speed said:
If I could only make a long weekend, when should I go ? opening weekend, final weekend or during the week ? What is the "I cant miss that" at Oshkosh?
I have never been, but I hear its an event I dont want to miss. Where can I get a schedule of events ? It may be around here somewhere I just couldnt find it. fount it
http://www.airventure.org/
Thanks in advance
I've made the pilgrimage to Oshkosh 19 times since 1984 and here are a few personal observations. Wear the most comfortable shoes you've ever worn in your life. This is no place to try out a new pair. Once inside the grounds, don't worry about finding a program, volunteers will be hawking them aplenty! In years past, I've done the rite of passage thing, flown in and camped under the wing. Always an adventure. You can never tell what the weather has in store. Could be hot and steamy, or cold, windy, and damp...or anything in between. One year, upon leaving the show in my Cessna 150, I found myself in a traffic jam of departing aircraft and making the looong taxi from my parking spot near the departure end of Niner, cross country to runway 36... and found myself directly behind a departing T-28 Trojan for one full hour. One word...
turbulent. I was tired before I ever left the ground! Anymore, I simply fly or drive into Green Bay (easier), stay at some cookie cutter motel and commute daily. The weather for the most part usually cooperates at least part of the big closing weekend. The last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are when activities peak. The vendors are in a sales frenzy. At peak times expect at to be 2,3 even 4 deep when visiting popular vendors such as Spruce or Garmin sellers located in Exhibition Buildings A,B,C, and D. If it rains, you'll be barely able to move anywhere there is a roof available. You'll be poked and prodded by all manner of carry along seats, cameras, bags, backpacks and folding chairs. Crap abounds in the Flymart area but can be a treasure trove of exploration for the truly savvy buyer. Many Flymart vendors are ready to deal by late Sunday and a little negotiating can yield an exceptional bargain or two. l usually earmark at least a half day for the museum visit. Beautiful building and grounds. Once inside, you've got to see the USS Enterprise (WW11) model which is 10 feet long (more or less) highly and meticulously detailed. Sit in the mockup Johnson Wax Carnuba seaplane as a passenger for an interesting flying video depicting aerial exploration of times long past. I am particularly fond of Pioneer airport in general and always make it a point to pay my respects to Bernard Petienpol's diminutive and personally fashioned hangar featuring handmade laminated beam arches and relocated to the grounds by volunteers some time ago. lf ever there was a definition of "homebuilder" this man was easily among the movements' greatest players. Like it or not, AirVenture has become many things to many people. Whether you are into kit built designs, one of a kind oddities, all manner of ubiquitious spam can, corporate jets, warbirds, classics, antiques, helicopters, ultralights, even cars, motorcycles and John Deere tractors, AirVenture will easily accomodate your tastes. There can be no denying this fact though. Of all the aircraft parking areas you may visit, you will find no single larger representation of homebuilt kit aircraft flying into Oshkosh than that of Van's RV's. The area is located behind Van's display area, and adjacent to part of the warbird parking area. Sometimes, I almost feel sorry for the relatively lonely Sonex guys usually located across from Van's static displays. Enjoy the show. Nothing like it on Earth.
Rick Galati RV-6A "Darla"