I am flying out commericial and staying with a BCP member who has graciously offered me up a spot in his camper for the week. It's my first time to the show. I've been perusing the website and the list of activities is mind blowing. I've decided to just figure out each day the night before rather than try and plan an itinerary only have it fall apart. I have a few seminars I really want to do and a few people I'd really like to hook up with but other than that I am winging it. Aside from clothes for any season and plenty of space on my SD card I'd like to hear from you seasoned OSH vets anything else I should consider before heading out Saturday morning.

I have only been there once and it is mind bogling and big, good walking shoes. Have fun
Tom

Take a close look at the Theater in the Woods programs. Sometimes they have some world class programs there. That's one of the things that folks who stay off site tend to miss..... A few years ago, they had five pilots who flew the SR 71 talk about flying the thing....amazing program. ETC.

The forums and workshops are great, but going through that schedule is really overwhelming....it's HUGE, and there are literally hundreds of programs. So, start early, and find the ones that you REALLY want to see, then cruise the rest of the time.

I try to cover the various "regions" (it's like a small country) of the grounds one at a time, and hit a different area each day. Go to the warbirds area early, and look at THEIR schedule (not sure if it's given or kept up to date on line) and figure out what presentations you really want to see there.

It takes a good bit of time to peruse the homebuilt/kitbuilt area. Then there are the big barns.

At some point, plan to spend at least a half day at the seaplane base.....you have to catch a bus to get there, but they run regularly. It's cooler over there (shade, of which there is almost none on the main grounds). You can take a short boat ride around the mooring area, or just kick back and watch the seaplane ops. If it's windy, they won't be flying, since they land and takeoff on the main lake, which gets rough fast with a wind.

Evening programs are aplenty. I like the Seaplane Pilots Association Corn Roast on Thursday night. Tickets at the SPA booth, find them early and buy tickets.. they generally sell out during the week.

If you have a weather day, where flying is limited or it's raining, head over to the Museum. That will take at least a half day or more.

And there are literally hundreds of other things to do/see there. Don't wear yourself out....too much.

MTV

Get up early and enjoy the lights and sounds before the place is packed. It's magical.

Run the 5K on the runway.

+1 for MTVs sea base recommendation. It's just a completely different vibe over there.

Don't be in a rush. There is too much to do in only a week. Accept that you won't be able to see everything and pace the rest so that you can enjoy it.

Save me some ice cream.

S.O.S. Brothers. Follow the big smiley face balloon in the sky that says BEER. Good food, better than in the event and cheaper.
Also movies at night in the park (in the campground) with free popcorn
Night airshow
Wander and explore.
Corn roast at the Seaplane base
There is a food trailer just outside the grounds down by the Ultralight strip - another good place for food out of the venue.

The Corn Roast is not at the Seaplane Base, it's on private property, just south of the ultralight strip. There's an entrance to the grounds there, and the Corn Roast is held on that street.

There is a watermelon social at the Seaplane Base, but not sure what night it is.

MTV

Those places that also sell food just ouside the gates... they also sell T-shirts. If you get a hankering to buy a T-shirt it's far cheaper right outside the gate.

Try to get off-base one night and eat at the Black Otter Supper Club in Hortonville. You will die a happy man.

Seaplane base.
"The Farm" (ultralight area)
The museum.
Brats. Lots of brats.
The Fly Market is a lot of fun to nose through.
Take some time to just go sit next to the runway and watch the landings. Take popcorn with you.
Keep a rain pancho on you at all times.
Comfy shoes.
Lock your credit card up.

Be prepared for a great experience! I'm getting due for another trip there myself. Maybe next year.

Go to the warbirds area an hour before sunset. Air show is over, people are mostly somewhere else. good light. Nobody in the way. Bust out a fresh roll of Kodachrome and start shooting.

nothing to add, just that i'm jealous!

Can you still by Kodachrome?

Walking shoes

Sun screen

Seaplane watermelon social is Thursday evening.

The balloon bar (SOS) is forgettable. Overcrowded, loud, overpriced beer and a couple bikini girls. You'll see much better at home in California. No I'm not 22 any more...

Get a program/forum schedule.

Get a daily paper.

Take one day at a time.

There use to be a farmers barn there where you could give a guy a few bucks and sent up camp anywhere you wanted, close to the ultralight barn, does he or the barn still exist?

Stadtmuellers. That's where I camp. Just across the street from the Ultralight Red Barn.

Much more organized than it was years ago and more than a few bucks, but still a great place to camp.

Av8r3400 wrote:
Seaplane watermelon social is Thursday .

Nope, seaplane watermelon social is SATURDAY evening at the seaplane base. Corn Roast is Thursday, on the airfield.

MTV

Magnet wrote:Can you still by Kodachrome?

Nope. Gone the way of the brontosaurus.

One of my favorite activities is right after I make my morning coffee, I drag chair and coffee to the flight line and watch the landings and take offs. You will see some landings which do not begin to match PTS standards for any certificate. I'm surprised that Dresser doesn't have a booth right there, to replace the tires that get flatted by excessive braking!

I think it's a mistake to spend half a day at the Seaplane Base--make it a whole day, about mid week, to catch up on some rest. Great place to relax.

Go to the museum--probably one of the best aviation museums west of the Smithsonian, and the best anywhere for GA.

Take a ride--the MASH style Bell helicopter is my favorite, but others take the Ford Trimotors. The rides are short but memorable.

Watch the activity at the Ultralight runway for awhile--bunch of crazies there, but they know how to have fun with aviation.

Catch one of the airshows, especially since the Thunderbirds will be there this year, but for sure catch a night airshow--it'll blow you away.

Wear comfy shoes, drink lots of water, wear a hat that provides some shade, and wear sunscreen. Bring money.

Cary

c170pete wrote:

Magnet wrote:Can you still by Kodachrome?

Nope. Gone the way of the brontosaurus.

I was all set to make a snarky joke questioning whether the brontosaurus had been replaced by newer digital dinosaurs, then I remember watching the "behind the scenes" about jurassic park. So, well played....

mtv wrote:

Av8r3400 wrote:
Seaplane watermelon social is Thursday .

Nope, seaplane watermelon social is SATURDAY evening at the seaplane base. Corn Roast is Thursday, on the airfield.

MTV

You are correct, sir. My apologies. I would have bet $1 that it was always on Thursday...

Take, or buy a good folding chair. There aren't many places to sit and your back will tire of all the walking. It is also useful during the airshow. One with a reclining back would be a bonus. If you can get a folding beach chair with a small umbrella holder for some shade - all the better. Take a comfortable backpack to carry water and all the things you will inevitably buy or pick up as freebees. A thermos to keep your water cold would be better than constantly buying disposable plastic water bottles that warm up quickly. A folding chair that integrates a backpack and reclines (to watch the airshows) would be perfect. I haven't finished my prototype yet or I'd offer to sell you one...

Don't pressure yourself to see everything. Be open to spending more time with people and things you find really interesting. Enjoy every minute to the fullest and take notes for your next visit.

Treat your clothes with permethrin.

You can buy camp chairs there. A Trader Joe cooling bag, a mesh shopping bag, and a little luggage cart to haul stuff around comes in handy. The luggage cart that I bought there barely lasted the week.