AirVenture 2000 — A Week Among the Aircraft and the Atmosphere
AirVenture 2000 was one of those rare events where everything came together — the aircraft, the people, the weather, and the sheer scale of it all. For a week, Oshkosh became the centre of the aviation world, with machines of every shape and age arriving from all directions. From warbirds to homebuilts, classic transports to modern jets, the flightline seemed endless, and there was always something moving, landing, or starting up somewhere in the distance.
Being there in 2000 meant early mornings on the field, wandering between rows of aircraft before the crowds built up, and long afternoons watching arrivals, displays, and the constant flow of activity that never really stopped. The atmosphere was relaxed but full of energy — pilots chatting by their aircraft, volunteers keeping everything running smoothly, and visitors soaking up the sights and sounds.
The photographs in this gallery follow that same rhythm — they’re not in any particular order, just moments captured as they happened throughout the week.
This collection reflects the aircraft that stood out, the scenes that caught the eye, and the sense of being surrounded by aviation in every direction. AirVenture 2000 was more than a show — it was an experience, and these images capture the parts of it that stayed with me.
A pair of North American P-51 Mustangs in Formation
North American P-51 Mustang flies over
Replica Howard DGA‑6 Mister Mulligan and a Gee Bee R‑2 Super Sportster replica “racing” each other at AirVenture 2000. A light‑hearted nod to the golden‑age air racers, with two iconic 1930s designs brought back to life on the Oshkosh flightline
Replica Howard DGA‑6 Mister Mulligan and a Gee Bee R‑2 Super Sportster replica “racing” each other at AirVenture 2000. A light‑hearted nod to the golden‑age air racers, with two iconic 1930s designs brought back to life on the Oshkosh flightline
RAF 2000 autogyro N6122U in flight after departing Fond‑du‑Lac during AirVenture 2000. I’m not the photographer for this one — I was at the controls. The late Flt Lt Phil Massey captured the moment from the air from another RAF 2000, with a county road and a building visible below.
Seawind 2000 N46SW taxiing at AirVenture 2000. A distinctive composite amphibian, showing the smooth lines and high‑mounted engine installation that made the Seawind stand out among homebuilt designs of its era.
Bell OH‑58A Kiowa (N637RA), ex‑U.S. Army airframe 70‑15637 and subsequently demilitarized following retirement from military service, under tow behind a tractor during ground handling on the AirVenture 2000 flightline.
Curtiss P‑40 in green camouflage with ARMY under the port wing and the classic shark‑mouth nose marking. A striking example of the early‑war scheme that became one of the most recognisable fighter profiles of the period
North American B‑25 Mitchell in a hybrid, non‑authentic airshow scheme. The aircraft carries an RAF‑style fin flash and D‑Day invasion stripes — markings appropriate only for RAF Mitchells operating in the European theatre — combined with USAAF blue‑and‑white national insignia on the fuselage. Finished in green and earth camouflage with light blue undersides, the scheme appears to be a commemorative or display interpretation rather than a representation of any specific wartime aircraft. Photographed at Oshkosh during AirVenture 2000
Polished‑metal North American B‑25 Mitchell in an early‑USAF style post‑war presentation scheme. The aircraft carries yellow bands around the fins, yellow wing tips, and yellow forward sections on the engine cowlings. “USAF” is applied under the port wing, while the starboard wing carries the post‑1947 white star‑and‑bar insignia. A matching white star on a blue roundel is carried on the port fuselage side. This finish reflects the period when surviving Mitchells continued in service as trainers and utility aircraft during the early years of the United States Air Force. Photographed at Oshkosh during AirVenture 2000
Douglas DC‑3 in a distinctive post‑war civilian scheme, with the lower fuselage and engine nacelles finished in red and the upper fuselage in white. This simple two‑tone presentation was widely used by regional carriers and charter operators in the years after the war. Photographed at Oshkosh during AirVenture 2000.
North American B‑25 Mitchell in a hybrid, non‑authentic airshow scheme. The aircraft carries an RAF‑style fin flash and D‑Day invasion stripes — markings appropriate only for RAF Mitchells operating in the European theatre — combined with USAAF blue‑and‑white national insignia on the fuselage. Finished in green and earth camouflage with light blue undersides, the scheme appears to be a commemorative or display interpretation rather than a representation of any specific wartime aircraft. Photographed at Oshkosh during AirVenture 2000
North American B‑25J Mitchell in late‑war configuration, natural metal finish with U.S. insignia and two red recognition bands encircling the vertical tail surfaces.
Polished‑metal North American B‑25J Mitchell in an early‑USAF style post‑war presentation scheme. The aircraft carries yellow bands around the fins, yellow wing tips, and yellow forward sections on the engine cowlings. “USAF” is applied under the port wing, while the starboard wing carries the post‑1947 white star‑and‑bar insignia. A matching white star on a blue roundel is carried on the port fuselage side. This finish reflects the period when surviving Mitchells continued in service as trainers and utility aircraft during the early years of the United States Air Force. Photographed at Oshkosh during AirVenture 2000
Three T‑28 Trojans executing a run‑in and break, captured as the formation splits for landing.
TBF/TBM Avenger taxying, three‑quarter front port view, blue upper surfaces over grey undersides.
Chance Vought Corsair in overall blue finish with a red‑and‑white check band around the cowling and star‑and‑bar national insignia featuring the short‑lived red surround.
Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XVIIIe TP280 (N280TP) passing overhead
Pitts Special N133PS in green and yellow livery, parked alongside an F‑4 Phantom.
Boeing Stearman PT‑17 Kaydet (A75N1) N9856H, finished with blue fuselage and yellow wings, and a red‑and‑white striped rudder.
Douglas A‑1 Skyraider with starboard wing folded, parked behind an F‑84 Thunderjet at Fond du Lac, marked in Navy colours.
A Basler BT‑67, a heavily modernized, turbine‑powered conversion of the Douglas DC‑3/C‑47. Basler takes an original airframe, strips it down, rebuilds it, and installs:
• Pratt & Whitney PT6A‑67R turboprops
• Extended fuselage
• Modern avionics
• Strengthened wings
• Updated systems throughout
It’s essentially a new aircraft built around a DC‑3/C‑47 core.
Another view inside the Basler Aircraft facility with a partially reconstructed C‑47 undergoing conversion to a Basler BT‑67.
Republic F‑84F Thunderstreak photographed at Fond du Lac, exhibiting a worn finish yet retaining the structure and completeness needed for static display restoration.
Curtiss P‑40N Warhawk NX40PE in Chinese Nationalist markings with white 47 on the fuselage, 474850 on the tail, sharkmouth nose art, and a panda in a blue jacket forward of the cockpit.
Nanchang CJ‑6 in red scheme, distinguished by Imperial dragon artwork on the nose section.
Stewart S‑51D Mustang “Lil Beautiful Doll”
A high‑fidelity, 70%-scale kit‑built replica of the North American P‑51D Mustang, constructed using modern materials and systems while preserving the lines of the original WWII fighter
CH 801 — C‑GECX
Canadian amateur‑built Zenith CH 801, a four‑seat STOL utility design known for exceptional short‑takeoff capability
North American SNJ‑5 Texan N3204G — Overall silver finish with a coloured band encircling the engine cowling. Displays the U.S. Navy training‑era insignia: white star in a blue roundel with a central red dot, and a red‑and‑white striped rudder with a vertical blue stripe. The aircraft carries the black “3” beneath the cockpit.
Douglas DC‑3 — Finished in a polished silver and blue scheme and carrying the name “POLYFIBER” above the cabin windows. Shown with both engines running outside the Basler facility at AirVenture 2000, highlighting the classic lines of the DC‑3, a type renowned for its pivotal role in early airline service and wartime transport operations.
Polyfiber DC‑3 parking outside the Basler facility, engines stopping, showing the aircraft in a turnaround moment.
Polyfiber’s DC‑3 seen from a slightly side‑on perspective outside the Basler facility, highlighting the aircraft’s classic Douglas lines with engines stopped.
DC‑3 wearing contemporary Delta Air Lines colours positioned outside the Basler facility during AirVenture 2000.
Additional view of the DC‑3 in contemporary Delta Air Lines colours positioned outside the Basler facility during AirVenture 2000.
Back inside the Basler facility showing some of the visitor group during the walk‑through.
Inside the Basler facility showing three aircraft in view, all in various stages of conversion into BT‑67s during AirVenture 2000.
Consolidated Vultee PBY‑5A “Flyin’ Turtle” being marshalled on the ramp, the aircraft’s nose art partly visible behind the marshaller.
Cessna 180H Skywagon N4759U running up next to a Convair 440 displaying Basler Airlines titles during AirVenture 2000.
Wright EX “Vin Fiz” replica displayed at Oshkosh, recalling Cal Rodgers’ historic 1911 transcontinental flight.
Slightly forward port‑side view of the Wright EX “Vin Fiz” replica at Oshkosh, showing the aircraft’s delicate early‑aviation structure.
Stolp Starlet SA‑500L N2300 displayed at Oshkosh, highlighting the traditional homebuilt sport aircraft layout.
Port three‑quarter front view of the bright red 1948 LeVier W‑5 Cosmic Wind “Mr. Robinson” N99CW, showing its brown highlights, stylized “4,” and “Cosmic Wind” fin marking at Oshkosh.
Mikoyan‑Gurevich MiG‑21 “4326,” finished in overall grey and carrying 13 red victory stars on the nose, photographed from just forward of the starboard wing, the fuselage number the only other marking visible from this angle. AirVenture 2000.
Port‑side view of Douglas A‑4 Skyhawk BuNo 14609 displayed in VA‑76 markings, featuring USS Bon Homme Richard identifiers typical of the squadron’s Vietnam‑era scheme.
Cirrus SR20 N119CD being ground‑handled on one of the Oshkosh roadways, away from the main ramp.
Starboard‑side view of McDonnell Douglas F‑15 AF 77‑163 displayed with MA tailcode markings of the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing.
Port three‑quarter nose view of a marshaller waiting beside the Flyin’ Turtle, ready for ground‑handling duties.
General view of aircraft movements in front of the crowd line during show operations.
Curtiss P‑36 Hawk taxiing by in a pale‑sky finish with pre‑war U.S. markings typical of the early‑war era.