OSHKOSH 2015

[Edgefly]

How many of this group intend to FLY-IN to OSHKOSH this year?

[rgstubbsjr]

I don't intend to go, but I've been in places without ever intending to be there, so you never know. (Or I wanted a pun: , so you never no.)

[cogito]

I flew from Los Angeles with five friends in four planes last year. My first time to fly in, great experience and will try to repeat this year if possible.

[Edgefly]

cogito,
I assume from your phrasing that you folks flew yourselves there. How many days/flying hours did it take from LA ? Hope your inputs motivates others who don't have such a long ways to go. Did you camp or utilize other facilities ? Many regular attendees counsel getting there the day before the show starts; others say the parking/housing facilities are more available for later arrivals. Have any thoughts on that ?

Thanks for your response.

[cogito]

cogito,
I assume from your phrasing that you folks flew yourselves there. How many days/flying hours did it take from LA ? Hope your inputs motivates others who don't have such a long ways to go. Did you camp or utilize other facilities ? Many regular attendees counsel getting there the day before the show starts; others say the parking/housing facilities are more available for later arrivals. Have any thoughts on that ?

Thanks for your response.

Edgefly,
Yes, we flew three Sling LSAs and one RV, arriving the Friday before the show began. I agreed to put my plane on display so I didn't actually camp under wing. I've camped at Scholler two years in a row now (drove the first time, 24 hrs. each way) with a group of podcasters who get there weeks ahead of time to get a prime space. We call our area "Camp Bacon" because of the bacon parties we have. I definitely recommend camping, there are a lot of activities in the evening when the big crowds have gone: Pilots and astronauts speaking at Theater in the Woods, campfires and hangar flying at the campsites.

Our flight:
We (the three LSAs) had to leave by 2:00 that Wednesday because of a presidential TFR in Los Angeles so we made it only to Salt Lake City, UT (U42) the first night. 5.2 hrs. on the hobbs. We rented a car and stayed at a friend's house there.

The next day after taking photos at Mt. Rushmore (photo below) we had lunch in Rapid City (RAP) and waited for the RV to join us (he was coming from Portland, OR.) We made it to Brookings, SD (BKX) that second night. The Brookings FBO let us have the crew car (for free) and we stayed at an inexpensive motel a few miles from the airport. 2nd day: 6.9 hrs.

The third day we had to dodge a little weather but made a Ripon arrival into OSH around noon. I landed my plane on the Green Dot rwy 27. I'd watched the OSH arrival youtubes a number of times, but it was great to do it the first time with some pilots who'd done it before. 3rd day: 3.8 hrs.

So just under 16 hrs of flying. You could do it in two days but I recommend a shortish day for the last one to be alert for the OSH arrival. I also like arriving a day or two before the show begins because my favorite part of OSH is sitting by the flight line with dozens of instant friends just watching the myriad of small planes land.

I didn't stay the whole show because my brother called to say he'd rented a house on Cape Cod for a week and I figured I was 2/3rds of the way across the country so why not? There I gave rides to everyone in the family from my 13 yr. old niece to my 80 yr. old father who, though a career aircraft engineer, had never flown in a small plane before.

And then there was a friend I hadn't seen for years in North Carolina.
And then I wanted Lockwood to do the sport upgrade on my 912is in Sebring, Florida.

So my "round trip" to OSH took a total of 63.8 hrs. flying over the course of three weeks, so actually took longer than the previous year when I drove.
-Craig

[Jack Tyler]

Just in case anyone is interested and/or thinking of making their own overflight plans:

"8. VOLUNTARY PRACTICES.
a. Avoidance of noise-sensitive areas, if practical, is preferable to overflight at relatively low altitudes.
b. Pilots operating noise producing aircraft (fixed-wing, rotary-wing and hot air balloons) over noise- sensitive areas should make every effort to fly not less than 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL), weather permitting. For the purpose of this AC, the ground level of noise-sensitive areas is defined to include the highest terrain within 2,000 feet AGL laterally of the route of flight, or the uppermost rim of a canyon or valley. The intent of the 2,000 feet AGL recommendation is to reduce potential interference with wildlife and complaints of noise disturbances caused by low flying aircraft over noise-sensitive areas."

Advisory Circular AC 91
http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/medi ... 91-36d.pdf

[Edgefly]

Cognito,
Excellent trip resume' I'm certain it will be of interest to others as well. Thanks

[rezaf_2000]

If I can finish my license by then, and find another more experience pilot who feels confident enough in the Oshkosh air traffic, I'll probably fly there too. It's kind of a milestone goal for me.

[SportPilot]

.......

[Flocker]

I had not thought about going, but Andy got me thinking about it on another forum.

Is there another Forum?

[MrMorden]

I had not thought about going, but Andy got me thinking about it on another forum.

Is there another Forum?

CTFlier.com

I have decided to swallow my fear and go for the flight into Oshkosh this year. I'm going with two other airplanes. One of the pilots is an old hand at OSH, the other is a newb like me. It should be a lot of fun.

[SportPilot]

.......

[MrMorden]

Andy, what days are you flying up and back? For now, I'm planning on flying from GVL to OSH on Sunday with 2 fuel stops. Planning to fly back home on Wednesday. That's all subject to the weather, of course.

I think we're going for the full week. Leaving Saturday and coming back the following Saturday or Sunday. It's possible I'll get burnt out and come home sooner.

[SportPilot]

.......

[SportPilot]

.......