Air Venture 2023

My planning has begun for attending Airventure 2023.  Like Michael and JJones, I prefer to arrive the Saturday before the show officially begins, for a better chance to camp in the North 40, then depart for home Friday.  I have a 1,400 mile flight and the Rocky Mts to cross from here in Oregon, so I like to build in a "weather buffer".  The night show, performed Wed. as well as Sat. nights, is quite the spectacle, not to mention the highlight of the entire week.....  the BAC lunch on Thursday!  
 
I plan to be there this year (Oshkosh July 2023).
I went last year, and flew-in on sunday night to illinois, then completed the finaly short hop Saturday morning into OSH, that seemed to work fine. Might do something similar this year, depending on Weather.
 
I will be there this year with the wife and kids! We live fairly locally, so I will be flying the plane in, parking at the GAP and not camping. Planning on the late arrival... the last Friday-Sunday. 

 

Hope to meet some of my fellow BAC fliers!
 
If anyone is looking for Airventure room accommodations, a local Virginia pilot has a couple air conditioned Univ of Wisc-Oshkosh dorm rooms remaining in his block of rooms.  He has managed a large block of rooms at Airventure for several years and has had a couple cancellations.  These rooms each have two beds and separate mens' and womens' bathrooms on the same hallway.  Cost is $137.50 per night, sleeps two.  There is a 3-night minimum.  I know many people that have done this for years and are happy with the logistics of getting back and forth to the field whether they have their own wheels or use the busses.

He needs to book someone into these rooms or turn them back in by June 12.  Accordingly, if interested, you would need to contact him soon.  First come, first served.  They may go like hotcakes!  If you are interested, email me at [email protected] and I will forward you the information for you to deal directly.

Bob
 
I'm planning to go Sun - Sun.  Courtesy of Bob P I have a closer place to stay.  Flying commercial.  Last year we started in my 182, got shot down and took the friend's 182. It was an easy flight, but unless you fill all the seats commercial is cheaper.

I will have a lot of time there this year.  While I want to see the show, I should have extra time.  If BAC has a type tent, I can be there a few days.  If we don't have a type tent, I'd be interested in meeting up with some BACers.  Looking forward to some chatter on the board.
 
Sounds like we've got a decent number of us going, even if there isn't necessarily a huge amount of overlap so far.  I'll go through the thread and create a running list of who's going/when and share that around.  

This is everyone so far who's said they are going or are considering it.  If you want to be taken off the list, let me know.  If you want to update your info, let me know.  I'll keep this table up to date.  As we get closer to the dates, it would be nice to arrange a get-together.  

Profile NameFirstLastArrivingDepartingStaying
kamwingsKamalGautam7/227/25GA Camping
N6008LLesGawlik7/237/30Offsite
mdunlevieMikeDunlevie7/227/27GA Camping
Jeff_WintersJeffWinters7/257/27 
niechiroMichaelNielsen7/267/30GA Camping
John FosterJohnFoster7/227/28GA Camping
Aaron MosherAaronMosher7/22  
N1945LTimFabrizio7/287/30Offsite
 
Kamal, John Redmon organizes a Tuesday get together, usually for a ice cream but it is dependent on that day's conditions, then he and Bob Schmidt do a Thursday burger bash.  Here's the thread on 2022's events: https://www.beechaeroclub.org/forum/fly-ins/16979/#p169308
 
Kam, that's an excellent idea.  I would like to walk around and try to meet the people I only now know as a screen name.
 
Thanks, Mike, that's great to hear.  In that case, we'll leave it to John and Bob to organize whatever events they plan to this year, and we can just use this table to keep track of who will be at the event in case people want to meet up separately (and possibly to help John and Bob with their planning).  
 
I think Kam is onto something!!  The Ice Cream social and the Thursday Burger lunch are obviously must attends during the week for us BAC'ers!  In addition, for those of us camping, some sort of method of reporting or identifying our location on the grounds for informal coffee or cocktail sessions might add to the experience.  Perhaps as we arrive and are assigned our camping site, we can post on this thread where we might be in the sea of 10,000 other aircraft and acres and acres of spaces!

Great times are getting closer......

 

John
 
That's a great idea, John.  Maybe I'll actually change the table to a Google spreadsheet and just put the link in the first post, and that way anyone can go in there and update their own dates and add their location when they get to Osh.  
 
I would be willing to add my cell number so we could receive calls or group texts about events.
 
I've created the Google spreadsheet and put a link to it in the very first post in this thread to make it easy for people to find, and here it is for convenience:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CHLJHqAaHumbOt1d876M_8_3olwiGy3DPwSEtr_P0l0/edit?usp=sharing

Feel free to update your entry yourself, or just send me your updated info and I can edit it. 
 
So I'm a Oshkosh virgin and trying to arrange my schedule to make it.  So need some feedback on:

1. Camping - what's the preferred method? tents, underwing?  

2. Preferred campsite?  

3. Restrooms, showers, laundry, etc?  Like a state park?  

4. Food?  Bring own or is there a "store" on site to buy.  I'm guessing there are tons of food stalls.

I'm sure I'll have many more questions coming.

Also, anyone from North/Central Texas making the trip?  Want to caravan?   Is there a good intermediate stop for the night between Dallas and OSH?  

Thanks, Kelly
 
Kelly, welcome to the club - it'll be my first time, too!  :)  I'm sure others who have been before will weigh in, but here's what I've learned after watching a metric ton of YouTube videos:

1. There are two different types of camping experience at OshKosh itself: airplane camping (in a tent by your plane/under your wing), and Camp Scholler, which is more of a traditional drive-in campground with campsite and RV spots.  

2. I've heard the North 40 airplane camping is the place to be, but there's no guarantee when you arrive whether you'd be directed to the north or south campground (Camp Scholler is different, you actually reserve a campsite in that campground).

3. There will be restrooms and showers scatter all over the grounds; many port-a-potties and some real bathrooms here and there in buildings.  The showers seem to be temporary setups but they look pretty good based on a YouTube video I saw from 2 years ago.  

4.  There are a couple of stores on site that sell all sorts of stuff, there are tons of restaurants of all types on the grounds, and many people will take Ubers/taxis out to nearby grocery stores or Walmart to buy food and supplies.  

Kamal
 
Kamal,  I've added my entry to the google spreadsheet.  Good idea.  I plan on arriving Fri or Sat the 21st or 22nd.
 
Kam I didn't mean to imply not to do anything, just to let you know those two events and members are doing those, definitely join in with them for that fun, but also the idea of us sharing locations, etc. and getting together is great so whether we're early or late in the week being there we can meet as many of us as we can.  I like the group text idea, saves us from having to log in to the website.

Kelly start with the EAA website for Airventure, particularly the notice (fka notam) at chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.eaa.org/-/media/files/airventure/flyingin/notam/2023/2023_eaa_airventure_oshkosh_notam_final.ashx 

This year we can put a N or S to "ask" for north or south parking, nothing guaranteed.  If in the N40 the Pirate Party is something to see.  The SOS beer venue (just outside OSH grounds) is another one to at least see and if it's your cup of tea (beer) then it's not to be missed.

If you park on the grass I recommend the acrylic cutting board (Walmart, about $4/each) to put under your tires so the plane doesn't sink into the grass (especially if there's rain).  Bring tie downs (the Claw type), the wine cork type dog stuff won't be acceptable by EAA staff.

The food can get a little less than varied after 4 or 5 days.  If you're in the N40 there's a gate that you can get outside, few places in walking distance and plenty of Uber/Lyft opportunities to nearby or farther away food.

There are plenty of "what to bring" forums, google "what to bring to Airventure" or "tips" or "first timers" etc. and the EAA and other forums will fire hose you information.  Best information I think is be ready for what seems to be the annual extreme weather night, to protect you and the plane and know it will be cool, hot, cold, buggy, humid, wet, dry or have hail.  Also plenty of YouTube videos, some good and others "I hope I'm not going to be that guy".

I wouldn't just do an intermediate stop on the way.  I like to get to within a less than an hour range and go in early in the morning.  The Third Thursday fly in at Mason City (KMCW) before OSH is a great stopover if you're going in early.

Of course read and know the notice and enjoy that first time going in, you'll never be as nervous as that first time so it's kind of wonderful just in the "over concern" department which you won't have the next year. [img title="Wink" alt="Wink" /]https://www.beechaeroclub.org/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-wink.gif[/img]  Nothing beats landing on the dot and hearing the OSH controllers call you with "Great job, welcome to OSH.  Exit into  he grass and follow the flags."
 
If you wanted to camp together the best way would be to rendezvous at an airport prior to the final leg into puckaway lake. Like Watertown (kryv) airport. Those coming in on the 22nd would have the best chance.

Watertown gets pretty crowded but its a big airport and easy to get to fuel.  Its a common final meetup place.  There are others too.

monroe has the cheapest fuel.

we stayed overnight at quad cities last year because of weather.
 
My current plans are to drive into Oshkosh on Friday morning before the official start, either in my camper van or using a rental car from Mason City.

Most likely will meet Michael at Mason City on Thursday, arriving there by camper van or plane (packing a tent).  I do not plan to fly into OSH as this is my first time, and I want to experience it from the ground ...  first.  See ya there.

 

trumpet 

210-834-1991 
 
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