Oshkosh Attendance

Flybipe · #1 07-29-2007, 04:19 PM

I was at Oshkosh from Sunday through Wednesday evening. I thought the attendance was good.

I'm curious to hear from folks who attended Thursday through close as to how the attendance was? Were the crowds up? Were there a lot of empty show plane parking spaces where folks had pulled out? It looked to me like there were a lot of planes leaving on Wednesday morning.

I'm trying to evaluate the days I should attend next year!

Geico266 · #2 07-29-2007, 04:22 PM

It was very full Sunday though Sat, as full as I have ever seen it. Camping areas were filled up early in the week. A good crowd, energized by the Cessna Skycatcher sales, interest in the Cirrus SRS, and personal jet market entries.

Stay all week, you don't want to miss anything!

Mike_ExpressCT · #3 07-29-2007, 08:32 PM

We got there Thursday morning and left Saturday evening, and when we arrived there were as many people there as I'd ever seen (probably my 6th Oshkosh). By the time we left a lot of people had left, but still tons of people hanging out until Saturday evening and/or Sunday. There sure seemed to be records in attendance from what I saw...overall great show!!

Highlights that I saw:

1. Eclipse jet's new single engine prototype...could never get close enough to take a picture!
2. All the LSA's, especially the S-19 and RV-12...there were always tons of people looking them over.
3. All the beautiful RV's in the homebuilt camping!
4. My favorite: F-22 Raptor show Saturday afternoon!!!

prkaye · #4 07-29-2007, 08:47 PM

Did they have an F-35? Has it appeared at any public airshows yet? Or jsut the new "Die Hard" movie?

WSBuilder · #5 07-30-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prkaye

Did they have an F-35? Has it appeared at any public airshows yet? Or jsut the new "Die Hard" movie?

The one and only F-35 was snug in its hangar all week. BTW, it's a conventional, Air Force version and not the STOVL as in the movie. That comes along next year!

LettersFromFlyoverCountry · #6 07-30-2007, 11:04 AM

Some of these reports aren't squaring with what I noticed in the campground. As previous years, Thursday saw a LOT of empty spaces and I didn't see a lot of folks coming in for the weekend.

I talked to a few vendors who said it slowed considerably on Thursday and Friday.

Maybe it was just a quirk, as the EAA says it held steady through the weekend.

keen9a · #7 07-30-2007, 12:45 PM

Bob, I think I can square out those reports. The campground and vendor areas were much less crowded as the weekend approached and especially on Sat (I left early Sat evening). However, the number of people down on the flightline Friday and Sat was the most I've ever seen.

I think a lot of the series airplane people leave before the weekend, but are replaced by people who drive up for a day or two from relatively close cities.

PS, Bob, I'm glad I got to meet you outside of the chaos of the BBQ. I gotta remember to stop by Glenn's campsite when I have time to chat next year!

GTechRV · #8 07-30-2007, 02:29 PM

I was up Friday morning and left Sunday before the airshow. Since this was my first time at Osh I couldn't gauge it from past years, but Friday and Saturday were definitely busy! Things wound down on Sunday but the pace seemed a lot more relaxed than dead. All the exhibitors were still there and the lines were short and I was actually able to see quite a bit. There were no lines for taxi and takeoff (unlike Sat which was insane). I'd certainly recommend staying for Sunday if you can. We left around 2pm and were back (after 5.5 hrs non-stop in a 172RG) in Atlanta around 8.

Did the sheet metal workshop with some friends who've never riveted before. I was torn on whether to tell them I've already put an RV empennage together (although the Vans cap may have given it away)

LettersFromFlyoverCountry · #9 07-30-2007, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keen9a

PS, Bob, I'm glad I got to meet you outside of the chaos of the BBQ. I gotta remember to stop by Glenn's campsite when I have time to chat next year!

Thanks, Ben. Glenn's campsite has become "show central" for me.

Anyway, say, I wanted to tell you that you may have noticed we didn't give away your donation for the door prize. And it was a good one as I noticed the book was selling for $22 at Avery too.

I put it in my tent when you gave it to me for safekeeping, and then it rained. It got all wet and while it was not ruined enough to toss, it couldn't be given away.

So I've given it a new home on my garage bookshelf. I owe you a brat and a beer next time I see you.

Chino Tom · #10 07-30-2007, 05:18 PM

Town didn't seem as crowded Sunday night through Tuesday. The old Tumbleweed (now a mexican eatery) near UW was not crowded at all (the food may have had something to do with it!), Kodiak Jacks was only a 30 minute wait on Monday night but Kelly's was the same as ever. Left for home on the tube Wednesday evening. OSH didn't seem as crowded as last year to me. But for this Calif boy used to almost no humidity is sure seemed hotter! Nothing like 99 though.