I live in Norway, and I planning to go to the US next summer to either/or take courses on backcountry flying and going to AirVenture. I might need a few tips on how to make the latter a bit more affordable. First thing I thought about was renting a car at and then book a hotel room nearby Osh. It all adds up very quickly and it is very likely doing both a backcountry flying course and going to AirVenture might be too expensive. Unless you guys have some tips on how to go to AirVenture on the cheap(er)?

Maybe rent a small camper or something like that? The courses I am looking at are in Utah, so I could pick it up in Salt Lake City and drop it off in Chicago perhaps. I can sleep on anything, so a land yacht isn't neccessary. I've found a Rubicon with a rooftop tent. Looks like fun!

If just you, a rental car and a cheap Walmart tent would be the less expensive way to go. If wife along, don't even think about it. They are well organized and equipped for handling a lot of people. And there are a lot of people. Capitalism tends to be greedy. They make a lot of money there.

I need a bigger tent for hiking with my family anyway, so that is not a bad idea. I have to look into where I can camp, though. We are very priviliged here in Norway. If you just keep a certain distance from homes, noone can deny you to camp even on private land. Provided you do not leave any trace. From what I gather on the internet, it is quite different in the US, an also varies a bit from state to state.

Varanger wrote:We are very priviliged here in Norway. If you just keep a certain distance from homes, noone can deny you to camp even on private land. Provided you do not leave any trace.

I'd say the definition of "privileged" is arguable. I consider it a privilege to own land that no one else can camp on without my permission. Or maybe it's my right...? Depends on the state I guess.

But I digress... get the hotel room. Camping is fun if you have your own plane there. Otherwise it's heavy rain, high humidity, high temps, misery. Maybe I'm just a wimp having grown up in a low humidity region.

I feel for you Varanger. I am old and it used to be that way here. When I first married my wife we were both teaching on the Navajo Reservation. Going back to her family doings in the mountains west of Denver, I planned to camp. Between Durango and Pagosa Springs, I kept looking up canyons for a good place. She asked what I was looking for. Camp spot said I. KOA said she. At that time I didn't even know what that was. Zane is probably right.

Oshkosh is expensive, no way around it. I have stayed at relatives, rented hotels/cabins/campers, and tent camped at Oshkosh. The best fun and experience is had while camping on the grounds. Lots can be looked at with less worry about being over run by other people, when you venture around after the normal daytime when the largest amount of people are there.

As far as getting a tent, just stop any -Mart type store and pick up a cheap tent for the week, if you decide to go that route. Seems like a large percentage of people do so and then toss it in the trash when they depart the airshow. Try to pick up snack food that doesn't require cold storage, Like PBJ sandwhiches, trailmix, jerky, etc to limit the amount of food you will have to buy while attending the show. Oh, a camelback type water container or bottle is also a necessity as the hot weather and the many miles of walking will leave one parched. About the cheapest food is at the 'church' kiosk by the bus area. Otherwise, bring lots of cash as most of the food venders can get rather expensive if having to utilize them 2-3 times a day.

Unfortunately, like Zzzz mentioned, the weather sort of sucks for camping in a tent. I don't think I have ever been to an Airventure when there wasn't at least one day of downpours and high humidity. All part of the experience so chalk it up to great memories. I've spent weeks in the mountains under a military poncho so it was not a big deal to me, but depending on how your partner feels, it can make or break the enjoyment.

I think everyone should camp at least once on the grounds to get the absolute best experience of all that the venue has to offer.

PS, Have you tried to see if there are any 'backcountry' type training closer to WI?

One year the only place left to park the bus (and tent) at OSH was next to the pump outs...

I've stayed in Appleton, Neenah, and the college dorms before. The Econo Lodge in Neenah is currently $84 a night for next year's Airventure week. I've enjoyed staying offsite. I like taking a shower, sleeping in a bed, getting out of the rain, and having some quiet. Sleeping in a tent is immersive, but also means getting up early, staying up late, and being hot, cold, wet, and exhausted.

I went for the first time this year. We were going to fly in but smoke made us chicken out.
Flew commercial to Chicago with two friends and rented a car.
We all took our camping gear with us, and stayed in Camp Scholler. It was a really great time and hope to fly in next year. One thunderstorm but it was not a problem. Showers were great and you need them - its hot and humid.

Zzz wrote:

Varanger wrote:We are very priviliged here in Norway. If you just keep a certain distance from homes, noone can deny you to camp even on private land. Provided you do not leave any trace.

I'd say the definition of "privileged" is arguable. I consider it a privilege to own land that no one else can camp on without my permission. Or maybe it's my right...? Depends on the state I guess.

Cultural differences I suppose. Many people had small farms and very few had big. Most people want the freedom to wander about, and are willing to compromise and let others hike on their land if they can hike on others. You need the land owners permission to hunt or fish though. I will have to look into the different state laws, should not be too difficult to figure out.

Zzz wrote: But I digress... get the hotel room. Camping is fun if you have your own plane there. Otherwise it's heavy rain, high humidity, high temps, misery. Maybe I'm just a wimp having grown up in a low humidity region.

Well. That can be a problem. Even by norwegian standards, I do not handle heat or humidity well… Not a deal breaker, but I need to think about it a little bit more. I am quite used to hiking in the backcountry and living in a tent while fishing and hunting. I am travelling by myself though.

WWhunter wrote:Oshkosh is expensive, no way around it. I have stayed at relatives, rented hotels/cabins/campers, and tent camped at Oshkosh. The best fun and experience is had while camping on the grounds. Lots can be looked at with less worry about being over run by other people, when you venture around after the normal daytime when the largest amount of people are there.

As far as getting a tent, just stop any -Mart type store and pick up a cheap tent for the week, if you decide to go that route. Seems like a large percentage of people do so and then toss it in the trash when they depart the airshow. Try to pick up snack food that doesn't require cold storage, Like PBJ sandwhiches, trailmix, jerky, etc to limit the amount of food you will have to buy while attending the show. Oh, a camelback type water container or bottle is also a necessity as the hot weather and the many miles of walking will leave one parched. About the cheapest food is at the 'church' kiosk by the bus area. Otherwise, bring lots of cash as most of the food venders can get rather expensive if having to utilize them 2-3 times a day.

Unfortunately, like Zzzz mentioned, the weather sort of sucks for camping in a tent. I don't think I have ever been to an Airventure when there wasn't at least one day of downpours and high humidity. All part of the experience so chalk it up to great memories. I've spent weeks in the mountains under a military poncho so it was not a big deal to me, but depending on how your partner feels, it can make or break the enjoyment.

I think everyone should camp at least once on the grounds to get the absolute best experience of all that the venue has to offer.

PS, Have you tried to see if there are any 'backcountry' type training closer to WI?

My family needs a new four person three season tent. I am looking at the MSR Elixir 4. When I was younger and went to music festivals, I bought the cheapest tent I could find and threw it in the trash when I went home. You dont tink people are a bit more responsible at AirVenture? Would I take a risk by getting a nicer tent?

And yeah, there are atleast a handful of possibilities closer. There is a certain Jim fellow in Aurora, MO that seems to know a thing or two about contact flying. I was just looking at two that operates Kitfox S7 or Rans S20 because I am either considering one of them, or something very similar.

contactflying wrote:I feel for you Varanger. I am old and it used to be that way here. When I first married my wife we were both teaching on the Navajo Reservation. Going back to her family doings in the mountains west of Denver, I planned to camp. Between Durango and Pagosa Springs, I kept looking up canyons for a good place. She asked what I was looking for. Camp spot said I. KOA said she. At that time I didn't even know what that was. Zane is probably right.

I must admit I cant figure it out… What is KOA? Tenting is nice if I can stay somewhere in peace, but I dont want to annoy locals or break any laws. Maybe spend less time, especially on the read, but invest in a little comfort instead.

Varanger wrote:What is KOA?

KOA is a commercial campground franchise scattered throughout the US. Hundreds of locations. It can kinda work for road trips but in the summer they are crowded. It would not be my first choice.

Back in my college years an option that worked was just rolling the seat back in the car. Of course I borrowed my parents Lincoln... But I do remember it let me wander the grounds in the middle of the night, the Concorde was all lit up with floodlights and just a beautiful sight against the night sky and moonlight. Got woke up one time by a low formation right over the top of a couple F-86, T-33 on the wing of a Lear 35.

Thanks for all the tips! I am leaning towards spending two weeks instead of three, and try and compress it a little as well as investing a little more in quality and comfort. The university of Wisconson looks like a decent option.

Interesting to hear all your experiences. BRD describind wandering the area at night has so far been the strongest argument for an RV or a tent! Man that sounds like quite the experience!

I've been three times and camped each time, twice with my plane and once without. Yeah the weather can suck, but I'm Swedish and handled it so I'm sure you'll be fine! It is kind of cool to be able to just wander around among the airplanes, go to the evening events etc.

I started going to the big EAA fly-in in the 1960s. In the early days, the big EAA fly-in was in Rockville, Illinois. It didn't move to Oshkosh, WI until ~1970. It wasn't called AirVenture until 1998. So, I've been going for a while. I've flown in multiple times using 3 different planes over the years. I've driven in several times. I've camped on the field every time, and I'm 71 years old now. The ground isn't my best friend anymore, but I camped next to my plane in 2022 because that is the best way to experience all the show has to offer. The vendors and the airshows are something everyone gets to enjoy, but the connections you make when camping with like-minded folks are harder to replicate when you stay off-site in a hotel. If this is a bucket list trip for you and one you won't repeat for decades, I'd recommend camping on the grounds - even if you drive in. It is the most immersive way to experience AirVenture and will create more memories and stories even if the weather sucks. Heck, some of my best camping and adventure stories center around the unexpected problems I experienced, whether they were weather related or mechanical. I don't have any good stories to share on my front porch about the nights I stayed in hotels on any cross country trip. That's boring stuff. Go for the gusto and the immersive experience of staying on the grounds. Even if you are uncomfortable, I guarantee the stories you will have when returning to Norway will be better!

First piece of advice I would give is to get here early and plan to meet us at New Holstein for the supercub fly in which is always right before Airventure. Here's the thread from last year with a lot of good information:

https://www.supercub.org/forum/showthre ... nformation

Varanger, soyAnarchisto has some good video of him doing energy management turns with me in the J-3 Cub he had some years ago. I have a friend coming from North Carolina after Thanksgiving to do some filming with me and Slim Kingsley at Kingsley field, MO9. Technology has not been kind to me over the years so I hope we get some good coverage of safe maneuvering flight techniques.