OSHKOSH, Wis. (NBC 26) -- Some pilots flew in front of huge crowds again for the first time in almost two years this past week at EAA Airventure.
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One pilot with the Geico Skytypers -- which flies World War II era planes out of Long Island, N.Y. -- says he was able to make it to a few shows at the end of 2020. But the pandemic created headaches for many working in aviation.
"In the beginning of the year, everything was canceled," show pilot Mike 'Buick' Eberhardt said during his time at the Oshkosh festival. "There was several that we were supposed to go to. And one by one, it was like 'okay, maybe if we get through this we can do this one.' No. This is a bigger thing than anyone expected and who would expect anything like that to happen in this world."
Eberhardt says one of the best parts about being back at air shows is seeing old friends for the first time in years.
"You keep running into the same people in unique places," he said.
