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Thread: Flying to A/V

  1. #1
    robert l's Avatar
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    Flying to A/V

    My plan; Fly from South Carolina to Oshkosh and into Airventure. I feel comfortable making the almost 1000 mi. trip alone in my Cessna 150, and as I explained to my wife, it's just a bunch of short cross country trips ! I may follow a couple of friends to the 150/152 flyin in Iowa first and then pick up my 2nd and 3rd eyes over in Watertown, Wi. or some other uncontroled field. My 2nd and 3rd eyes consist of a good friend who's a CFI, instrument and all that good stuff. I have never flown into Airventure before so I know I'm going to need some help, and this is what I think may be the case. I think, since A/V wasn't held last year, there will be a bumper crop of people flying in this year and it may be busier than ever and one eye just ain't gonna cut it !!! I would like to have opinions from the group, if y'all don't mind, and I know you can't count on opinions, but at least I can take them under consideration and plan accordingly. Any comments, recomendations and smart remarks are all welcome.
    Bob

  2. #2
    Airmutt's Avatar
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    Hey Bob, just my two cents....
    Watch the online videos of the VFR approaches. Yes there have been some changes but it gives you good views of the various landmarks and what to,expect. Know what they look like, basically have the approach committed to memory to fly heads up.

    Before you head out, take your 150 and get some time flying at a congested airfield preferably one with a tower. Brush up on flying a tight pattern and work on your “radio ear”. Also might want to brush up on crosswind landings. Winds tend to be much stiffer in the Midwest than down in the Piedmont.

    An extra set of eyes, preferably a pilot, is money in the bank. Enjoy the trip!
    Dave Shaw
    EAA 67180 Lifetime
    Learn to Build, Build to Fly, Fly for Fun

  3. #3

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    Might want to get in on Friday. Light traffic.

  4. #4
    Auburntsts's Avatar
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    My advice:
    1. Read, re-read, and thoroughly understand the NOTAM.
    2. Take the advice above and watch the YouTube arrival videos.
    3. Practice spot landings, maintaining airspeed (90 kts), heading, and altitude (1000ft AGL)—IOW basic airmanship.
    4. If arrival holding is in progress, think about landing near-by and waiting until traffic conditions improve.
    5. Resist the urge to get into OSH at all costs(get-there-itis). The show will still be there if you have to take some extra time to arrive. This applies Enroute too— better to spend the night someplace then to push ahead when prudence would dictate otherwise.
    6. Have fun!
    Last edited by Auburntsts; 05-04-2021 at 05:13 AM.
    Todd “I drink and know things” Stovall
    PP ASEL - IA
    RV-10 N728TT - Flying
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    WAR DAMN EAGLE!

  5. #5
    robert l's Avatar
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    Great advice for sure guys, I have been watching the arrival videos on youtube and I have the, "New Notam" downloaded. I learned a long time ago, traveling for work, many times across the country, not to get in a hurry, I get there when I get there. Plus, I'm retired, no rush on my part. My philosophy is, and has been for years, Life in the slow lane! Looking forward to more suggestions.
    Bob

  6. #6
    steve's Avatar
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    Remember the slow lane moves along at 90 kts at 1800 msl. Still hoping for a "low 'n slow" arrival procedure someday.
    Don't forget to register for the upcoming EAA vid on June 23. It covers the arrival changes for 2021.

  7. #7
    FlyingRon's Avatar
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    Hi, from NC. I've flown into Oshkosh since 1993 (I missed only a few years when my plane was down for restoration). The advice given here is good. The key is to read the NOTAM over and over again until you are convinced you understand it cold. Keep your head on a swivel as you approach Ripon. Hold your altitude (1000 AGL) and speed (90 Knots). Watch out for other people doing stupid things. Before you go, practice these things and making approaches to runways at the numbers, and at several arbitrary points (they will often ask you to keep it in the air to a colored dot which keeps you at a higher speed spacing you out from the guy coming in behind you).

    Drop by the Vintage flight line ops building (across from the Hangar Cafe) and say Hi once you're there.

  8. #8
    Mayhemxpc's Avatar
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    Plus one to all of the above. I would add another suggestion. If you have access to a decent desktop flight sim program such as X-Plane or MSFS, AFTER you review the You Tube videos, put the NOTAM in front of you and fly the Fisk arrival, including the Green Lake hold. The MSFS 2020 graphics are excellent and will give you a good appreciation of what look for. The X-plane graphics of OSH, however, are better/more up to date.
    Chris Mayer
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    www.o2cricket.com

  9. #9
    Aviatrexx's Avatar
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    All good suggestions, but I'd perform a Kobayashi Maru on the problem, myself.

    There are several factors that make this year's Fisk arrival more challenging than normal: heavier than normal traffic (see SnF21 attendance record), lower than normal annual flight times, changes in the arrival itself, and no one flying the arrival will have done it in two years. Throw in less-than-perfect weather or an ATC/Ground hiccup, and this is surely not the year to attempt it for the first time. The suggestion to arrive on Friday would normally be reasonable, but Ron and I see those arrivals, and every year "early" comes earlier in the week. You can bet that a lot of folks are already planning to arrive "early".

    So when faced with a no-win scenario, change the rules. The NOTAM goes into effect at noon (CDT) on Thursday. If you get there before it goes into effect, you are now dealing with a normal Class D airport: listen to ATIS, report in when it says to, do what the controller says (usually, "Report 3-mile final runway 36"), land on whatever dot suits you, and follow the flag-folks to your tie-down/campsite. You'll arrive considerably less stressed and (if your C150 was manufactured before 1971) you'll probably have an excellent view of all the stressed-out Fisk approach landings, and not have to walk so far. In 2019, there were Friday arrivals that could barely see the runway.

    Unless you're really into big noisy jets, watching the show come together is far more interesting and relaxing than after the hoards descend. But if you get bored, do as Ron suggested and drop by Vintage Ops. There's always something going on there.

  10. #10
    robert l's Avatar
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    You'll arrive considerably less stressed and (if your C150 was manufactured before 1971) you'll probably have an excellent view of all the stressed-out Fisk approach landings, and not have to walk so far.
    1966 f model Aviatrexx, and like I said earlier, life in the slow lane ! Our plans aren't set in stone so we will have options. My buddy is thinking about flying the Cub but that's about a 2 1/2 or 3 day trip, both ways, don't know if he can stand that, and I would be following him in to land. Not so sure about that either. I got to go to SNF this year with a couple of friends in his 182 and we had to hold for about 40 minutes, we were just about to divert for fuel when we got the go ahead to come on in. Early arrival is ok with me, although, I would like to get the, I flew into Airventure t-shirt ! lol. We still have a ways to go so I'm not committing to any one scenario. In the mean time, I'm just flying as often as I can and keeping it real. Hope to some of y'all there.
    Bob

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