There are few things I look forward to each year: a slice of my mom’s homemade pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, that perfect first day of flying, our annual trip to Door County, and of course, the mecca of aviation—EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
For one week, hundreds of thousands of pilots and aviation enthusiasts descend on the small town of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In 2025, with an estimated 704,000 visitors, attendance exceeded even Milwaukee’s population.
My first few visits to AirVenture were, in a word, overwhelming. With only a two- or three-day visit, my head was spinning as I tried to see it all. A hint for newbies: you can’t! Over time, I learned to extend my vacation, which allowed me to see all the airplanes I wanted. But then I realized there were still forums, workshops, meet and greets, movies at Theater in the Woods, the seaplane base, and the EAA Aviation Museum.
With apologies to Mickey, what was supposed to be just a few days of aviation bliss turned into a full week at what I now consider the most magical place on Earth.
After visiting nearly every year for the last twenty-five years, I still yearned for more. How could I enhance my experience? I had already traversed each end of the show multiple times, added my rivet to the One Week Wonder, sampled cheese curd tacos, shook hands with world renown aerobatic pilot Sean Tucker, and even saw the legendary F-14 Tomcat take to the skies.
There had to be more.
That’s when my pilgrimage took an unexpected, and incredibly rewarding, detour.
Lightspeed Aviation, makers of what I consider the most comfortable and safety-oriented headsets around, was looking for volunteers for their AirVenture booth. The requirements were simple: be a pilot, use their product, and be willing to talk to other pilots about headsets. In return, we’d get a nice place to stay with hot showers and air conditioning, meals, and a generous token of appreciation.
Could this be the missing piece to complete my AirVenture experience?
I quickly filled out their questionnaire, snapped a few cheesy photos of myself in my Pacer, and submitted my aviation résumé, hoping for a resounding “YES” from the Lightspeed team.
As fate would have it, I was chosen for the AirVenture volunteer squad. The crew was a diverse group of pilots from all over the country. We completed product and logistics training with Lightspeed employees a week before the event, and after practicing my sales pitch in the mirror dozens of times, I was ready for a new Oshkosh experience!
“What was supposed to be just a few days of aviation bliss turned into a full week at what I now consider the most magical place on Earth.” —Ed Becerra
With my car packed and the annual AirVenture Extravaganza Spectacular episode of the Flying Midwest Podcast blasting on the radio, I headed to Oshkosh to meet the team. It was a bit intimidating walking into a room of people I’d only met online, but of course, it was easy to find common ground with other pilots and aviation enthusiasts. The Lightspeed employees welcomed us with open arms, appreciative of our commitment to help for the week.
Donning my official Lightspeed uniform, we headed onto the grounds early the next morning. AirVenture is surprisingly quiet in the early morning hours, a stark contrast to the roar of fighter jets in the afternoon. Walking into the booth for the first time was like stepping into a cold, dark cockpit. Our checklist items included setting up headset displays, organizing sales materials, and making sure the booth was spotless.
Once the last headset was placed and the team was ready, it was time to start the engines and begin another AirVenture.
As people began to flock in, my nervousness quickly disappeared. In my day job, I’m often the bearer of bad news for clients, but talking with fellow aviation enthusiasts about airplanes is easy and fun. We went beyond the typical sales pitch, diving into their flying experiences and even their pain points. Being a guide to choosing a headset that would accompany them for years of flying was an honor and a rewarding experience.
Booth life was also filled with fun. Joking around with new friends helps get you through long days and sore feet. You never know who might stroll in—big names like Trent Palmer, Aaron Fitzgerald, and Mike Busch have all found their way into the booth. Building camaraderie among teammates is key to a successful event for both the company and the visitors.
When the day was over and the booth was secured, the fellowship continued. The local Irish Pub became a popular spot for fried cheese curds. On hot and humid days, the house’s kitchen was a gathering point with cold brews and stories. No matter the spot, the laughter and connection were always there.
Looking back, that week with the Lightspeed team was everything I hoped for and more. My search for a fresh way to experience Oshkosh turned into a journey of connection and camaraderie. I didn’t just get a new headset—I gained a deeper appreciation for the aviation community and the people who make it so special. From helping others gear up for flight to sharing stories late into the night, I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself.
The fellowship, laughter, and shared passion for flight cemented this as the perfect final piece of my AirVenture puzzle.
Visit wahf.org to learn more about the Wisconsin Hall of Fame and to see the original article in the Forward in Flight Fall issue.
Follow Caitlin, Ed, and Lolla as they cruise around Wisconsin in their 1950 Piper Pacer. Look for The Flying Stampede on YouTube.
Leave a Comment