thinking about flying to Oshkosh…

[dominikos]

I will probably be told to use google, but this is a first time I might head out to Oshkosh and I wonder how other approached this…

Here are my parameters, 300 hrs pilot, IFR certified… seen a few videos on getting to Oshkosh… would come on Friday, leave either late Saturday or Sunday morning… Last minute thought so I don’t have hotel booked so thought of camping around the plane, I think that’s an option…

1. concerned about flying in, given the volume of traffic and ATC
2. are on field accommodations doable? 
3. is end of week worth of coming for?

Any pointers, experience sharing or links very appreciated…

Thanks, Dominik

[Mooney in Oz]

36 minutes ago, dominikos said:

would come on Friday, leave either late Saturday or Sunday morning

Sorry I can’t help with your other questions, but IMHO one or two days is not enough to stop, see and enjoy everything that Oshkosh has to offer. If you can, try to arrive earlier and stay for at least a few days.

It will be worthwhile and an unforgettable experience.

[FoxMike]

Have ben OSH many times.  Camping is OK depending on weather but you might try to snag a dorm room.  Reason is airfield  may fill up so you will have to go to Fond du Lac or elsewhere.  You can camp at KFLD but then you will be riding the bus to the show.  If you leave from Houston on Friday you  will be late getting to OSH which means the field may be closed for the airshow.  If you get into OSH getting out after the Saturday Airshow can be a real traffic jam.  Much better to plan a Sunday departure.  Weather can be a factor which can cause more delays either or both ways.  I normally plan Monday departure, Tuesday/Wednesday at show and Thursday home.  I do not go into OSH anymore as departures are so unpredictable.  You might want to leave on Thursday to give yourself a little more time at the show.  It really is a great show and for a first timer 3 or even 4 days would be worthwhile.  Have a good time if you go and plan as best you can for the unpredictable.

[Skates97]

Last year was my first year, I loved it. The plan was to go again this year but work is in the way... The night airshows are Wednesday and Saturday, which means arriving Thursday may be better with people leaving after the Wednesday night show. That was our plan last year but a major storm forecast had the Wednesday night show canceled and Oshkosh looked deserted by Wednesday evening. We left that morning along with a lot of other folks. It was easy to get in and out. We were camped all the way out in the South 40, and from the time stamps on my camera it was just over 22 minutes from engine startup to wheels up, not bad at all when you consider the long taxi.

If you're interested I wrote up the trip there, our time there, and the trip back. I also have videos of the last leg there and the departure along with the Chicago skyline.

Part I - Oshkosh Rookie - Getting There

Part II - Oshkosh Rookie - The Show

Part III - Oshkosh Rookie - Getting Out of Dodge

[N201MKTurbo]

Take off your lower gear doors before you go. Last time I went they had me go 4 wheeling with the Mooney and it bent the hell out of them.

[McMooney]

3 hours ago, dominikos said:

I will probably be told to use google, but this is a first time I might head out to Oshkosh and I wonder how other approached this…

Here are my parameters, 300 hrs pilot, IFR certified… seen a few videos on getting to Oshkosh… would come on Friday, leave either late Saturday or Sunday morning… Last minute thought so I don’t have hotel booked so thought of camping around the plane, I think that’s an option…

1. concerned about flying in, given the volume of traffic and ATC
2. are on field accommodations doable? 
3. is end of week worth of coming for?

Any pointers, experience sharing or links very appreciated…

Thanks, Dominik

fingers crossed, this might also be my first year.  camping gear is already packed and waiting in the hangar

 

[Boilermonkey]

Everyone has different likes and dislikes that color what makes OSH fun.

The first year we flew in and stayed at the dorms.  The show was great, but I didn't like having to travel to/from the show each day versus camping.   So, for the last 8 times we've camped and had an absolute blast.  Many years we just flew in and made new friends, over the past few years I've met up with some friends, flew in together, and thus got park near each other and had even more fun.  If you are coming mid/end of the week it is still VERY wroth it.  Like the second video below when I arrived on a THursday you'll get parked where ever they have open spots...new firends!

If you don't like camping, porta potties, etc. then by all means don't do it....but if you can deal with that...staying on the grounds is a lot of fun (weather not withstanding).

You're concerns about flying are 100% valid.  You need to be ready. The best way to be ready is to read the NOTAM and watch videos so you know what to expect.  Once you are familiar it's straight forward.

Practice your slow flight skills!   Practice a lower than normal pattern starting your descent midfield with a lower base and final.   Find a longer runway nad practice putting it down where the "dots" would be.  For example, on the numbers.  Or, to the numbers, but then add power and fly to mid-field at 50 ft then land...don't forget your rudder ;-).

Example of the low altitude pattern, especially when landing to the south:   

 

 

FISK Arrival with typical ATC communications.   

 

[Danb]

I’ve gone many times, now that my wife goes with me it’s a shorter version of Air Venture  also I don’t fly into Oshkosh anymore. We go to Green Bay, stay at the casino across from the airport, rent a scooter so we see a lot more that way plus Oshkosh can be hot and humid. Definitely worth the trip always see stuff we didn’t see before.
 

[BDPetersen]

I haven’t made it for the last few years, but started going in the ‘70’s and only know it as a camping event life experience. Pulled 2 little boys around in a special OSH wagon. One is now checking out as a Delta captain. After 5 days one doesn’t want to go back to the real world. And then the days begin to shorten.

Anyway, stay loose on the arrival. Learn to straddle a railroad track, not offset to one side. Try to hold a precise altitude, unlike those other fools. Rock your wings and listen. Somehow it works. Lesser pilots than you do it. Breathe it all in and make some memories.

[carusoam]

Dominik,

Think no longer…!
 

KOSH is the most awesome flying experience of all…

When flying in your first time….

1) Really be aware of the new rules for the fly-in… it recently got a name change for the EAA’s info package, I believe…

2) Bring a second pair of eyes with you… somebody familiar with looking for traffic….

3) If you haven’t been to SnF or other huge scale fly-in…. Bring somebody that has….

4) When flying in… things change quickly…. ATC can forget about you…. You need to know when to ask….

5) As things change quickly… stress can get pretty high…

6) Trying to land on an assigned, big, colored, dot… on side by side active runways…. You want to avoid being the one guy that messes things up….

Accelerated stalls are best displayed at altitude… not near the ground… as demonstrated by a few planes over the years… often flown by experienced pilots too…

 

7) Don’T forget your sunscreen and your bug spray…

8) Find the Mooney Formators….

9) Camp on the field any way you can….

10) Have a blast…  there are lots of people that like talking Mooneys….

11) plan four days if you can…

• Day1 fly in…
• Day2 show day
• Day3 show day
• Day four fly out…

It takes two days to walk, talk, and see almost everything….

12) The search function will show a thread from every year that will include what to see and what to bring and what to avoid….

13) Use caution whenever leaving the pavement….

14) bring young kids with you…. A memory that lasts forever…. Mostly their memory, not yours… 

15) bring every Mooney T-shirt you own…

Go KOSH!

Best regards,

-a-

[Pinecone]

There are some great articles on AVWEB.  Find and READ them.

READ the NOTAM.  Study it until you know it.  It is not the time to be saying, should I be doing this or that, when you are in the flow.

Go out and PRACTICE flying the precise airspeeds and altitudes and headings required.   Slight errors on one pilot's part get magnified through the train of planes.

FLY the speeds.  I lost one friend due to someone slowing down to their normal speed on final, not realizing that YOUR speed may not be a safe speed for the plane behind you.

Listen and pay attention to the controllers.

 

Once there, have fun.  Which you will.

 

And I agree, a couple of days is not enough.

[steingar]

If you come in at the beginning of the show you really want to get there on the weekend, as the field often fills up by Monday.  if you come later in the week it shouldn't be a big deal, most of the early arrivals are gone by then.  The arrival procedure has changed from years past, you might actually start out at one of the lakes there, you have to listen to the ATIS to suss it out.  Worked great last year.

I'll be in the activity center every day, come see me!

[dominikos]

given my availability, I will arrive on Thursday afternoon (weather permitting) and leave on Sunday morning. Sounds like this will give me enough time to enjoy the activities… 

are there any mooney get together at Oshkosh? It would be fun to meet in person folks from mooneyspace there…

[apriav]

Sign of the time we are in.

We had 5 aircraft going a couple of months ago, now its just me.

Topped off the tanks today $7.59 a gallon, now how much do I want to go by my self.

Still looking foreword to Oshkosh.........

[carusoam]

On 6/6/2022 at 6:46 PM, dominikos said:

 

are there any mooney get together at Oshkosh? It would be fun to meet in person folks from mooneyspace there…

There are a few…

As we get closer, a schedule usually arises…

Often, the Mooney Formation Flyers have a huge group in one area and sponsor an open event…

One year a great MSer helped supply the pizza at the event….  That great MSer lives in Canada and had too much shop work to complete that week… 

There is one restaurant on the field that has a big MSer get together… I think Becca may have been the organizer for that?

 

Fun times ahead…

Best regards,

-a-

[amillet]

54 of 67 Caravan slots are filled to date. June 30 is cutoff date to register 

[carusoam]

@201er are you registered for the Caravan?

Just wondering….  

-a-