OSH 2014 -- Who's In?

Light tent, inflatable mattress (I get the ones with the blower built in for an easy middle of the night top up), light rain gear, a few snacks, a couple of changes of clothes and I'm good to go. My entire camping supply kit weighs less than 50lbs, if I add cooking gear, add another 15lbs.


I'm also planning on bringing two chairs and a folding bike.
 
I'm also planning on bringing two chairs and a folding bike.

There is a Goodwill close by that brings in bikes by the truck load for Oshkosh Week. You can buy one very cheap, then "donate" it back when your done. They seriously fill the parking lot with bikes for cheap. That could shave off a few pounds on your cargro weight.
 
Yes that's a good idea but imagine how cool I'm going to look like on this.

A-Bike-8inch1.jpg
 
Lol, that looks like a circus bike. I would highly suggest getting a bike either by bringing it or by buying one there. Just don't spend a lot of money on it. You can't bring it onto the actual grounds. We use it to get from the camp ground to the gate, then you have to leave it to get inside.
 
What is the bathroom situation if you're camping?



Are there porta john's scattered around all over?



In other words, how far am I going to have to run from our plane to a toilet when that first sip of coffee kicks in the morning?


There are nice concrete buildings that have lots of toilets and showers, too. Last Time I was there, two of them in the North 40 camping area on the south edge of the camping area, one east and one west.
 
We stopped carrying camping gear up to Oshkosh a few years back. I have a storage locker I split with a few other folks just off the south end of the field. Whoever gets in first bums a pickup truck from one of the local guys and goes and retrieves all our gear.

Still we end up at gross with stuff we bring (wine, frozen drink machine).

Jay, it appears the loose alcohol led to loose women in that picture.
 
Jay, it appears the loose alcohol led to loose women in that picture.

Yeah, whenever our wives give us grief for [fill in the blank transgression] just remind them that we've always got that photo out there, as evidence. lol
 
I'm arriving Friday before the show from SF Bay Area. Will be there all week. Love to watch the arrivals on Saturday and Sunday before the show starts.

Alan
 
Hmmm... no there's a thought. Why not attend ? I guess I better get in the research mode. Is there a site I can visit to find out information ? Where to stay, what airport to fly in to VIA airlines ?
 
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If you can get a flight into APW, the transition to Oshkosh is very easy. I've flown in commercial twice. One time, I just walked from the plane through the airport (about 100 yards, it's small) to the waiting coach bus that went straight to the Oshkosh front gate.

The second time, I was sitting next to a guy who had booked a rental car and he gave me a lift (this took a little longer because I had to wait for him to get the car and then we had to hoof it in from the parking lot at Oshkosh).
 
Do the camping grounds have any electrical hookups?

Mostly how does everyone keep their phones and gadgets charged up while they're camping?

I have a jump starter / USB charger emergency unit that will charge gadgets multiple times, but it's kind of heavy.
 
Do the camping grounds have any electrical hookups?

Mostly how does everyone keep their phones and gadgets charged up while they're camping?

I have a jump starter / USB charger emergency unit that will charge gadgets multiple times, but it's kind of heavy.

In the plane camping areas the bathrooms have banks of outlets. There is also some places you can get your phone charged where the have a little more security. I seem to recall a building just outside the gate in the north 40 where you could get your phone charted, I think for a fee. I'm part of a group that camps together every year and we have a generator and a bunch of power strips.
 
I got a metal lock box and put a power strip inside and the cord comes out through a gromet. Using a bicycle lock, I can secure the box while charging my cell phone(s), tablet, radio, and camera.
 
Do the camping grounds have any electrical hookups?

Mostly how does everyone keep their phones and gadgets charged up while they're camping?

I have a jump starter / USB charger emergency unit that will charge gadgets multiple times, but it's kind of heavy.

I just charge my cell phone by plugging it in near the bathrooms in one of the camping areas. There's probably about 50 phones there at a time being charged. I've never heard of one of them being stolen, granted it's certainly possible.

I won't do the above with my laptop however...
 
Vintage maintains a free (donations welcomed) charging 'coat check' booth behind their Red Barn. Volunteering on the Vintage flight line has the fringe benefit of being able to charge your phone while you're working in our operations building.
 
I just charge my cell phone by plugging it in near the bathrooms in one of the camping areas. There's probably about 50 phones there at a time being charged. I've never heard of one of them being stolen, granted it's certainly possible.

I won't do the above with my laptop however...

I do the same, never been a problem, or I'll plug it into my plane if I'm there.
 
I just charge my cell phone by plugging it in near the bathrooms in one of the camping areas. There's probably about 50 phones there at a time being charged. I've never heard of one of them being stolen, granted it's certainly possible.

I won't do the above with my laptop however...

We had a rash of stolen phones in Homebuilt Camping a couple of years ago. IIRC, it was traced to the crew hired to keep the showers clean. Since then, the honor system for ice in HBC has gone by the wayside. I assume it went away because someone helped him or herself to a handful of the cash from the till.
 
Thanks for the tips on rechargeable s. I might look into a solar setup like the one in the picture. I'll be sure and take along plenty of those USB wall units, chords, and I can always charge from my plane. That reminds me I want to install a cigarette lighter adapter with a fuse to the battery that bypasses the master switch. Locate it in the back of the plane next to the battery. :yesnod:

I have twenty other questions...

In the NOTAM it says before firing up the engine when you go to depart camping, you must push the plane out of the campsite first. How does that work? Is someone around to tow you or do people chip in and push?
 
I can't believe we are nine weeks from AirVenture, and no one has started this thread? lol

This will be my 33rd year at OSH. As always, Mary and I will be hosting the HOPS party on Wednesday night. More on that later.

Who else is coming?

Sorry Jay, can't hang with the ugly prices and limited big top events to bring me to that outlay of funds. For the years Burt was there with all his designs, that they screwed up with the idiot military over run, and Bob Hoover doing anything at all, I'd gladly fly two days to be there and pay $40 to camp in the mud under my plane and shower with a sink sprayer and pay $4 for water.
But now, what the heck's the point?
Many of us have better things to do with our limited funds. Those that can afford it without complaint - SHUT UP! GOOD FOR YOU!
 
Sorry Jay, can't hang with the ugly prices and limited big top events to bring me to that outlay of funds. For the years Burt was there with all his designs, that they screwed up with the idiot military over run, and Bob Hoover doing anything at all, I'd gladly fly two days to be there and pay $40 to camp in the mud under my plane and shower with a sink sprayer and pay $4 for water.
But now, what the heck's the point?
Many of us have better things to do with our limited funds. Those that can afford it without complaint - SHUT UP! GOOD FOR YOU!

I do miss the days when Rutan was introducing new designs, and ol' Bob was doing his energy conservation routine...

But, hey, there's ALWAYS something new! Whether it's the Concorde, the Terrafugia, or a new RV design, Oshkosh will always be the place to see the coolest, biggest, fastest, baddest, and best of the best in aviation.

I won't miss it until I'm physically unable to attend! :)
 
In the NOTAM it says before firing up the engine when you go to depart camping, you must push the plane out of the campsite first. How does that work? Is someone around to tow you or do people chip in and push?

Yep, when you need to pull 'er out, just recruit your neighbors. There won't be any problem finding good folks to help.

Another hint: Bring 2' x 2' plywood chunks to park your plane on, so it doesn't sink into the sod. This is especially helpful if you're staying more than a day or two.

3/4" is best. I've tried using 1/2", and broken them. If you want to get real fancy, build a chock into it, so the danged plane doesn't roll off of it.
 
What are the main attractions this year? The airventure website is rather thin on details.

Is Airbus bringing an A380 again? Boeing bringing anything? Blue Angels?
 
What are the main attractions this year? The airventure website is rather thin on details.

Is Airbus bringing an A380 again? Boeing bringing anything? Blue Angels?


I don't know. I honestly don't look anymore.

More importantly...which '70s rock band is going to play in the square formerly knowns as Aeroshell? :lol:
 
Yep, when you need to pull 'er out, just recruit your neighbors. There won't be any problem finding good folks to help.

Another hint: Bring 2' x 2' plywood chunks to park your plane on, so it doesn't sink into the sod. This is especially helpful if you're staying more than a day or two.

3/4" is best. I've tried using 1/2", and broken them. If you want to get real fancy, build a chock into it, so the danged plane doesn't roll off of it.



No problem. When the time comes to leave, we'll manage. Two men can push mine quite a ways, so three of us should be ok.

And thanks for the tip about the plywood. I'll make some or find something equivalent.

I have approved tie downs. So, now all we need is some paracord, a tarp, a tent, some stakes and set it all up and practice with it. I won't ask what size tarp I should get for our Cessna. That's something I"m going to have to figure out. I may want to bring two tents if they'll let us get away with it. If you keep them within the footprint of the plane, I think I read it's o.k. :redface:
 
Mid-day, I see the Colonel who wrote that book on the F-117 and had been doing forums and selling books that year, getting packed up to leave, in the row across from our 182. We'd had an evening conversation the evening prior about his 182 and how often he flew and why and all that jazz. I walked over and helped him push without waiting for him to ask.

This is commonplace in the North 40. There will be people standing next to your strut before you even go looking for help. Everyone there is a pilot or knows enough to know you'll need a hand.

That's part of the magic of the place. It isn't about the big tents and fancy displays. It's about hanging with your tribe. Folks who already know exactly what you're doing because they do it too.

I go to see people I otherwise wouldn't see all year. The continuous sound of radial engines and jets and the occasional Extra flinging itself around the sky and the never-ending helicopters going around the sightseeing pattern, are just a great backdrop for hanging with people who "do" aviation.

I still credit Kent for banging that into my thick skull the first year I went. I was all twitterpated that we were stuck in a hotel room in Green Bay instead of on the field. He showed me around the ramp and Scholler around midnight one night and got me to really look at what I was standing in the middle of.

You go to be a tiny part of a small CITY of nothing but aviation enthusiasts. A city that only exists together for one week every summer and then disappears until next year.

Some of us are slower than others. If you think it's all about all the airplanes and "stuff" and alphabet soup groups and the crap in the magazines and here all year long about regs, and gear, and techniques, and teaching methods... Yadda yadda yadda... Stay on the grounds until well after dark and all that stuff is shut down other than the magical linemen changing the static displays in the square... And just look and listen and realize there's no other place on the planet where you are completely surrounded by thousands of other people who "get it".

It's a week long family reunion. You might even run into Harrison Ford or Bob Hoover being shuttled around on a golf cart, or catch Sean Tucker signing autographs somewhere, but you'll guaranteed run into tons of people like yourself that you'd be happy to sit next to in a lawn chair with a radio on, watching airplanes land on 27 for hours while baking in the sun and everyone making running commentary on the good and bad landings, crazy traffic, and the occasional mishap. ("Did that Taylorcraft just have a prop strike? Oh man..." Or... "A flight of six warbirds just checked in over Warbird Island and there's one, two, three... I count seven in the downwind. You?" ... "This is going to be interesting!")

Or there's always just getting to meet well-sunburnt and possibly intoxicated PoAers. That's possible at other PoA fly-ins too, but OSH is different.
 
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What are the main attractions this year? The airventure website is rather thin on details.

Is Airbus bringing an A380 again? Boeing bringing anything? Blue Angels?

The Thunderbirds and Kenny Loggins this year.
 
Henning, you going?

Trying, in Italy right now, and end of July is mid season, but I have some days off banked and my plane goes in for annual this month so it should be ready in time. I'd love the spot I had last time in Vintage Camping, I was at the end of all the 195s right at the taxiway turn. Excellent view for shots on takeoffs and landings as everyone was rotating and flying off right around there or rolling off the runway. I was bummed arriving when they announced there were no openings left in VAC, but they sent me that way anyway and gave me the best spot.
 
Sorry Jay, can't hang with the ugly prices and limited big top events to bring me to that outlay of funds. For the years Burt was there with all his designs, that they screwed up with the idiot military over run, and Bob Hoover doing anything at all, I'd gladly fly two days to be there and pay $40 to camp in the mud under my plane and shower with a sink sprayer and pay $4 for water.
But now, what the heck's the point?
Many of us have better things to do with our limited funds. Those that can afford it without complaint - SHUT UP! GOOD FOR YOU!

You haven't been around in a while? The north 40 and some of Schoeller has much better shower facilities. Last year they finally kicked Zaugs and DJs out and got local catering/restaurants to run better food service.

I've never had any problem finding free water. If you want it in a pre-filled polluting, petroleum-based disposable bottle you buy on site, yeah, you're going to pay a premium.
 
A lose/lose proposition. At least Loggins won't screw up the show line. ;-)

Don't disagree. I've seen the T-birds a bunch, and pretty much give most of the airshow a pass anyway. As for Loggins, bleh -- that's easy listening in my book so not a draw either. I'm redeploying from Afghanistan that same week so for me it doesn't matter anyway.

However, I plan to be there next year with my "completed" RV-10 for the first time. :yes:
 
Sorry Jay, can't hang with the ugly prices and limited big top events to bring me to that outlay of funds. For the years Burt was there with all his designs, that they screwed up with the idiot military over run, and Bob Hoover doing anything at all, I'd gladly fly two days to be there and pay $40 to camp in the mud under my plane and shower with a sink sprayer and pay $4 for water.
But now, what the heck's the point?
Many of us have better things to do with our limited funds. Those that can afford it without complaint - SHUT UP! GOOD FOR YOU!

Find me a holiday trip that takes place in some form of civilization that's less expensive. I spent less at Oshkosh, including the flight costs, than I have for any other trip I've taken except ones where I hike into the middle of the wilderness. Yeah, the woods are pretty but a bit short on airplanes.
 
I don't know. I honestly don't look anymore.

More importantly...which '70s rock band is going to play in the square formerly knowns as Aeroshell? :lol:

They are having the STOL guys from Alaska there to demo and I think Kenny Loggins is the music. Otherwise not much this year. Same ole same ole....
 
I'd gladly fly two days to be there and pay $40 to camp in the mud under my plane and shower with a sink sprayer and pay $4 for water.
But now, what the heck's the point?
Many of us have better things to do with our limited funds. Those that can afford it without complaint - SHUT UP! GOOD FOR YOU!

Jeez, wake up on the wrong side of bed? I'm a pretty low budget pilot myself and staying a week at Oshkosh really isn't even that expensive. For me, flying in was the most expensive part (3.6hrs @ $128/hr). I had a camp stove and cooked a lot of my own meals to save money. Including admission and airplane camping from Saturday (2 days before the show) to Sunday (last day of the show), Oshkosh was <$300.

As far as charging... I have never had a problem charging electronic devices in the North 40 airplane camping.


This year I've got this solar charger to charge my phone & tablet. It works really well, brought a Samsung Note 3 from 34% to 50% in about an hour in direct sun.

http://www.ianker.com/product/71ANSCPS-B145A
 
What are the main attractions this year? The airventure website is rather thin on details.

Is Airbus bringing an A380 again? Boeing bringing anything? Blue Angels?


It seems like most of this board could care less about the airshow part of Airventure. I personally love it and try to see at least 2-3 full airshows during the week.

This year you have the USAF Thunderbirds flying Aug 1-3 for the first time at Oshkosh, Kyle Franklin will be there with Dracula and will actually be flying it this year. Skip Stuart will also be there. I think those two are some of the most entertaining in the business, and I believe they will be teaming up with shockwave and a few other performers for their new Immortals routine(May be wrong on that though).

Kenny Loggins is the main concert attraction it seems. (A little bit before my time so I don't know if this is a main attraction or not lol)

Also hoping they make an announcement on the third class medical situation while we are there.
 
Just don't send the freakin Harrier, UGGGG! That machine is insufferably loud, and he just sits there for minutes, children are crying, people are cringing clamping their hands to their head, and still he sits there, spin right, spin left, move a little side to side, "Oh yeah, did I show you I can just sit here and drive a drill into your brain and make your ears bleed?" FMD that plane is a weapon without bombs or guns. Last time I went I took the Harrier announcement as my cue to catch the bus to the seaplane base.
 
The military hasn't sent a harrier in three years to my knowledge. The one that has been there is Art Noll's Sea Harrier either flown by him or retired Marine Corps General Jack Anderson.
 
The military hasn't sent a harrier in three years to my knowledge. The one that has been there is Art Noll's Sea Harrier either flown by him or retired Marine Corps General Jack Anderson.


Yes the last few times has been Art's privately owned harrier. I thought it is cool to see, not really air show material though. And ear plugs should be handed out for free well before they fire it up.

The airshows give you a chance to sit down, take a break with something to eat and drink and be a kid again. I could lay on that grass and watch planes doing loops for hours. Very relaxing to me.
 
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