2021 Airventure Poll

[FlyingElvii]

There are indeed lots of people but the place is huge. And going earlier in the week means smaller crowds. I won’t disagree with the “expensive” part - but so is Disney, skiing, or other popular pastimes.

Not sure I’d agree with the “can be seen elsewhere”, though I haven’t personally been to Sun N Fun (after 12 years of OSH, SnF seems like it would be the actual “can be seen elsewhere” to me): seeing a dozen or more Mustangs parked together in a field or a whole field of RVs or a few rows of beautiful Cessna 195’s parked together or watching powered parachutes at sunrise in a continuous loop like an amusement ride or...

The first year we went I had very high expectations. It exceeded those considerably.

Although flying in is safer than it sounds, driving in is also very reasonable. Again, earlier in the show is probably better.

As for the OP, I personally think it’ll be a go. I think there will be tremendous pressure to make it happen - within EAA (for financial reasons), EAA membership, and the local communities (also for financial reasons). Covid will still be a factor but the vaccine is helping a lot, as is just the natural progression of disease spread.

We plan to go, as part of a Mass Arrival group, and camp together. The biggest risk will probably be the shower buildings in the North 40 but we’re vaccinated and have already gotten the virus so we should be safe. Plus we have no real risk factors.

But back to your comment, I highly suggest going. It’s a big deal for a reason.

Sun n Fun is going to be huge this year, it seems.

Given the political situation in Wisconsin and the effect it will have on Airventure, SnF may be the better show to attend this year.

 

[flyingron]

Of course, make sure you have the signs made up to let people know where you're going.

I have my VAC sign and one with the row number when I get closer (I'm usually in and out several times during the show giving rides). I also have my VFR sign for departure.

One year I added a sign that said "THANK YOU" that I show after the first one.

Then one year I added even more signs:

YOU LOOK GOOD IN ORANGE (for the marshallers)
YOU LOOK GOOD IN PINK (for the ATC guys)
WHY CAN'T I PARK HERE?
I PARKED HERE LAST YEAR.
I KNOW TOM.

and then later I added

MVFR

for departure on those marginal days.

 

[flyingron]

This will be my first time in the probably unaircondtioned UW dorms. Anything I should know about the dorm experience?

Nope, bring a fan if you like. The beds aren't too bad and the showers and bath facilities are a whole lot better than anything on the field. Food is not too bad there either.

 

[David Megginson]

The U.S. is way ahead of Canada in vaccinating—great job, BTW!—but you also have 3× our death rate (per million), so you're starting from a much-worse place, and vaccination is still going to need some help from other measures to end the outbreak. A cautionary tale is Israel, who reopened prematurely after vaccinating about half their population and then suddenly saw their death rate skyrocket (and that was before the more contagious variants took hold).

I'm hoping for a better summer for both our countries, including lots of personal GA flying, but I think it would be more responsible if huge public gatherings like Air Venture were pushed back to September or October.

 

[EdFred]

Sun n Fun is going to be huge this year, it seems.

Given the political situation in Wisconsin and the effect it will have on Airventure, SnF may be the better show to attend this year.

I thought WI opened everything up? I was there this weekend and no masks required anywhere.

 

[murphey]

I've stayed in the dorms every year that I've attended. Very good experience, never had any issues. Bring a fan, nice to have few times that we had warm nights, most of the years I've found the overnight temperatures to be just about right. Also the bus service to the field is very good. Food service on campus is also a good deal.

Bring a fan or swing by Target and pick one up. Then donate it to the Goodwill across the street from the North 40.

 

[murphey]

Nope, bring a fan if you like. The beds aren't too bad and the showers and bath facilities are a whole lot better than anything on the field. Food is not too bad there either.

More than anything else....you won't be miserable & soaked in your tent at the annual drenching thunderstorm.

 

[Groundpounder]

The pillows they provide at the dorms are awful. I slept one night on it, and went to target and bought literally the last one they had. Left it behind. Worth the expense.

 

[Rock Berube]

Following

 

[gprellwitz]

Okay, we've just pulled the trigger. We rented the RV and will be driving it up from Chicago. Perhaps no HOPS party this year(?) but we're still planning on the jambalaya night in Camp Bacon!

 

[iamtheari]

Okay, we've just pulled the trigger. We rented the RV and will be driving it up from Chicago. Perhaps no HOPS party this year(?) but we're still planning on the jambalaya night in Camp Bacon!

How much of the RV rental do you want us to reimburse to have the HOPS party at your place? (Asking for a friend.)

 

[gprellwitz]

How much of the RV rental do you want us to reimburse to have the HOPS party at your place? (Asking for a friend.)

Hey, we're having a jambalaya and chili party at Camp Bacon on Tuesday! (See the thread I just posted.) If you want to bring beer to that and wear a HOPS T-shirt from years past, it's all good!

 

[iamtheari]

Hey, we're having a jambalaya and chili party at Camp Bacon on Tuesday! (See the thread I just posted.) If you want to bring beer to that and wear a HOPS T-shirt from years past, it's all good!

I didn’t get a shirt but if I’m at KOSH on Tuesday I’ll be there!

 

[steingar]

Count me in.

 

[strangebird]

Look out! We have a real bad ass here!

make that two bad asses

 

[FlyingElvii]

Okay, we've just pulled the trigger. We rented the RV and will be driving it up from Chicago. Perhaps no HOPS party this year(?) but we're still planning on the jambalaya night in Camp Bacon!

Likewise....
Renting an RV turned out to cost almost the same, given insane car rental and hotels trying to make up a year’s losses over just one week. See ya’all in Scholler!

 

[aggie06]

Down in vintage every year we require a training class that details the five hand singles and making the larger: come to me, slow down, left turn, right turn, and STOP! Slow down and stop are the key. The marshaller is going to do their best not to lose sight of you, don't lose sight. Chasing down someone about to taxi into a speaker pole from the rear isn't ever effective.

I volunteered in Vintage last year (2019) and took the required class. Everything was simple until I got to the flight line and the person in charge told me they had their own signals and that they weren’t using the normal ones because no pilots understood them. It was really strange.

 

[flyingron]

I volunteered in Vintage last year (2019) and took the required class. Everything was simple until I got to the flight line and the person in charge told me they had their own signals and that they weren’t using the normal ones because no pilots understood them. It was really strange.

Which point was that? We'll deal with it.

 

[aggie06]

Which point was that? We'll deal with it.

It was later in the week and toward the south end on the main taxiway parallel to 18/36 as I recall. Right about where the Bonanza was sitting on the collapsed gear after the hard landing.

Don’t get me wrong - if you like airplanes, volunteering on the flight line is awesome. I highly recommend it to others. You get front row seats to all the cool stuff landing and get to see it before anyone else does.

 

[denverpilot]

Which point was that? We'll deal with it.

I wanna see video of Ron starting that conversation nicely and proceeding from there... LOL! Especially "the look". Hahahaha.

 

[flyingron]

Nah, I'm not in authority (nor do I suffer fools enough to be in authority). I'll bring it up with the appropriate people who are in authority and they will take care of it for me. My job is just to make sure the computers run (and that all our stuff gets back and forth from the storage locker each year).