OSHKOSH — The runway at Wittman airport looked more like I-41 as hundreds of planes landed ahead of Monday's start date.
Aviators from around the country and the world arrived as part of the mass arrivals group.
Four such groups were scheduled for Saturday including 58 Mooney aircraft. The Mooney caravan gathered in Madison ahead of the event.
The group's flight took about 40 minutes at an average altitude of 2,500 feet with speeds over 200 miles per hour.
After landing, each member set up camp for the week next to their plane. A tradition that has been ongoing since the Mooney caravan began in 1998.
Originally, the caravan began with a group of aviation enthusiasts who wanted to camp out at to experience all that EAA AirVenture had to offer.
The group decided the best way to form this community would be to fly in together.
Charles Crinnian is the president of the Mooneys. He says that the intricacies of the flight and landing plan has evolved over time.
"At that time they were not true formations they were what we call gaggles," said Crinnian.
Crinnian also works as a squadron leader for the advanced training element in Yuma, Arizona.
He's one of the many instructors that helps train the group to fly and land in formation.
"We set up clinic across the country to educate folks on how to fly in formation procedure," said Crinnian.
