Can you fly your plane during Airventure and return to your camping spot?

[Eric Gleason]

My significant other is talking about joining me for Airventure midweek, flying in commerical. Is it feasible to fly my plane to pick her up wherever she arrives and return to my camping spot? I'll be flying in and camping with the Cessnas to Oshkosh group in the north 40.

[Kyle Boatright]

My significant other is talking about joining me for Airventure midweek, flying in commerical. Is it feasible to fly my plane to pick her up and return to my camping spot? I'll be flying in and camping with the Cessnas to Oshkosh group in the north 40.

Yes. A friend was in HBC a few years ago. He took the airplane, but left his wife and their tent at Oshkosh to make a one day trip to a conference. No muss, no fuss. Just leave your tent and camping credentials on your site and you should be fine.

[dougbush]

When you return, you'll need to show your camping credentials to the parking volunteers. Otherwise, they'll want you to park where they are sending everyone else at that time, or depart if the area is full.

[Bill Greenwood]

If she flies into Appleton that shuttle bus runs every hour, is cheap and goes right from in front of the small terminal. Its easier than flying your plane to the FBO to pick her up. Only thing is the bus goes to the Airventuere bus central terminal and youd need another to your plane parking.

[Eric Gleason]

I think that in the interest of keeping things peaceful on the home front, I'd better go pick her up :-)

Thanks everybody. This is all good info.

[dclaxon]

I think that in the interest of keeping things peaceful on the home front, I'd better go pick her up :-)

Thanks everybody. This is all good info.


How about a compromise? Take the shuttle to Appleton to meet her, and ride back together.

Dave

[Eric Gleason]

Dave, thanks for the suggestion. I checked flights and Appleton is--by far--the hardest for her to get to on a reasonable schedule. We'll see what makes the most sense when it comes time to pull the trigger on a plane ticket.

There's a big element of relationship politics going on here. She isn't at all excited about Oshkosh, and is coming mostly because we're also stopping in Chicago to see my extended family on the way home. I don't mind putting the extra time on the plane to go pick her up, and that comes out of my budget. She'll be buying her ticket out of her own budget, and if it costs her too much or she has to be up at the crack of dawn to get a flight, I'll be paying for it. Better to just be grateful that she agreed to spend a couple of nights in a tent with me and my kid and do whatever I can to make her enjoy it more.

[malexander]

Dave, thanks for the suggestion. I checked flights and Appleton is--by far--the hardest for her to get to on a reasonable schedule. We'll see what makes the most sense when it comes time to pull the trigger on a plane ticket.

There's a big element of relationship politics going on here. She isn't at all excited about Oshkosh, and is coming mostly because we're also stopping in Chicago to see my extended family on the way home. I don't mind putting the extra time on the plane to go pick her up, and that comes out of my budget. She'll be buying her ticket out of her own budget, and if it costs her too much or she has to be up at the crack of dawn to get a flight, I'll be paying for it. Better to just be grateful that she agreed to spend a couple of nights in a tent with me and my kid and do whatever I can to make her enjoy it more.


How about you take the kid, do what you want to do, and let her do what she wants to do. That's worked for me for 39 years.:) Although, my wife loves the friends we've made at OSH.

[Eric Gleason]

That's pretty much what's happening. :thumbsup:

[Bill Berson]

Airline to Milwaukee is much cheaper. Too bad there is no frequent bus service to Oshkosh during Airventure week.
The Lamers morning only bus service is rather useless.
I tried to use the new evening Amtrak bus last year and was disappointed. The only sure option is an expensive rental car.

[dougbush]

Why isn't your SO flying in with you in the mass arrival or riding with your mom? And will your kid ride along to pick her up? Seems like way too much trouble for someone who doesn't want to be there. Is she all that enthusiastic about visiting your extended family in Chicago? I say tell her it's just not feasible to pick her up, but you'd love for her to fly in with you next year.

[Bill Greenwood]

Airline to Milwaukee is likely to be cheaper. But if there is a aviation convention in Milwaukee I haven't heard about it. You are 90 miles away from Osh, so almost a 4 hour round trip drive probably in a lot of traffic. But of course its your choice to do it that way. I stayed in Milwaukee one year at a friends place for free just across the street from Mil airport. I didn't like driving.
I have had family and friends fly into App, and it was so easy there on the airline.

[Bill Berson]

I don't think many can find a direct airline flight to Appleton. It usually takes an extra connection to Appleton (sometimes 4 hour wait) and many more hours to actually get to Airventure.

[Airmutt]

There are direct flights to ATW but they aren’t many. All depends what hub you fly out of. Delta does a couple a day from ATL.

[Eric Gleason]

Whether or not there are direct flights INTO Appleton, Milwaukee, or Madison is a kind of a moot point. We live in Albany, NY, and about the only places you can fly OUT of here direct to are Chicago, Detroit, and Baltimore. There are a few flights from here to Appleton that have only 1 connection, but the fares are about $100 higher. There are many more options flying into the others from here.

[Bill Berson]

That's why flying direct to Mikwaukee is the cheapest, fastest and best option for me from Seattle, and maybe most of the country.
It's too bad EAA doesn't help much (or any) promote transportation from Mikwaukee for us non-Wisconsin members.

[Airmutt]

I’ve got extended family in the area and there’s really no convenient shuttle service from Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Oshkosh or Fond du Lac down to MKE. There is a bus but it takes hours due to its multiple stops. Most just drive down to MKE. Guess the demand just isn’t there.

[Bill Berson]

That lack of transportation between Oshkosh and Milwaukee is why EAA should look at some options for the Airventure week.
I wasted untold hours researching and finding a new bus service in 2019. I booked a ticket for the one daily bus but the airline was late and I missed it. Fortunately, another EAA pilot I had met on the airline gave me a ride.
But I won't risk getting stuck at MKE again with no way out. So it looks now like my best future option is going back to driving to Airventure like I always did.

[Bill Greenwood]

I have had friends use the bus from Milwaukee to Fon du Lac, don't recall it making any stops along the way. I m not sure if it goes on to Osh or not, they have used it both ways.

[FlyingRon]

I usually come and go several times during the Oshkosh show, whether we're running up to Brennand or some other place for a shower, picking someone up at another field, flying out to Shawano, or just giving rides to the volunteers. It's never a problem. Handy to have a sign with your row number to get back, but its never been a problem.

[dougbush]

I usually come and go several times during the Oshkosh show, whether we're running up to Brennand or some other place for a shower, picking someone up at another field, flying out to Shawano, or just giving rides to the volunteers. It's never a problem. Handy to have a sign with your row number to get back, but its never been a problem.
Ever tried it in a non-showplane?

[Auburntsts]

Ever tried it in a non-showplane?

Not personally, but I have friends that camped in North 40 with an Archer who have - no problems whatsoever.