FOND DU LAC, Wis. — The Fond du Lac airport plays a vital role when it comes to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture.
It’s preparing for hundreds of planes to be stored there throughout the week.
Joe Ries is the Fond du Lac vice president of Chapter 572 for EAA.
He has been around the EAA for five years. As a pilot, Ries said he is thankful there is another option for pilots flying in for the show.
“We’re an integral part of the system because if something happens like we have an air event, maybe an accident or an incident up in Oshkosh, we’re the first go to Appleton, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, we are the overflow. We are the emergency backup plan for some diversion,” said Ries.
Ries said there is a lot of work that goes into making sure the airport is ready.
“I think the hardest part is to know and predict the weather and whether people are going to be coming or not,” said Ries. “Sometimes you can mow the lawn, sometimes you don’t know if you can even park an airplane on the lawn.”
Brayn Linger works to make sure everyone lands and leaves safely. Linger is the Fond du Lac airport manager.
He said he and his team have been working on one specific project this year that will support the air show traffic.
“Opened up more area for more parking and more airplanes,” said Linger. “We can get in here. Better for the community, better for EAA Chapter 572 and Skyport.”
Ries said this event is as important to him as it is for the community. He said he is looking forward to meeting new people.
“One of the best things that I love to do is to greet a person when they come off their plane, offer a cold water, and to ask them, ‘Where are you from?’ I’m serious, when you’re in aviation and you read another aviator, you’re immediate friends,” said Ries.
The EAA AirVenture runs Monday, July 22 through Sunday, July 28.