Rural airports are often viewed as marginal infrastructure, yet research from 20 peer-reviewed studies reveals they are fundamental to community economic development, regional accessibility, and emergency services. This evidence-based presentation synthesizes findings demonstrating that rural airports generate $8-12 million in annual economic activity per community, create multiplier effects of 2.4x, and enable 3x higher regional growth rates compared to communities without air access. Session type: Forum — Skyfarer is not affiliated with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) or EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. This session is listed for informational purposes from the official AirVenture 2026 schedule. Times and locations can change during the event — verify on the official session page: https://events.rdmobile.com/Sessions/Details/3513130