Pirep Oshkosh

[Pat]

I just got back form Oshkosh. It was a good show for us.
The preliminary attendance report is higher than last year. There has been an increase in the last years. Not like it was 10 years ago.
Some of the changes we have seen. There are still openings in the vendor buildings, even with fewer rows. Years ago you needed to go to the vendor buildings early in the day and week be able to walk down the aisles and to talk to salespeople. Now they drive down the aisles with handicap scooters without a problem. I would like to hear how it is Thursday and Friday.
The numbers of planes is still down from years past but it looked very full. Maybe because the planes are not as tightly parked and there has been a lot of area taken by the Hilton Hotel and new FBOs at the North 40. Fond du Lac had some planes that came in late.
The camp ground has grown. Many people just stay in their camp site and maybe go to the movie at night.
Oshkosh has become more of a social event and for spectators. There are a few more very young children than years past but most of the people I see are the same people that were there 30 years ago when I started to go to Oshkosh.
I look forward to a report on the last days of the show.

 

[Jamesdub]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Pat,
Excellent report.
I’ve only got one OSH under my belt (last year) and other recent shows include 4 x SnF’s and a few other smaller types. OSH and SnF are very similar, I think I prefer SnF per its conciseness – once you are in the vender area it’s out one of the four large buildings literally stepping into the next to include the smaller guys in the tents and lean-to’s. Food courts ($$) and AOPA tents are in the same immediate area as well. There is also a good stand of trees in that area that provide a bit of shade if needed.
Seemed like OSH was a bit more spread-out. Not a showstopper by any means . .

I think SnF’s night show beats OSH, heck it’s probably the same performers but it just seemed that way to me.

I stayed Friday to Sunday (Sat nite show) and thought the same about this year’s SnF, seemed like a lot less planes and visitors. And the putt putt scooters were evident as well but not a hindrance.

Think we’re getting old and critical? I spent three separate tours in Europe; 1st was like Wally World, WOW can’t get enough, 2d tour was like; ‘what happened??’ not quite the same, and the 3rd was like whoa, is this the same place???.

Again, great SITREP.

 

[N4843W]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Thanks for the update, Pat. Conor and I have a long list of vendors to see about our possible ADS-B solutions. Well, I think we've narrowed it down to 7, lol!
We were going this afternoon, but something came up that Conor has to be involved in at 3:30, plus they are expending a lot of T-storms late afternoon and early evening when we would have been traveling ... so we are going early in the morning. They have a TFR for Blue Angels site orientation at 10:00 CDT to 11:00 CDT, so we have to get in prior to that.

 

[rringgold]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Friday morning's AOPA weekly video claimed that aircraft parking
and aircraft camping was full on Monday afternoon.
I agree it has changed over the years( I've been going almost yearly
since it was originally held in Rockford, I'll. Anyone remember that?)
Nowadays it includes something for the wife and kids, but I still want to
go.
I've only been to 4 or 5 SnF's, but was really surprised at how everyone
had aged over the years!

 

[atjudge]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Hard to believe Aircraft parking and or camping was full on Monday. Friday evening or Saturday maybe

 

[Pat]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Ten years ago the airplane parking was full by Saturday noon before the show started. There was considerably more parking then. And Fond Du Lac was full then also.
The camp ground has continued to grow except for a couple years 2009-10.

 

[N4843W]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

At the end of the week, beginning Wednesday evening, all day Thursday and Friday, things open up. If they did the night air show on Tuesday/Saturday ilo Wednesday/Saturday, that would help.

This year, due to my son's work complication, we did not arrive until Friday evening, right after the airshow. 40 or 50 planes wanting to camp were waived off, telling us that GA Camping North 40 was closed, and we were sent to GA Parking way over in the NE corner by Bassler. A few calls to friends in the North 40 confirmed that, indeed, there were tons of open spots in North 40 camping. They finally told us that they did not have enough volunteer help to Marshall folks into the North 40 Camping. WTF?

This left a ton of people, next to us a family of 5, in the lurch, to put it mildly. We had a couple of COG members at Camp Scholler offer to take us in, but it is about 2 miles away. The best option was that we grabbed what we could carry, walked a good long way to the bus, then crashed next to Lonnie and his buddy from Mississippi. I have been to OSH about 20 times, 14 as a pilot, and this was the biggest fiasco I have run into. So I don't want to discourage anyone, just be flexible. It worked out great as we had a great time with Lonnie, Jim Bunn, Mike Wetherbee and a few other random stragglers on both Friday and Saturday night. The night airshow, as always, was over the top, with a 4,000-shell fireworks finale. New this year was a six-man flying-parachute team with only the round fan portion lit up with LED's, I was like nothing you have ever seen, very ghostly, incredibly cool.

The Chairman of our Wings of MErcy Board is on the EAA Board and I am calling him today to find out who to write to specifically about the "false closure" issue. EAA is usually very responsive, so I am reasonably confident this was an anomaly.

Despite the early trouble, really glad we made the trip, as usual. And my son Conor does about 75% of the work now, making it even better!

 

[slawman]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Scott, It wasn't just there @ OSHKOSH. We were parked at Fond Du Lac, Last year they were the kindest friendliest people, this year they were just the opposite. They were overwhelmed by their own bad management of the situation. Also on Thursday morning, we left the Hotel right up at 7:45, we ended up in a traffic jam on the Highway 10 miles back, we did not make it to the gate until 10:15 that morning it was nuts with all the bad management calls this year. Also the new rule on the Tram about everybody gets off and has to get back in line at the end of the line stops was crazy as well. We saw several altercations over this one alone.

 

[Pat]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Jim Bunn
Where did you park?

Sunday before the show, they were parking planes in the NE corner by the post office.

Friends that came in on Friday the 21st and stayed all week, said the fireworks were great but the night flights were all the same and got old quickly. They also said the vendors were very burned out the last few days. They wished they had done their shopping early. Next year they are going to take a motorhome.

 

[N4843W]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Scott, It wasn't just there @ OSHKOSH. We were parked at Fond Du Lac, Last year they were the kindest friendliest people, this year they were just the opposite. They were overwhelmed by their own bad management of the situation. Also on Thursday morning, we left the Hotel right up at 7:45, we ended up in a traffic jam on the Highway 10 miles back, we did not make it to the gate until 10:15 that morning it was nuts with all the bad management calls this year. Also the new rule on the Tram about everybody gets off and has to get back in line at the end of the line stops was crazy as well. We saw several altercations over this one alone.

Scott, be SURE to write them about that. They need to know.

Pat, several of us talking about coming Saturday through Tues or Wed next year. Have you heard how Sat arrival for North 40 camping is?

 

[Pat]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Saturday arrivals were good this year. It was steady unlike years ago when you needed to come in the early morning. If we can coordinate the group maybe we do a group parking. Sid You were on the Southwest side of the North Forty, how was it.

 

[nruzic]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Good reports pat & others - I went in Sun afternoon and was parked in row 525.
The FISK arrival was crowded among the top 3 in my 20 years of OSH
Had to make a break-off to get in line at RIPON
The crowding occurred because low ceilings hampered Sun morn arrivals.
Once it became marginal VFR & then VFR by noon lots of planes came in.

I had an easy entry to Camping long taxi though after landing 36 middle dot.
The weather couldn't have been better for this year I doubt if we reached 80*F any day.
Loved it as always and it was hard to return to places where we see less planes & less smiles.

Oh I had a young engineer with me for his 1st OSH. He was stunned, kept quiet all through the arrival, when I complimented him on his lack of nerves - he said he was too busy taking pics as he had never seen so many planes and so close to each other being only an airline flyer. Loved it and plans to come with his wife next year, and wants me to fly them in!

 

[JBunn]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

This was the first year in the 16 some years I've attended that I flew in Midweek. I have to admit it was much more relaxed than trying to come in on Saturday or Sunday before the show when there is a mad rush to get there. I was afraid the would park us on the north side of RW27 but we got great parking very near the new showers and North 40 cafe'. It was great to see Sid, Lonnie, Scott and Conner and well as meet a few other commander owners that stopped by. One perspective Commander buyer said that sitting in the commander made his whole trip to Oshkosh worthwhile. (You may be getting a call Judi!)

Great fun and I'll definitely be there next year!

 

[N4843W]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

This was the first year in the 16 some years I've attended that I flew in Midweek. I have to admit it was much more relaxed than trying to come in on Saturday or Sunday before the show when there is a mad rush to get there. I was afraid the would park us on the north side of RW27 but we got great parking very near the new showers and North 40 cafe'. It was great to see Sid, Lonnie, Scott and Conner and well as meet a few other commander owners that stopped by. One perspective Commander buyer said that sitting in the commander made his whole trip to Oshkosh worthwhile. (You may be getting a call Judi!)

Great fun and I'll definitely be there next year!

Nice pic, Jim. We took the motor home in one year. The comfort and convenience were nice for sure. But there is nothing quite like waking up in a sea of airplanes each morning, sitting with friends and having a coffee and watching landings and departures, then repeating the routine in the evening. Then falling asleep next to your bird. The shower and bathroom facilities are excellent and you never have to wait. Not ready to give that up yet!

 

[bconst]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Nice pic, Jim. We took the motor home in one year. The comfort and convenience were nice for sure. But there is nothing quite like waking up in a sea of airplanes each morning, sitting with friends and having a coffee and watching landings and departures, then repeating the routine in the evening. Then falling asleep next to your bird. The shower and bathroom facilities are excellent and you never have to wait. Not ready to give that up yet!

This was our 7th year RVing it this year. After buying my first motor home tens years ago, it's hard to go back to the old tent days. The wife and kids got spoiled. (private bathroom, AC, microwave, video games). I think the only way I could fly-in is leave everyone at home.

 

[Frank]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

One of my friends went this year and said the War Birds were outstanding and in one of the airshows it had a super mixture of the new and old. I sounds like the military had a big presence. Sounds like fun to me.

 

[plight]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Gang,

I had a great time at AirVenture, but was disappointed in not being able to meet up with Scott and the rest of the gang for the BBQ. In trying to find Scott, before talking to him, I found that volunteers a bit disorganized. I would summarize that if your looking for help during show hours, things are good. After hours, the place sort of closes down. So, you're on your own. No doubt, the folks in charge of parking, camping, etc, should understand that there will be an influx of aircraft after the TFR is lifted. Oh well, perhaps next year for the infamous Commander BBQ.

On another note, I meet the guy who organizes the Mooney Caravan into KOSH. Over 50 birds. Quite impressive. Also, makes the FISK arrival a non event.

 

[N4843W]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

we have talked many times about a "group arrival" but have never been close to pulling it off. Maybe next year, lol!

 

[plight]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Would be really fun. I got the contact of the gentlemen who plans the Mooney group arrival, for future reference.

 

[slawman]

Re: Pirep Oshkosh

Scott, sorry we missed you Guys on Friday night, we left in a rush that morning, and I forgot the printout with your phone # on it. We walked both ways looking for a Commander, but the only one we found was not yours and nobody was around it.

Scott