OSHKOSH – NASA has returned to AirVenture after a two-year hiatus, but visitors looking for the agency’s presence this week should watch for aircraft arrivals, air show appearances and displays tied to America’s 250th anniversary.
While its main attraction, the Super Guppy, won’t be in Oshkosh, other NASA aircraft are lined up for crowds later in the week.
NASA returns to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh after two-year absence
With its own tent and displays, NASA typically has a noticeable presence at AirVenture, having missed the convention only twice in its last 50 years of involvement.
NASA Public Affairs Officer Rob Margetta said the agency made returning to Oshkosh a priority after spending last year sorting through budget priorities.
“Last year, the agency was getting its budget priorities straight, so there were a lot of things that were put off until the plan could be figured out going forward,” Margetta said. “And then we looked at Oshkosh was on our list of things we made sure we headed back to.”
As previously reported, the federal agency faced uncertainty after the Trump administration proposed reducing NASA’s 2026 fiscal budget from $24.9 billion to $18.8 billion, a nearly 24% cut and the largest in the agency’s history.
NASA is also set to lose about 4,000 employees, or 20% of its workforce, through a deferred resignation program.
Margetta said NASA, as a federal agency, does not comment on the appropriations cycle because it cannot discuss “their own funding.” He said NASA looks forward to continuing its community engagement, which is evaluated year by year.
Why NASA’s Super Guppy won’t be at AirVenture Oshkosh
One of NASA’s star aircraft was not on Boeing Plaza on opening day. Margetta told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin the Super Guppy cargo aircraft experienced a windstorm June 14 at its home base at El Paso International Airport.
No NASA personnel were injured, but initial inspections indicated the Guppy may have suffered nose and tail damage.
Aircraft inspections are ongoing and will identify the extent of the damage and what remediation is needed before the aircraft can return to service supporting NASA missions.
Until then, the Super Guppy is not expected to attend EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for a third year in a row.
More about the Super Guppy can be found at nasa.gov.
What NASA aircraft and displays can AirVenture visitors expect?
NASA has other aircraft set to attend the show later in the week, giving visitors more to see even without the Super Guppy on Boeing Plaza.
“Our administrator, Jared Isaacman, is flying in the air show on Thursday. … We are going to have five F-5s, one of our T-38 trainers, our F-18s and F-15s out of Armstrong that is customized to fit with America’s 250th anniversary coming in on Wednesday,” Margetta said.
NASA is honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States for the rest of the year, with several air shows on its calendar before the end of 2026. Those include the following:
If you go to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026
Emma Johnson is the Appleton Post-Crescent’s summer intern. Reach her at ejohnson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: NASA bringing F-5s, T-38, F-18s and F-15s to AirVenture Oshkosh
Reporting by Emma Johnson, Oshkosh Northwestern / Oshkosh Northwestern
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Emma Johnson, Oshkosh Northwestern | USA TODAY Network
