Late AirVenture Arrivals

Flyhound

Flyhound

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Jan 7, 2014
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Washington State
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Flyhound
I've flown in to AirVenture 5 times. Each previous flight got me on the ground the Saturday before the event officially opened and that was fun. In each of those past visits, I've left in the middle of the week because I had used up all the time I had off. In 2025 I'm thinking of showing up late and staying through the end of the show. My thought is to arrive on Thursday, after Wednesday's night airshow. In year's past, I noticed that lots of spots opened up in the N40 mid week, but I didn't see any new arrivals being placed in those spots. If I arrive in Thursday morning, what are the chances of being given an open spot in the N40? I really don't want to wind up in the S40, 'cause that's too far from the restaurants and shops in town. Anybody have a good experience with showing up late in the week? Any advice on how I should proceed?Maule-N40-Parking.jpeg
 
We showed up on Thursday at noon this year, and wound up in the North 40. But I think it's going to be a crap shoot on which way they send you.
 
Flyhound said:
If I arrive in Thursday morning, what are the chances of being given an open spot in the N40?
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Almost 100% from what I've seen. I did that my first year and got parked in 504 IIRC. The last two years I've gone up Thursday before the Notam and stayed all week, which puts me again in the first few rows. They backfill the N40 fairly aggressively on Thursday. I'd guess that if you made a N40 sign and got there before noon it'd be no problem. Also helps if you land 9-27, but of course you often don't get a choice.
 
N40 sign and, ideally, N40 locations for a couple friends that are already there. No volunteer is going to send you to S40 just to make your life difficult, but it's also an easier conversation if you can say, "my buddy is N40, Row 500 and we're trying to get to a space that opened up right next to him"
 
Jim K said:
Almost 100% from what I've seen. I did that my first year and got parked in 504 IIRC. The last two years I've gone up Thursday before the Notam and stayed all week, which puts me again in the first few rows. They backfill the N40 fairly aggressively on Thursday. I'd guess that if you made a N40 sign and got there before noon it'd be no problem. Also helps if you land 9-27, but of course you often don't get a choice.
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So they just start parking on the field few days before? That sounds nice to be in the first few rows though.
 
mandm said:
So they just start parking on the field few days before? That sounds nice to be in the first few rows though.
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Yeah I think Jay Honeck asked and they told him he could camp in N40 starting Monday, which he did. Thursday AM will get you in the first couple rows. Thursday PM/Friday AM will put you near the green shower house. By Friday PM they're sometimes going to the north side of 9/27.

It is nice not having to deal with the N40 bus. It's just a short walk from the N40 tram stop.
 
There is a massive amount of departures Thursday morning. Your plan is good. Two years ago, it was a real mess. We finally let people shut down on the taxiway and Orlo went and got a couple of cases of water and started handing them out. Last year they got a little more sensible. Read the notams, they will make it outbound only early on Thursday.
 
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