent industrial park.[27] The county agreed with the plan for a north-south orientation, but was forced to move to purchase the land of a local asphalt company necessary for the FAA proposal.[28] Nevertheless, the county voted to begin construction on the north-south option in November 1965.[29]

The original plan called for simply extending the main runway to 7,000 feet (2,100 m) with the northernmost 600 feet (180 m) becoming an overrun to allow for 7,000-foot (2,100 m) takeoffs and landings from the south and north, respectively.[30] However, by June 1966, when federal aid was approved, it had changed to building an entirely new 6,700 feet (2,000 m) runway 500 feet (150 m) to the west of it, with the old runway slated to become a taxiway.[31] As part of the project, a historic barn was moved out of the path of the runway and the airport control tower relocated 4,600 feet (1,400 m) south.[a][33][34] It also required the closing of State Route 26 and the nearby Brennan Airport.[35]

The goal of the extension was to accommodate DC-9s operated by North Central Airlines. However, upon completion of the 6,700-foot (2,000 m) runway in 1968, the airport manager noted that the length was inadequate for a fully loaded DC-9 in certain conditions and suggested that it should be expanded to 7,500 feet (2,300 m).[36] Just under three months after his retirement at the end of April 1969, the airport was renamed Wittman Field in honor of his 37 years as airport manager.[37][38][b]

Arrival of Experimental Aircraft Association

By 1969, Rockford Municipal Airport had become too small for the Annual Convention and Fly-In of the Experimental Aircraft Association and it began searching for a new location to hold the airshow. Steve Wittman, a longtime member, suggested the organization consider Wittman Field.[40] As a result, at the end of that year, the county agreed to host the 1970 EAA Annual Convention and Fly-In.[41] In 1971, exactly two years after plans for the 60,720-square-foot (5,641 m2) building were first presented, a new terminal was dedicated.[42][43] After purchasing 10 acres (4.0 ha) from the airport almost two years prior, a 110,000-square-foot (10,000 m2) U.S. Postal Service facility opened in July 1974.[44][45]

The EAA Museum was dedicated in July 1983 and the Pioneer Airport, a grass strip replicating a 1930s era airport located next to it, opened one year later.[46][47]

The north-south runway was extended to 8,000 feet (2,400 m) in 1988.[48] In February 1989, Basler announced that it planned to build a 75,000-square-foot (7,000 m2) facility to remanufacture DC-3s on the east side of the airport.[49] One year later, production had begun and the company was offering job training due to a lack of trained workers.[50][51] Then, in November 1991, Fox Valley Technical College dedicated the S.J. Spanbauer Aviation Center next door.[52] In the meantime, the field's name had been changed to Wittman Regional Airport.[53]

Sonex, a homebuilt aircraft manufacturer, was established at the airport in 1998.[54]

A 27,000-square-foot (2,500 m2) expansion of the Spanbauer Center was due to open in September 1999.[55][56] The next month, the city announced the construction of an adjacent eight-unit, approximately 11,000-square-foot (1,000 m2) hangar to house the school's aircraft.[57]

A fly-in community was proposed in the southeast corner of the airport in 2001.[58] Later that year, a Hilton Garden Inn opened in the northwest corner of the airport.[59]

In 2007, a new control tower was built that is over twice the height of the old building.[60][61] The original tower was demolished in April 2009.[62]

An 8,000-square-foot (740 m2) addition to the Spanbauer Center opened in late 2012.[63]

In 2015-2016 the 50-year-old taxiway B was completely rebuilt with concrete pavement; as part of the project LED lighting was added to the taxiway.[64]

The airport is currently working on replacing most of taxiway A in a phased plan along runway 18/36; the project also added an entrance to a proposed South GA ramp to serve the airport's Aviation Business Park.[65] Due to the cancelation of AirVenture 2020, the project schedule was able to be revised to allow construction to be completed by the end of 2020.

On July 16, 2020, the airport began a project to replace the old general aviation and airline terminals, built in 1958 and 1971 respectively, with a modern general aviation terminal. The high cost to maintain both facilities, as well as the lack of airline service, meant the two facilities could be replaced with a single building.[66][67] The new terminal opened in July 2021 in time for that year's AirVenture.

Historical air service

The airport has been served by commercial airlines in the past. Until 1980, Wittman boarded more passengers than nearby Appleton International Airport, and was the commercial air hub of the Fox Cities.

Wittman was served at various times by Wisconsin Central Airlines, North Central, Republic, Air Wisconsin, American Central, Midstate Airlines, Northwest Airlink, United Express, Midway Connection, Skyway, and Great Lakes. Service was subsidized by the Essential Air Service program until March 2003,[68][69] when it was terminated due to federal law not allowing a subsidy over $200 per passenger for communities located within 210 miles of the nearest large or medium hub airport (Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, a medium hub serving Milwaukee).[70]

Facilities and aircraft

New air traffic control tower with A380 in background

Wittman Regional Airport covers an area of 1,392 acres (563 ha) at an elevation of 809 feet (247 m) above mean sea level. It has four paved runways: 18/36 is 8,002 by 150 feet (2,439 x 46 m); 9/27 is 6,179 by 150 feet (1,883 x 46 m); 5/23 is 3,424 by 75 feet (1,043 x 23 m); 13/31 is 3,061 by 75 feet (933 x 23 m).[2]

In developing their 2020 Master Plan, the airport studied the closure of either runway 5/23, 13/31, or possibly both.[71]

During EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, two additional temporary runways are in operation to accommodate the high volume of traffic of numerous aircraft sizes and types: a portion of Taxiway A to the east of runway 18/36 becomes Runway 18L/36R (Runway 18/36 is re-designated 18R/36L and shortened to 6,700 feet) and a small grass runway (1,200 x 100 feet (366 x 30 m)) on the southern end of the airport is used to host ultralight aircraft.[3][4] Runways 5/23 and 13/31 are closed during AirVenture.[4]

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 80,102 aircraft operations, an average of 219 per day: 97% general aviation, 3% air taxi and less than 1% military, though the EAA AirVenture airshow accounts for a large number of the annual operations.[72] In July 2024, there were 168 aircraft based at this airport: 129 single-engine, 27 multi-engine, 11 jet and 1 helicopter.[2]

As with many larger airports, Wittman Field's expansion over the years has necessitated the closure of nearby roadways and acquisition of nearby parcels of land. In particular, Knapp Street (running parallel to the runways) has been permanently closed near the airport to facilitate the expansion of the grounds in that area (for the annual EAA AirVenture.)

The EAA has a hangar on the northwestern side of the field which does most of the maintenance, overhaul, and restoration to their many aircraft including: Bell 47, Ford Trimotor, B-25, Cessna 162s, RV-12s, and its B-17 (Aluminum Overcast).

The airport has three flight schools; Aviation Services, Discover Flight, and Fox Valley Technical College. In addition, the EAA offers limited sport pilot camps/classes to its members at the field.

The airport has serviced aircraft as large as the Boeing 747, Boeing 767, Airbus A380, Concorde and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.[73]

The Sacred Heart Cemetery is located adjacent to the airport.[74]

A Hilton Garden Inn in the northwest corner of the airport includes a neighboring ramp.[75]

Cargo operations

AirlinesDestinations
Freight Runners Express Milwaukee, Rhinelander, Sheboygan

Freight Runners Express offers scheduled cargo service from the airport.[76] They utilize their Beechcraft Model 99 aircraft type for Oshkosh cargo operations.[77]

Airshow

2011 EAA Airventure airshow

The airport is the site of the annual Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture Oshkosh, an experimental aircraft and sport aviation airshow held in late July since 1953. Across Knapp St. to the west lies the campus of the EAA AirVenture Museum. For the week of AirVenture Oshkosh (known locally as "The Airshow" or "The Fly-in"), Wittman Regional is the world's busiest airport by traffic movements.[78]

Ground transportation

Public transit service to the airport is provided by GO Transit. Formerly, Greyhound Lines buses stopped at the airport.

Images

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The barn, which was built in 1903 and belonged to the Stadtmueller family, would eventually become the home of the Vintage Aircraft Association.[32]
  2. ↑ The new airport manager, Michael T. Brock, actually took over on April 15th.[39]

Notes

  1. ↑ Wittman Regional Airport, official website
  2. 1 2 3 4 "FAA Airport Form 5010 for OSH" (PDF). FAA. . Federal Aviation Administration. effective July 11, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Fun Fly Zone". EAA. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "AirVentureNOTAM". EAA. 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Town Of Nekimi WI Demographic Data and Boundary Map". HomeTownLocator. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  6. ↑ "NPIAS Report 2025-2029 Appendix A" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. October 28, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  7. ↑ "The Wittman Airport Story". Wittman Regional Airport. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Dedication of Local Airport is Impressive". Daily Northwestern. October 12, 1927. p. 14. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Prospects Bright at Local Airport for Coming Year". Daily Northwestern. December 31, 1927. p. 16. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Mail Plane Arrives Despite Fog". Daily Northwestern. December 15, 1928. pp. 1, 6. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Ground to Be Broken for Wittman Hangar". The Reporter. July 27, 1995. p. 7. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Learn to Fly". Oshkosh Northwestern. May 13, 1936. p. 4. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Board Votes 23 to 20 to Buy County Airport". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. October 12, 1940. pp. 1–2. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  14. ↑ "County Aviation Committee is to Meet on Monday". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. December 20, 1940. p. 2. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Gen. Spaatz Urges U.S. Keep Air Defenses Strong". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. October 14, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Board Sets Aside $75,000 for New Hanger [sic]". Appleton Post-Crescent. April 19, 1950. p. 33. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Airport Hangar Rented to Neenah Firm for Ten Years". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. February 20, 1951. p. 4. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  18. ↑ "County to Build a $60,000 Addition to Hangar for K-C". Appleton Post-Crescent. April 22, 1954. p. 23. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Board Rules Companies May Build Hangars". Appleton Post-Crescent. September 21, 1955. p. 44. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  20. ↑ "County Airport Here Rates Better Terminal". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. October 22, 1955. p. 8. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Basler Flight Service Owns 'Biggest Birdhouse in Town'". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. November 20, 1968. p. 4.
  22. ↑ "Airport Job is Approved". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. October 29, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  23. ↑ Metz, James I. (February 22, 1964). "Airport Controversy Dates Back to 1959". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. pp. 1, 7. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  24. ↑ "New Control Tower Starts". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. May 16, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  25. ↑ "State Board OK's Oshkosh Runway". Appleton Post-Crescent. September 26, 1964. p. B1. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  26. ↑ "North-South Runway Development Favored". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. March 9, 1965. p. 1. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Diagonal Runway Would Wreck Industrial Park". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. March 18, 1965. p. 4. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Problem Arises Over Industrial Park, Airport Runway Extension". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. April 29, 1965. p. 4. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  29. ↑ "County Board Votes Expansion of Airport". Neenah Mensha Daily Northwestern. November 3, 1965. p. 1. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Immediate Start of Airport Work to Be Asked". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. October 26, 1965. pp. 1, 13. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Airport Aid Granted". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. June 21, 1966. pp. 1, 11. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  32. ↑ Shuda, Nathaniel (July 24, 2017). "EAA's Iconic Vintage Red Barn Gets a Makeover, Thanks to Private Donations". Oshkosh Northwestern. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  33. ↑ "64-Year-Old Barn Moved". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. May 27, 1967. p. 19. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Tower is 'On Move Again'". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. September 23, 1968. p. 4. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Jets Will Need New Oshkosh Runways". The Post-Crescent. August 29, 1965. p. D1. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  36. ↑ "New Runway Inadequate for Capacity DC-9 Jets". The Post-Crescent. October 11, 1968. p. B2. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Air Award to Be Given to Wittman". Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter. May 14, 1969. p. 2. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Winnebago County Airport Becomes S.J. Wittman Field". The Post-Crescent. July 27, 1969. p. B2. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  39. ↑ "New Manager Has Taken Over Airport". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. April 15, 1969. p. 4. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Home in Oshkosh". EAA. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Aircraft Convention Given Approval of County Board". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. December 17, 1969. p. 4. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  42. ↑ "$2,800,000 Airport Building Considered by Committee". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. January 15, 1969. p. 4. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  43. ↑ "New Oshkosh Air Terminal Added". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. January 17, 1972. pp. 1, 14. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  44. ↑ Starch, Leslie (September 1, 1972). "Wittman Field Land Sale Closed". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. p. 4. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Post Office to Be on View". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. October 12, 1974. p. 3. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  46. ↑ Castonia, Don (July 31, 1983). "EAA Museum: A Dream Come True". The Post-Crescent. p. C-8. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  47. ↑ Richards, Tom (July 24, 1984). "EAA Opens Pioneer Airport". The Post-Crescent. pp. B-1 – B-2. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  48. ↑ Zellmer, Doug (June 29, 1988). "Wittman Runway Extension Opens". Oshkosh Northwestern. pp. 1–2. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Basler Plans to Move Into New 75,000 Square-Foot Building". Oshkosh Northwestern. February 25, 1989. p. B19. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  50. ↑ Grey, Dave (February 18, 1990). "Basler Flight Services Expands Horizons". Oshkosh Northwestern. pp. F1–F2. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  51. ↑ Schmitz, Barbara A. (January 26, 1990). "Basler Hiring Laid Off Workers". Oshkosh Northwestern. pp. 1–2. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  52. ↑ DeShaney, Ginger (November 5, 1991). "FVTC Aviation Center Dedicated". Oshkosh Northwestern. pp. 1–2. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  53. ↑ "Wittman Field Isn't the Same". Oshkosh Northwestern. July 27, 1989. p. A5. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  54. ↑ Lowe, Ed (June 28, 1999). "Business Class". The Post-Crescent. pp. A-1, A-12. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  55. ↑ "Winnebago County Board Action, June 16". Oshkosh Northwestern. June 17, 1998. p. B2. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  56. ↑ Patterson, Kara (September 13, 1999). "FVTC Set to Celebrate Completion of Printing, Auto Repair Centers". The Post-Crescent. p. B-3. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  57. ↑ Draeger, Carol (October 20, 1999). "Chamco to Build FVTC Hangar". Oshkosh Northwestern. p. A1. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  58. ↑ Hummel, Alex (February 28, 2001). "Flying Home". Oshkosh Northwestern. pp. D1, D4. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  59. ↑ Fitzgerald, Sean (July 22, 2001). "Hotels Offer Upscale Digs". Oshkosh Northwestern. p. C8. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  60. ↑ "New Air Traffic Control Tower at Oshkosh's Wittman Regional Airport Begins Operating this Summer". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. July 31, 2008. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  61. ↑ Schmitz, Barbara A. (July 27, 2008). "Farewell to 'The (Original) World's Busiest Control Tower'". EAA AirVenture Today. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  62. ↑ "Featured Projects: Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin". Omni Associates. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  63. ↑ Opoien, Jessica (October 20, 2012). "Building for the Future". Oshkosh Northwestern. pp. A1, A7. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  64. ↑ "New Improvements Underway". Wittman Regional Airport. NextJen Studios. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  65. ↑ "Wittman Regional Airport Secures Federal Grant Support for Taxiway "A" Reconstruction Project". Wittman Regional Airport. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  66. ↑ "New General Aviation Terminal at Wittman Regional Airport Approved". Wittman Regional Airport. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  67. ↑ Premus, Gabriella (July 16, 2020). "Oshkosh Wittman Regional Airport Starts Multi-Million-Dollar Renovation". WLUK. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  68. ↑ "Essential Air Service Communities Eliminated from Subsidy-Eligibility". Office of Aviation Analysis, U.S. Department of Transportation. July 2010. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Oshkosh, WI, by Order 2003-2-20, effective March 1, 2003
  69. ↑ "Order 2003-2-20". U.S. Department of Transportation. February 25, 2003.
  70. ↑ "Order 2002-12-24". U.S. Department of Transportation. December 31, 2002.
  71. ↑ "2020 Master Plan Update". Wittman Regional Airport. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  72. ↑ "EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 Facts and Figures". EAA. July 30, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  73. ↑ Soffer, Sari (July 17, 2015). "Massive B-52 lands in Oshkosh for first ground appearance at AirVenture". Young Broadcasting of Green Bay, Inc. WBAY. Archived from the original on August 16, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  74. ↑ Starch, Leslie (July 15, 1972). "Famed Aerobatic Team to Thrill EAA Spectators". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. p. 4. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  75. ↑ "Hilton Garden Inn Oshkosh". Hilton. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  76. ↑ "Freight Runners Express Route Map". www.freightrunners.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  77. ↑ "Freight Runners Express - Fleet". www.freightrunners.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  78. ↑ "EAA AirVenture takes flight for the future". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 24, 2004. Archived from the original on March 21, 2007.
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