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Recommended ?out? airports from OSH

T

thinkn9a

Well Known Member
With all the folks using out airports this year, there should be a good corporate knowledge of recommended and not recommended airports.

Please let the rest of us know your new found jewel or new found ? not to return?. Not trying to bash anyone or place,.. but some have better service and more service than others. (And those of us not camping have greater needs)

Let?s hope we don?t repeat this year, but if something happens,...it would be good to have a ready list of recommendations.
 
I lucked out and randomly chose Wautoma (Y50) to divert to on Saturday evening after it was clear I wasn't going to be able to make it to OSH.

1) They allow camping at the airport
2) Showers in the FBO
3) Pizza Joint that delivers (until 11pm)
4) Cheap Fuel
5) Awesome airport management. They gave a few people rides to the local motel.
 
Baraboo Dells KDLL was a nice spot 45 nm southwest of Ripon - brand new runway (opened just a few days prior to Osh) with double-sided fueling at $4.50. Shuttle to the casino, and Clarion Inn had rooms for $69.
 
I like Madison. The fuel prices are really good for a big airport (cheaper than anything in New Mexico). Hangar space is surprisingly affordable in case there is a storm coming. They have Uber and there are always plenty of Marriott properties around, which are free to me because I travel way too much for work. I've used this option twice, both times traveling with young children which makes camping, especially without cooking gear difficult.
 
KCLI

FWIW, check out KCLI, Clintonville...used it in 2017 for a fuel stop/weather wait. 47NM north of Ripon, so 15NM or so northeast of Waupaca. 2 good diagonal runways, cheap fuel, nice, clean pilot lounge with adjacent grass lawn for tent. No one else there when I stopped.
 
bullojm1 said:
I lucked out and randomly chose Wautoma (Y50) to divert to on Saturday evening after it was clear I wasn't going to be able to make it to OSH.

1) They allow camping at the airport
2) Showers in the FBO
3) Pizza Joint that delivers (until 11pm)
4) Cheap Fuel
5) Awesome airport management. They gave a few people rides to the local motel.
Click to expand...

Stopped in there Saturday afternoon as well, really great management. Nice FBO.

It was like watching a le mans race seeing 20+ airplanes all start up and try to take off as soon as they heard that OSH was open just to see most of them turn around when they turned the arrival off again.
 
Haven't been to OSH but plan on making the trek next year with my nephew. Rookie question - is fuel available during Air Venture or should one arrive with enough to get to an airport with fuel when departing?
Thanks
 
ALagonia said:
Haven't been to OSH but plan on making the trek next year with my nephew. Rookie question - is fuel available during Air Venture or should one arrive with enough to get to an airport with fuel when departing?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Yes, they bring it to your plane. Not the cheapest but not that bad considering the venue
 
Wautoma ++

I agree on giving Wautoma high marks. I got a flat on landing Sunday. The entire FBO came to my rescue, had the flat left main on a dolly and pulled my plane back to their shop. As busy as they were on Sunday/Monday, they found time to install 2 new tires & tubes for a very reasonable rate. Nearby motel with shuttle. FBO gave me their courtesy car to drive to OSH and pickup new tires. Fantastic service.
 
I've stayed in Wautoma twice and it gets high marks in all areas. In both cases, we stayed at the Motel 8 and it was more than adequate. The FBO is nice, as other have said, you can camp and then the local EAA chapter puts on a breakfast. It is a preferred location for me.
 
Portage (C47) was a good stop for us. Fuel was cheap. Airport manager was there being a good host. The approach is a bit interesting with power lines then a displaced threshold that probably should be moved a bit further down the runway.

Of course, there are alway Appleton and Fond Du Loc from which transportation is available to OSH. After it was clear that things were not clearing up Sunday, we went to Fond Du Loc.
 
Airports

I wanted to go to Madison on Sunday to rent a car. NO TIEDOWN SPACE. I went there late Sun and there were perhaps 3 or 4 tiedowns available. This was only because the Mooney group had finally left. They told me NO HANGAR SPACE.
Watertown is an excellent choice. Service does not get any better than Watertown Aviation. A modest amount of OSH traffic this year at Watertown.
 
The FBO's as Madison, Watertown and Juneau are all Wisconsin Aviation, and generally good people. https://www.wisconsinaviation.com/

If you land at one of them and it is crowded, they can probably tell you if the other airports are open. Juneau is usually used by the Bonanza to OSH crowd.
 
jrs14855 said:
I wanted to go to Madison on Sunday to rent a car. NO TIEDOWN SPACE. I went there late Sun and there were perhaps 3 or 4 tiedowns available. This was only because the Mooney group had finally left. They told me NO HANGAR SPACE.
Watertown is an excellent choice. Service does not get any better than Watertown Aviation. A modest amount of OSH traffic this year at Watertown.
Click to expand...

FYI, Wisconsin Aviation runs FBO's in Madison and Watertown. Always provide good service.
 
We rolled the dice and headed to Wautoma. Us and 70 other airplanes on Sunday! Had a great time and the FBO rolled out the red carpet for everyone. I'd definitely keep this on the diversion list for future Oshkosh's.
 
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