2 Attachment(s)
Photo of North 40 Cramped Parking
Hi. I've been there in person many times, of course, and I've had bad parking experiences in the N 40, but I also looked at a satellite photo of Google Earth, there, of the N 40.
I'm seeing what I've remembered: Wingtips are perhaps 2 feet from the wing of the adjacent airplane, facing same way, and the T'd airplanes are also spaced maybe 2-3 feet apart, facing the opposite way---meaning that the wings of one airplane facing East (say), are only 2-3 feet from the elevators of planes facing the opposite way, also. (I note some rows with some twins in them are not T'd.)
Attachment 2811
You can see this, yourself, by using Google Earth.
I see tents in places cramped together, and one tent actually nudged (what I think is) too far out into the taxilane, because it is surrounded by 4 tents near it that are crowding it out. (If I were a parker, there, I'd probably think we'd need to help him move his tent to somewhere not in the taxilane. I see a white one, by a moving twin, a purple one a row to the West behind another moving twin...)
CONCERNS AND NOTE:
NOTE:
I spoke with Rod about this last year at OSH: The problem ISN'T one of trying to fit everyone in. Wrong. The problem is in the year-of-manufacture they've designated can go to the SOUTH 40 to relieve congestion. The South 40 almost never fills, and they don't T because they have lots of room. I have volunteered there for years, in years past, as a biker/parker. If they changed it from 1970-cut-off to a 1980-cut-off, or so, then that would relieve congestion in the N 40. They may still T, but may be able to do so with greater wing-tip spacing---getting more planes in, utilizing space in the S 40.
CONCERNS:
I have parked in the N 40 many times, in past, and walked the area every year I've been there. Conditions are too cramped. A little elbow room is very helpful to a lot of things (from preventing people trying to put their tents in taxilanes all the way up to, and never forgetting, attendee enjoyment, which is why they come and spend their money, right?) I have had a number of concerns about the cramped conditions, and this year, I hope to come, again, thogh this time I'll be in my 2009 SportCruiser, an LSA, which I think needs to park in the N 40. It's a small plane. I've had a problem in years past with my tent leaking during famous OSH rains, and I've been told to get a Cabellas tent, which I now have. It's not huge, but it's larger than will fit if we're packed tightly, or will be actually adjacent to neighbor's or something.
And I'm thinking: Why? So the South 40 guys can keep wide open fields?
I fear the S 40 likes it's space and won't want to give it up, but all the land at OSH should be enjoyed by all the attendees, and I see no reason why an adjiustment can't be made.
That said, I would rather expect an adjustment won't be made, so I'm just hoping someone will say something that will help me figure out a way to have a more enjoyable stay. (I fly in from L.A., a long way, and seeing OSH means a lot to me.)
Having a sign to show them enroute to parking is a good one, though I fear of limited and unreliable use. If cramped, departing VFR and arriving again to take chances at another spot is possibility. I get there usually 2-3 days before show starts, trying to get better parking..., so I could fly out and return. And then, if it's really bad, just leave and try again next year.
And all so So 40 can keep its fields?
Rog Hightower agreed. Hopefully sometime the wheels will turn. :)
Jen