First time to OSH - Is 4 days enough? Parking?

[WeaverJ3Cub]

Like the title says, this'll be my first time to Oshkosh after a childhood of wanting to go. I'll be driving, unfortunately, but that's not a problem - I'm just excited to be going!

Thinking of making the 7.5hr drive starting early Tuesday AM (like, 4-5am) and leaving Sat at noon. I'm a Pitts guy so the 70th anniversary is a big draw along with the forums and workshops associated with it. Hoping to see "Doc" alongside "Fifi" as well. Is this long enough? I need to be back Sunday but I could possibly stretch the arrival sooner. I know, you never see everything, but I'd like to not feel cramped for time.

2. On camping and parking: I'll need to park the truck of course, but the parking page on EAA site says "no overnight parking is allowed in EAA parking lots." So my parking pass is only good during the day? Do I even need a parking pass - in some aerial pics it seems that you park on Camp Scholler alongside the tent?

3. I'm buying admission, camping, and parking passes. Anything else I'm forgetting that I need to buy beforehand? Does this cover all the bases?

[Kyle Boatright]

Four days is a great start. You can see a lot of stuff, but certainly not everything. Figure out a couple of goals each day and plan around those. Maybe a workshop in the morning, a seminar in the afternoon, and walk the grounds in-between.

I've never had a car at Osh, but I believe your camping pass also comes with a vehicle pass.

I believe you've covered all of the bases. Have fun!

[deftone]

I drove up last year and will be driving again this year (18hrs+ each way). I did 4 days last year and it was enough although I regret not arriving sooner. My problem is that i like to wander rather than actually planning what i want to see.

And your camping pass allows your vehicle to be parked by your tent/camper. Parking pass is not required

[FlyingRon]

If you are camping in Scholler yes, you just park at your campsite. You don't need to buy PARKING seperately. In fact, you don't really need to buy anything in advance, camper registration in Scholler is one of the best run things at the show. You pull in and they'll sell you your camping credentials (which includes both a card to stick to your tent/trailer and another pass for your car) as well as your show registration (wristbands) and even a program if you want one.

[WeaverJ3Cub]

If you are camping in Scholler yes, you just park at your campsite. You don't need to buy PARKING seperately. In fact, you don't really need to buy anything in advance, camper registration in Scholler is one of the best run things at the show. You pull in and they'll sell you your camping credentials (which includes both a card to stick to your tent/trailer and another pass for your car) as well as your show registration (wristbands) and even a program if you want one.

Good to know. I'm buying admission in advance before the price hike. Do camping prices change as the show gets closer?

[FlyingRon]

Nope. In fact, I don't think you can buy creds early. When you get there they charge you from then to the end of the show. You get refunded for any you don't use when you leave (over a three day minimum).

[WeaverJ3Cub]

Good to know. Thanks Ron.

[FlyingRon]

At least that used to be the way it worked. Since my wife and I volunteer an aggregate of over 120 hours most years (and the Sloshkosh year it was way more than that), I've not paid camping for a decade or so.

[glider90]

There is no cost advantage, but you in fact can pre-purchase camping online from the day of expected arrival now. Theoretically you may get a shorter wait as there is a 'pre paid' express lane, but as Ron mentioned the lines all move pretty quickly now. Back in the days before the computers the heavy arrival day lines would back up a bit.
~Jim

[authorpilot]

After 5 consecutive years attending 6 days, I always say, "Man, I wish they'd run this for 2 weeks!"

[FlyingRon]

Hey, I get there typically Tuesday or Wednesday before the show and leave the Monday after the show is over. That's nearly two weeks.

[Jessica Ziegler]

Last year was my first year attending, drove in on Wednesday and left Sunday. Not nearly enough time. This year we are coming in on Saturday and leaving on Sunday.

[Cary]

My very first time at OSH was in 1979, one day and overnight, due to "wife constraints". Foop! There was a long hiatus when life got in the way. Then a buddy and I went there 9 years ago for 3 days, another buddy and I went for 4 days the next year, another buddy and I went the next 2 years for 4 days each, and ever since, I've gone alone for the full week. Last year was the longest--arrived mid afternoon on Saturday and left after the Sunday airshow. Since I retired in November, I might go longer yet this year. I have never, ever gotten bored, and every year I manage to miss something that I'd seen the year or years before.

In addition to all the vendors in the hangars, the static displays, the forums, and the airshows, there's the museum (which is fascinating and easily worth a day), the Pioneer Airport (which is near the museum and is in effect a museum, too), the Seaplane Base (which is also worth a day and is very relaxing).

So is 4 days enough? No, but you'll see more next year, and the next year, and the next year. :D

BTW, why not flying?

Cary

[WeaverJ3Cub]

Thanks for the tips. Bought the admission tickets; I'll probably hold off on camping tix just in case something work-related comes up and I have to cancel. Not likely, but there's always the chance. Also considering leaving on Monday and adding another day. :D




BTW, why not flying?

Expense and inexperience. I can barely afford 20hrs a year let alone a trek like that! And at less than 200hrs....the rest of the arrivals would appreciate if I stayed home. ;)

[Cary]

Thanks for the tips. Bought the admission tickets; I'll probably hold off on camping tix just in case something work-related comes up and I have to cancel. Not likely, but there's always the chance. Also considering leaving on Monday and adding another day. :D



Expense and inexperience. I can barely afford 20hrs a year let alone a trek like that! And at less than 200hrs....the rest of the arrivals would appreciate if I stayed home. ;)

I can understand the expense--that's always an issue for me, too, since I can count on about 16-17 hours round trip--but your flight time should be about half that from Dayton dodging west of Chicago, and it would be great experience for you, a "real" cross country.

Also, as I've mentioned on another forum, a few years ago, my "neighbor" at OSH was a young fellow who had just passed his checkride a couple weeks earlier--he still had his temporary certificate. When I asked him if it wasn't a bit intimidating to him, he said something like, "I figured if I was going to fly to Oshkosh, I'd have to fly to Oshkosh." I shook my head at that, but his point was that there's a first time for everything. He also said, as most people find out, that it was a whole lot easier than he expected.

As we were chatting, however, he admitted to a "deficiency" in his training. He'd done it all in his own 150 which was hangared, so he'd never learned how to tie it down adequately. He'd bought a good set of tie-downs, but he had no idea what was a good knot to use, so he asked me to show him. I taught him what I've always called a running lock knot, which others call a hurricane knot.

There's still time for you to reconsider--fly less than 4 hours and camp under the wing for the true OSH experience, or drive twice that. :)

Cary

[FlyingRon]

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/22573

Of course, it doesn't tell you how to get the tie down into the ground at Oshkosh where the soils can vary between quicksand and concrete depending on how much rain there's been that year.

I've had a number of tiedown's over the year:

1. Metal Z shaped rods that I bought off the back of a go cart at FLD the first year.
2. My swingset augers (comes in a box of 4 and look identical to the set of 3 Sporty's sells....I envision some guy at Sporty's sitting there with repackaging them). Hint here: Do not use the handle of your tow bar as a wrench to screw these into the ground lest you bend it and it ceases to telescope anymore.
3. The CLAW. This worked well for me until I was in Cody Wyoming and a 70 MPH wind storm came through there. It actually pulled the tiedown to the point of bending the legs on one, but it didn't come loose. Broken nails are a common complaint with these (the heads are a weak point and you hammer them like crazy trying to install). The CLAW booth guys at OSH have always just handed out whatever replacement parts you claim you need when they break though.
4. StormForce Tiedown. This one also has nails but puts them all on the same side of the angle iron bar. It doesn't sound like it will work great, but it does and is now my favorite. I use these when tying down in sand even at the shore.

A friend of mine had the "three spikes in a hockey puck" style that the spikes were made of carbon fiber (from some defuct australian company). That was good an light until he flew out during the show and a fuel truck drove accross his tiedowns and snapped the spikes.

What doesn't work:

Tent stakes. Just no holding power. If you want to use a simple stake you need ones over a foot long. These are the ones that the EAA will "rent" you if you don't have any (but PLEASE plan on bringing your own).

Doggy anchors - these look like a large cork screw. These are known to snap frequently on installation and even occasionally when trying to restrain the plane.