Who is planning to attend? Any advice for first time attendees? I am trying to talk the wife into going this year. What are the "gotta see/experience" events. Any advice for making it more exciting for a non-pilot?

Also, If I do not end up talking her into going I would be very appreciative if anyone was flying from Texas and would let me share expenses.

The goal is to camp on the grounds either way. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Flynguy521 wrote:Who is planning to attend? Any advice for first time attendees? I am trying to talk the wife into going this year. What are the "gotta see/experience" events. Any advice for making it more exciting for a non-pilot?

Also, If I do not end up talking her into going I would be very appreciative if anyone was flying from Texas and would let me share expenses.

The goal is to camp on the grounds either way. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Plan for the night airshow on the last sat night.

I'll be there all week again, this year. We camp "off site" in a campground just across the street from the "Ultralight Barn".

Bring very comfortable shoes, lots of sunscreen and a good camera. A wide brim hat is worth a lot, too!

The Night Airshow is a MUST-SEE if you can swing it. The "day" airshows aren't bad, though either.

Use the shuttle-trams. They run all day and will save you miles and miles of walking. Even if walking isn't a problem, blisters will ruin your trip!

Get a map of the grounds before hand and make a plan. Be systematic and you can cover what you want to see. Don't even try to catch it all in a day or two. It can't be done. The Sport-Air workshops are worth catching if you have any plans to build. Seminars and presentations abound - again online, you can make a plan to see what you want in advance.

Pre-Planning is a must, if you didn't get that already...

I'm not planning to go this year - last year was my first - and I flew in solo.

My best advice is to try and pick an "off" time for your arrival if you at all are concerned about the amount of traffic in the pattern. Study the NOTAM. I didn't think it was a big deal - but you are flying into an active patter with at best dozens of arrivals happening - and touching down with 2-3 planes simultaneously.

Next biggest piece of advice: make sure you bring good tie downs - for the plane and the tent - the rain storms are no joke - had a gust front blow through with 40 knot winds last year easy.

Third biggest piece of advice - be aware that there is no alcohol served on the grounds - so the closest bar is right outside the grounds at the "pop-ups" which are very popular. A lot of walking to get out there from the north 40. If you care about that sort of thing - see if you can get into one of the homebuilt or type-specific antique spots on the other side.

Fourth piece of advice - if you are interested at all in experimental - is to do the workshops - either fabric covering, or metal work, or welding. Great experience to get a feel for the process hands on.

No way to see it all - I didn't try. I had fun talking planes with anybody that would listen. I hope your significant other has patience for that - otherwise they will be bored quick.

Thanks guys,
I am very interested in the workshops. Within the next few years I would like to build a Highlander. How do the workshops work? Are they first come first served or do you have to pre-register? How much are they?

Flynguy521 wrote:Thanks guys,
I am very interested in the workshops. Within the next few years I would like to build a Highlander. How do the workshops work? Are they first come first served or do you have to pre-register? How much are they?

Workshops are first come.. They are practically never full. and they are all free..

Camping is great fun on site. Everything you'll need can be found there. Lots of walking, so practice up.

Theater in the Woods has some great evening programs, and "walk in" movies every night too.

Tons of stuff to do and see. Don't sweat the arrival, but STUDY the NOTAM on procedures...they put it online well in advance..print it and study the pertinent portion.

The Red Barn is general store, and they sell all sorts of stuff, including beer, by the way.

Most of all, GO and have fun.

MTV

Make sure your wife knows about the shower houses, bring camp chairs, take your wife to seaplane base(bus goes there) for nice diversion.

Bring a back pack to carry all the 'stuff' you pick up. Also a Camel Back type of water bladder is almost a requirement. There are plenty of water spigots around the grounds if you prefer not to tote your thirst quencher. I have the type that combines a water blader with a back pack. In this I also carry plenty of 'snacks', granola bars, jerky, etc.

I have been going for many years and it can get expensive to eat on the grounds. There is a church group that has a food stand outside the main gate that sells burgers and such for an affordable price.
As has been said, good shoes, actually you might want to bring an extra pair along. The occassional storms that seem to pop up can create wet feet. Nice to have a pair of dry socks and extra shoes if you need them.

Unless things have changed, I have found just the opposite in regards to the forums.....they are usually quite well attended and sometimes it is standing room only. If you want to be able to hear (I am a little hard of hearing) get to the forum early so you can get a seat close to the speaker. You gotta remember you are at the busiest airport in the world so having to hear the forum speaker above the beautiful roar of a P-51 flying over might make it hard to hear what said speaker is saying....or you might be messmerized by the P-51.

Print out a schedule of the forums you are wanting to attend and make sure you aren't half way across the grounds when it is about to start. Yep, speaking from experience....I have missed a few for this reason. Some forums are a one time forum so hit it up when you can.

Flynguy521 wrote:Who is planning to attend? Any advice for first time attendees? I am trying to talk the wife into going this year. What are the "gotta see/experience" events. Any advice for making it more exciting for a non-pilot?

Also, If I do not end up talking her into going I would be very appreciative if anyone was flying from Texas and would let me share expenses.

The goal is to camp on the grounds either way. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Till two years ago I hadn't been to Oshkosh since Oshkosh was in Rockford. I flew in solo and out of fear and/or ignorance had prepared a ring binder with page markers for the different runways and patterns in the notam. Flying in alone, I found that helpful since you might not know which runway you will use till you are nearly there. The Fisk approach is amazingly simple using the landmarks and not to be sweated as MTV said. I stayed in the Homebuilt campground and it was close to everything, a premium location. Wi Fi coverage was a plus. Be sure to take water proof sandals or flip-flops for wearing in the campground showers. For a break from the mid day hustle and heat on tired legs, catch the bus over to the float plane base and sit in the shade and watch the float plane arrivals with a cool one. Nice change of pace and taste of a different style. Loved it.
Oh yeah, to avoid the company of security escort services be sure to go to the registration shack and sign in on arrival, get the bracelet or wear the cuffs. Bring money.

I've been going every year for the past few years, the last 2 years solo. The only thing I'd add to what's been said is that the anticipation of flying in is a whole lot more of an adrenalin rush than the actual flying in, which is pretty easy if the weather's decent. If it's marginal, and it can be, it can be a bit of a hassle. If it's IMC, you can't get in without an IFR reservation. ALL THAT IS IN THE NOTAM. Do not, DO NOT, attempt to get without the NOTAM, and follow it religiously.

But some other comments:

One of my favorite pastimes is to sit on the flightline, watching people land. I have seen almost every kind of error that can be made, and most of them are because of failing to slow down and land on the designated spot. So practice a bit, just like you would practice for going into some short back country strip, so that you can set down where you want to, at the speed you want to, every time. It's not just the hot rod high perf Cirri and Bonanzas which screw it up, either--last year I watched a 172 almost go off the end of 27 (which is almost 6200' long), so close to the end that they got out and pushed the airplane back to turn it around to get to the taxiway. So get your airspeed down while on downwind--and practice with a very close in downwind, because that's what they want you to do, also.

They want you to exit as soon as your speed is down, onto the grass. I'm amazed at how many people stay on the runway to the next taxiway, with all sorts of volunteers trying to wave them into the grass, before they finally get the message.

Make sure your location sign is in the windshield before you land (see the NOTAM), if you go alone, or that your passenger has it ready to put into the windshield as soon as you're on the ground (and make sure your passenger doesn't block your view with it, like mine did one year!).

Otherwise, the only difficulty I've had was failing to put on sunscreen while milling around the camp area one day in 2011. Basic rule of visiting with other pilots: a 20 minute visit takes about 2 hours, and 2 hours in the OSH sun is 1 hour and 40 minutes too long!

The Seaplane base is a must-see, as is the museum. The Seaplane base is like going to Jimmy Buffet's place--very laid back and relaxing, compared to the hubbub of the Airventure grounds. The museum is truly fantastic, and some of the programs that occur there are well worth it--really enjoyed Bob Hoover's presentation one year and got to meet him afterwards (just one of many hands he shook that day)--I loved a couple of his comments: "I'm getting up in years--you don't mind if I sit down to talk, do you?" In answer to a question in the Q&A after his talk, if he's still flying much: "Oh, I like to take the Extra up 3 or 4 times a week, just to see if I still know how."

Vendor food is plenty OK, and no more expensive than vendor food anywhere else--and it's handy. There are several restaurants just outside the grounds--Friar Tuck's is a favorite, with good food and service, and LeSure's across the highway from Friar Tuck's has excellent breakfasts.

The outdoor movie at night is fun--but take bug spray, and a light jacket.

Incidentally, my "cure" for the bugs has been the OFF! fans the last 3 years. I go through several refills and batteries in a week, but it sure makes sleeping a lot less annoying.

Cary

dirtstrip wrote:"Oh yeah, to avoid the company of security escort services be sure to go to the registration shack and sign in on arrival, get the bracelet or wear the cuffs. Bring money."

Sounds like you had a 'good time' with the folks!

Excellent tips guys. I've gone several times, but live close by and drove in. This year, with my 'new to me' Maule, I think I have to arrive on a runway.

WilgaBeast wrote:

dirtstrip wrote:"Oh yeah, to avoid the company of security escort services be sure to go to the registration shack and sign in on arrival, get the bracelet or wear the cuffs. Bring money."

Sounds like you had a 'good time' with the folks!

Sometimes we learn as much from the the "how not to's."
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viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5673&p=74617&hilit=oshkosh+2010+dirtstrip#p74617

I go every year with my dad. Love it. God willing and the creek dont rise, I will be flying the Skywagon in if its finished in time.

Greg-

I live about 90 miles away from KOSH, I was there about 3 days last Summer. Great time. I like the commercial buildings to look over all the new gadgets. I also really enjoy the safety & knowledge forums. Whether you fly in or not I'd send off for the fly-in Notam when it's available.

Later on the forums schedule will be available on the website. There is also a smart phone app of Airventure events, available later too. I was even able to camp one night last Summer, next to a buddy's plane. Low & behold I found a party with free beer, upper end beer at that. Since I usually fly out every eve it was a treat to enjoy a few cold ones. Yes, I chipped in some.

There is something there for about anybody, a handful of non-aviation things. If you have to drag a significant other along, you may be better off solo, even with less time spent on station. The wife here goes at times, usually I stay maneuverable solo or with the older Son.

The NOTAM should be available on or about May 1st. I always download it and print it--bigger and easier to read for old eyes!

Cary

Just KNOW the NOTAM and enjoy.

And dont go alone. Take a kid with you. I dont see very many young pilots. Expose a kid to something like this and who knows where it could take them!

I think this year I will spend a few days at osh, and a few at new Holstein at the sc.org flyin. I only flew into osh for the day last year.

You're going to be in Candyland so you'll have fun no matter which way you point your nose. I have to admit a penchant for watching arrivals. You think watching student pilots land is fun? That's nothing! You'll see some real greasers and some real gut-wrenching bounces.

As already mentioned don't skimp on the tie-downs. Do some research and buy some good strong ones. I made my own out of landscaping spikes and angle iron with holes drilled into it.

Something else not to skimp on is your tent. If you live in Texas then you know what a thunderstorm is. Make sure your tent can take the rain and wind loads that a T-storm will subject it to.

Have fun!