Oshkosh - new procedure in Homebuilt Camping - Page 3

Jerry Fischer · #21 07-03-2014, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

Here's a question: What if I want to fly out after I set up at Oshkosh, pick up another person who wants to see Oshkosh (but not for the whole week), and then fly back in later in the day?

Do I have to set up a new campsite or is there a way to keep my stuff there (I'd have to take the tent down to get back into the spot, I suppose) and keep the spot?

Moose or Kreff but I believe you can leave your tiedowns there and tent to mark your spot. BTW thanks Moose for the posting, I plan to be there on Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning 7/22,23 to set up so we should be ready for everybody. Coffee provided this year by Flying High & will be in the tent from 6-9 during the show and possibly the weekend before(still checking on that).

LettersFromFlyoverCountry · #22 07-03-2014, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rleffler

Why would you have to take you tent down? I'm sure you can find enough volunteers to assist with pushing your RV-7 back into the site (as oppose to pulling through with the engine running).

It's been pretty common practice for folks to come and go and park in the same spot. Especially if you leave you tent up.

Well, it's kind of a big tent that has to go behind the wing so I wouldn't be able to get back into the parking spot with it in place.

Re: Helicopter noise. Apparently some people don't like the noise. Which makes me wonder why on earth you'd go to Oshkosh.

sprucemoose · #23 07-03-2014, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

Well, it's kind of a big tent that has to go behind the wing so I wouldn't be able to get back into the parking spot with it in place.

As long as you leave your tie downs in place the spot is yours. It helps to write your row number on your HBC sign for your return. As for the tent- most people arrange the tent so that they can get the plane in/out without removing it. It is easier to shut down and push tail-first back into your spot. Dropping one corner of the tent is an option. If the tent is too big to accommodate this, it might be too big period. Tents need to stay (reasonably) within the airplanes footprint so as to not block the taxi lane.

sprucemoose · #24 07-23-2014, 10:30 AM

Last thread bump before Oshkosh. Fly safe and READ THE NOTAM!!!

N53LW · #25 07-23-2014, 08:56 PM

Okay "Friday" I think KC Flight has it straight now, the special #1 sign 3 times and we get the prize!
Ripper

sprucemoose · #26 08-07-2014, 07:40 PM

Now that everyone is home from the big show and all our camping gear is safely dried out and packed away, it's time to debrief this. We had a huge turnout this year; close to but not quite a record number of RVs and the highest nightly turnout in HBC ever. So, it made for a good acid test for a new procedure. Some observations, which need to be archived for next year:

1. Overall it worked quite well, and we'll probably do it again next year.

2. It was well publicized ahead of time. Folks were taxing up holding up fingers before they even got to the sign explaining why. You did your homework.

3. Even for the unexpecting it worked well. A few seconds of reading and pondering and the fingers were raised. The slow-down effect on traffic was minimal.

4. We did not take detailed measurements, but the distribution was about 60% to #3 (close to facilities,) about 25% #1 (up front) and 15% #2 (in the back.) We did our best to accommodate but will adjust accordingly next year.

5. We kept this up until about noon on Sunday. By that time things had filled up enough that the three areas pretty much ran together, not to mention we were too busy with arrivals to take the time. So consider noon Sunday to be the cutoff for "getting there early."

6. To the poor soul who got their just before airshow time on Tuesday and plaintively held up one finger as we led you to a spot way in the back... sorry. If you want a good seat to the show, get there early. By noon Tuesday you're lucky to have a spot at OSH, let along you choice.

That brings up another point- the website folks asked me early in the week if we wanted the HBC status to be listed on the EAA website along with North 40 camping (ie. 90% full, closed, etc.) I turned them down and here's why- unlike in N40, Homebuilt never actually "fills up." When we get full, we get creative and look for ways to shoehorn planes into un likely spaces. When that runs out we can always send them to the far south end of the airport, ie. "North Fond du Lac." We will never turn a showplace (homebuilt, antique or warbird) way from Oshkosh. N40, by contrast, can divert to FDL or Appleton when they "get full." So, not wanting to have someone look at the website and say, "gee, HBC is 98% full, I probably won't find a spot so I won't go," we deliberately left our status off the website. Come on in and we'll always find you a spot, somewhere.

As always, we welcome your feedback on this new procedure.

868RM · #27 08-07-2014, 07:59 PM

Jeff, thanks for a great job Ron

rleffler · #28 08-08-2014, 03:42 AM

From a pilot's perspective it went well.

This was my first time in HBC. Everything was great!

My only complaint would be the number of sinks in the shower house.

Thanks to all that made it go so well!

Bob

WVM · #29 08-08-2014, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprucemoose

Now that everyone is home from the big show and all our camping gear is safely dried out and packed away, it's time to debrief this. We had a huge turnout this year; close to but not quite a record number of RVs and the highest nightly turnout in HBC ever. So, it made for a good acid test for a new procedure. Some observations, which need to be archived for next year:

1. Overall it worked quite well, and we'll probably do it again next year.

2. It was well publicized ahead of time. Folks were taxing up holding up fingers before they even got to the sign explaining why. You did your homework.

3. Even for the unexpecting it worked well. A few seconds of reading and pondering and the fingers were raised. The slow-down effect on traffic was minimal.

4. We did not take detailed measurements, but the distribution was about 60% to #3 (close to facilities,) about 25% #1 (up front) and 15% #2 (in the back.) We did our best to accommodate but will adjust accordingly next year.

5. We kept this up until about noon on Sunday. By that time things had filled up enough that the three areas pretty much ran together, not to mention we were too busy with arrivals to take the time. So consider noon Sunday to be the cutoff for "getting there early."

6. To the poor soul who got their just before airshow time on Tuesday and plaintively held up one finger as we led you to a spot way in the back... sorry. If you want a good seat to the show, get there early. By noon Tuesday you're lucky to have a spot at OSH, let along you choice.

That brings up another point- the website folks asked me early in the week if we wanted the HBC status to be listed on the EAA website along with North 40 camping (ie. 90% full, closed, etc.) I turned them down and here's why- unlike in N40, Homebuilt never actually "fills up." When we get full, we get creative and look for ways to shoehorn planes into un likely spaces. When that runs out we can always send them to the far south end of the airport, ie. "North Fond du Lac." We will never turn a showplace (homebuilt, antique or warbird) way from Oshkosh. N40, by contrast, can divert to FDL or Appleton when they "get full." So, not wanting to have someone look at the website and say, "gee, HBC is 98% full, I probably won't find a spot so I won't go," we deliberately left our status off the website. Come on in and we'll always find you a spot, somewhere.

As always, we welcome your feedback on this new procedure.

It was our first Oshkosh this year. We would have liked to be able to camp close to the HBC area because this is where the builders are. Isn't it possible to reserve a small area for builders that are not yet finished in a corner of the field near the fence? Maybe tents only on a first come first serve basis? Just an idea.

BCP Boys · #30 08-08-2014, 05:32 AM

This was my first Osh and I thought it went great ! I was parked in row 320 back by the fence but that's because I got there on Sunday around 6:00 PM... so if I want anything better next year I'll get there earlier. I was actually pleased with the showers and the facilities. The Port-A-Potties were cleaned timely and the shower houses seemed to be busy early in the morning but that's no one's fault. I made it a point to get up, go for a walk/run, get my coffee and breakfast and walk around and see the planes then go to the showers mid morning... that seemed to work great.

Anyway, looking forward to next year