A great way to experience Wisconsin involves a plate of fresh, deep-fried cheese curds and a cold glass of Spotted Cow farmhouse ale — which is available only within state borders. It’s really good stuff, regardless of what your doctor says. But there’s also another loftier and, in a way, lighter way to get to know America’s Dairyland. It’s open only for a week in late July and leads to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s EAA AirVenture fly-in in Oshkosh, possibly the largest gathering of pilots and aviation fans anywhere in the world.

This July, Oshkosh, as the event is known among pilots, celebrated 50 years in the Wisconsin town and attracted some 700,000 visitors and more than 10,000 planes, helicopters and other aircraft, including some in the strangest shapes. A good number of these flying vehicles relied on engines from GE Aviation, which is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. We took a stroll around the world’s busiest airfield — another weeklong Oshkosh distinction — to look for GE tech. Here’s what we found, and more.