Oshkosh - new procedure in Homebuilt Camping

[SAF_Zoom]

Best tie down you can buy https://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/pspages/claw.php

[Bubblehead]

Originally Posted by sprucemoose

Mark,

That's a simple question that does not have a simple answer. According to the EAA Camping Guide, page 7 (http://www.eaa.org/~/media/files/air...e_8%205x11.pdf)

> ?Dog leash? tiedowns are prohibited.

Looks like I'll need to replace my tie downs this year, however I could have sworn I bought mine at Oshkosh from a golf cart in HBC one year when I flew in. I had intended to go to the Pavilions and buys some there but did not get the chance. Maybe it was Sun-N-Fun not OSH.

[gfb]

Originally Posted by WVM

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.

I'm on the fence about tent camping this year or just driving back & forth to Madison. I would definitely camp if there was an area at HBC for builders with no plane. Too late to make this happen?

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by sprucemoose

The rental tie downs (nothing but a piece of welded rebar) are better than nothing, but not by much. Would you want the airplane next to yours tied down with these during a strong storm?

And in addition... tie down anchors (regardless what you are using) have to be used properly to get max. performance.
Example- a rebar tie down pounded into the ground directly below the tie down point is not much more than a placebo. If the same is done with a screw in tie down anchor it is not much better.
The anchor should be screwed into the ground at an angle and off set from the tie point on the airplane so that the rope is pulling approx. perpendicular to the axis of the stake or anchor (unless using the claw type tie down or similar... then follow the instructions).

If using the titanium style screw in tie downs, turn the handle so that the closed side it towards the direction of the rope to reduce teh chance of a hard pull bending the handle open.

Every year innocent airplane owners get damage on their airplanes at fly-ins because someone else nearby did a poor job of tying down their.

Don't be one of those people.

[sprucemoose]

Excellent points by Scott. Per the instructions, the Claw should be directly below the attach point on the airplane, not at an angle. If it must be at an angle (tailwheel for example) then the load should be along one of the three arms (rope parallel to the arm) for maximum strength.

I see many Claws improperly installed every year. Incidentally, I often wonder about how many tie downs of various types that "failed" during the Sun n Fun storm a few years ago actually "failed" due to improper installation.

[sprucemoose]

Originally Posted by gfb

I'm on the fence about tent camping this year or just driving back & forth to Madison. I would definitely camp if there was an area at HBC for builders with no plane. Too late to make this happen?

There is no "official" place for this and no plans to make it happen, just not enough room. Your best bet is to find someone you know in HBC and pitch a tent with their plane. The "one tent per plane" rule is very, very loosely enforced in HBC.

[rleffler]

Originally Posted by gfb

I'm on the fence about tent camping this year or just driving back & forth to Madison. I would definitely camp if there was an area at HBC for builders with no plane. Too late to make this happen?

Isn't that what Camp Scholler was intended to be? There are builders working on the same aircraft model that camp together. Before I had a flying aircraft, I camped with fellow RV-10 builders in Scholler.

bob

[gfb]

Originally Posted by rleffler

Isn't that what Camp Scholler was intended to be? There are builders working on the same aircraft model that camp together. Before I had a flying aircraft, I camped with fellow RV-10 builders in Scholler.

bob

Is there a way to figure out the different group areas in Camp Scholler?

[rleffler]

Originally Posted by gfb

Is there a way to figure out the different group areas in Camp Scholler?

Not really, EAA doesn't track what groups organize activities within the camp grounds. I stumbled upon the RV-10 group on the Matronics forum probably 8-10 years ago.

A suggestion would be to post under the appropriate RV model, anyone building or have a RV-X camping at Scholler? Do you mind if I camp next to you? Then make arrangements.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Sometimes, I think we're all a bit too "tribal."

Camp Scholler's beauty is it's utter unpredictability. The people you meet who randomly pull up next to you might not even have an RV -- or even heard of an RV let alone the model you might be building -- and yet they might be lifelong friends waiting to happen.

Just let Oshkosh wash over you. It's the only "real" way to do it.