Route to Oshkosh from New York

[jkgoblue]

I plan on flying to OshKosh this year for the first time and wanted to find out what route to take from my base here at KISP. The main question is flying over the Great Lakes, specifically Lake Michigan, Canada, Detroit class bravo, etc..

I want to make a few stops along the way, and I would like to file IFR. So far, to avoid some headaches, I was thinking of a route that goes KISP,KUNV,KCAK,KBTL,KOSH. (victor airways along the way, haven't look at that yet) http://www.runwayfinder.com/?loc=KISP;KUNV;KCAK;KBTL;KOSH&view=vfr

I figure there are plenty of folks who have done this and could give me a little guidance. I actually plan to go on Saturday to Madison (MSN) and then on to Oshkosh Sunday.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[AuntPeggy]

I'd suggest planning to go over or stop at Aurora (KARR) on your way out. Crossing Lake Michigan after a full day of flying in the haze it usually has is not the best idea. I'm at work now, can look up fuel prices at home and possibly give you some better advice. Of course, it all changes once you get a look at the thunderstorms on the day of flight.

What is your preferred range?

 

[EdFred]

I've flown over Lake Michigan at least as many times as anyone else here. If you are IFR, go over the lake Pullman or Muskegon to Timmerman VOR. Sure you are flying over the widest part if wanting to go to MSN but if you don't trust your plane over the water, why do you trust it anywhere else? If you aren't going to MSN first, HIC to MTW is the shortest crossing without going all the way up to Beaver Island. Stay as far away from Chicago as you can if you don't want headaches.

Most places in Mid-Michigan are low to mid $4s for fuel. IKW was $3.88, but I don't know if that's changed recently or not.

 

[Sticky1]

I did it last year, no big deal. I went due, well almost due west from kalb and had to make 3 stops for thunderstorms. Circled She-Cag-O to the south cause the yo-yos wouldn't let me fly thru the airspace...(go figure, I fly NYC all the time) and then headed north to Rippppon. Down the tracks hung a right to the end of the runway and landed on the taxiway......

Just watch those Buttholes in the ultralights.

 

[jkgoblue]

I'd like to keep it under 300 miles, or around 2 hours in my plane. My hamstring stiffens up any longer than that. The legs I planned are much shorter, but I did that just to stay south of Detroit and Canada. Is it a big deal to cross Canada airspace?

Going via Aurora would miss the lake completely but would certainly make for a longer day...

That is the question...

 

[dennyleeb]

I'd like to keep it under 300 miles, or around 2 hours in my plane. My hamstring stiffens up any longer than that. The legs I planned are much shorter, but I did that just to stay south of Detroit and Canada. Is it a big deal to cross Canada airspace?

Going via Aurora would miss the lake completely but would certainly make for a longer day...

That is the question...

What kind of new plane do you have?

 

[kyleb]

I'd like to keep it under 300 miles, or around 2 hours in my plane. My hamstring stiffens up any longer than that. The legs I planned are much shorter, but I did that just to stay south of Detroit and Canada. Is it a big deal to cross Canada airspace?

Going via Aurora would miss the lake completely but would certainly make for a longer day...

That is the question...

Cut the corner from Gary, Indiana to ~Milwaulkee. That'll take off a few miles and if done properly, will keep you in gliding distance of the shore.

Alternately, go over the top of Chicago. Isn't the top at 10k'? Should be doable unless you're in a Champ, Skipper, or Tomahawk.

And if you don't like that, KARR ain't a bad deal.

I've done all three.

 

[OtisAir]

We fly over the lakes too. I filed 2 IFR legs.

Leg 1, Duration 4:06 KLOM PTW RAV V170 ERI V116 YQG KDET @ 6,000 feet.
Leg 2, Duration 3:07 KDET DUNKS V170 LESSY LAN V2 MKG V510 OSH KOSH @ 10,000 feet

We needed to file IFR for the first leg for weather but the 2nd leg was mostly out of convenience and to avoid delays like Chicago WILL give you if your VFR.

Enjoy the flight and don't forgot to bring along your NOTAM.