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Oshkosh: Where Dreams, Deals, and Bad Numbers Collide | EP 48

Oshkosh: Where Dreams, Deals, and Bad Numbers Collide | EP 48

Author: Jason Zilberbrand July 21, 2026 Duration: 28:43
VREF | The Truth About the Aviation Market
LeisureAviationBusinessNews

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Oshkosh is the largest aircraft transaction event nobody calls a transaction event

• How more than 700,000 people and 10,000 aircraft turn AirVenture into a live market signal

• Why deals at Oshkosh often begin in campgrounds, vendor booths, flight lines, and casual conversations

• Why EAA is not just an air show, but one of the engines that keeps general aviation alive

• How Oshkosh inspires pilots, builders, mechanics, engineers, children, and future aircraft owners

• Why Young Eagles, homebuilt aircraft, warbirds, military demos, experimental designs, and owner-flown aircraft all matter to the future of aviation

• Why Jason’s personal history with EAA shapes how he sees the event today

• Why the surprise Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flyover remains one of Jason’s most memorable AirVenture moments

• Why bringing the next generation to Oshkosh matters for the future of general aviation

• Why aircraft values are not just spreadsheet numbers, but someone’s dream with a serial number on it

• Why Oshkosh is one of the best real-time sentiment indicators in aviation

• Why panel shops, paint shops, interior vendors, and upgrade booths can tell you whether owners are investing or deferring

• Why every new OEM announcement can instantly reprice the previous generation

• Why a new model can cost current owners money while they are standing there applauding

• Why buyers should find aircraft at Oshkosh, but not close them there

• Why heat, excitement, crowds, and airplane culture can emotionally marinate buyers into bad decisions

• Why refundable deposits, logbook reviews, title searches, pre-buys, and independent valuations still matter after the handshake

• How seven days of concentrated buyer traffic can either create a sale or expose a fantasy asking price

• Why organized, digitized logbooks can change how buyers perceive an aircraft

• Why experimental and homebuilt aircraft are the soul of Oshkosh

• Why homebuilt aircraft are among the hardest aircraft in general aviation to value

• Why no two homebuilts are ever truly the same, even from the same kit

• Why builder quality is the number one driver of experimental aircraft value

• How workmanship, adherence to plans, documented deviations, photos, and builder logs affect future resale

• Why kit-maker strength, fleet size, type community, and parts support matter

• Why engine provenance can separate a desirable experimental from an insurance or financing problem

• Why a certified engine, clone engine, auto conversion, or alternative powerplant all price differently in the market

• Why hours flown, Phase One documentation, incident history, and condition-inspection records matter

• Why the second-owner discount matters in experimental aircraft

• Why the repairman certificate affects annual inspection costs and buyer economics

• Why experimental aircraft suffer from some of the worst price transparency in aviation

• How scattered listings, thin comps, Facebook groups, forums, FBO corkboards, and fantasy asking prices create bad deals or no deals

• Why sellers cannot expect the market to reimburse them for every hour of labor in a 15-year build

• Why buyers often overpay for shiny and underpay for quality when they cannot see the data

• Why bad data does not just cause bad transactions, but can stop transactions from happening at all

For accurate, defensible aircraft valuations trusted by lenders, insurers, attorneys, operators, and aviation professionals worldwide, visit VREF.com.

Fly safe. Stay smart.


Hosted by Jason Zilberbrand, VREF | The Truth About the Aviation Market cuts through the noise to deliver clear-eyed analysis on how aircraft hold and lose their value. This isn't just industry news; it's a deep dive into the economic forces, market trends, and regulatory shifts that directly impact valuation. Each episode leverages the authoritative perspective of VREF, a leader in appraisal services, translating complex market data into actionable insights. Whether you're a pilot, an owner, an investor, or simply fascinated by the business of flight, you'll find a grounded conversation that connects the dots between current events and your bottom line. The discussions are built for those who operate where leisure, business, and aviation intersect, offering a unique lens on asset management and market intelligence. Tune in for a candid and expert-driven exploration of what really drives the aviation marketplace, making this podcast an essential tool for anyone with a stake in the skies.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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VREF | The Truth About the Aviation Market
Podcast Episodes
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Duration: 24:00
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Duration: 25:43
In this episode, we cover:• Why “the aircraft market” is never just one market• Why the better question is not whether the market is up or down, but which market you are talking about• Why some aircraft still sell in day…
The $110,000 Upgrade That Could Tank Your Aircraft’s Value | EP 46 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:52
In this episode:• Why the DeltaHawk engine is one of the most significant piston-engine developments in decades• Why a clean-sheet aircraft engine matters in an industry built around very old designs• What makes the Delt…

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