Yes. Understand all the unknowns. However, what I am thinking would be very different than "regional fly-ins". For example, the Ercoupes gather just before AirVenture (usually about 3 or 4 days prior), at an airport in the vicinity of Oshkosh - this year set for Wausau, WI. Many other type clubs, or "birds of a feather" groups, do the same thing, in the larger vicinity of Oshkosh, spreading out in a 100 to 200 miles radius. The Pietenpol group meets at Brodhead, WI, a few days prior to AV. I am aware of one group that says they are "go" for this year. And, since they are much smaller, and more nimble than AV, they will be able to remain in "go" status, with a decision point that occurs just before the scheduled start of the fly-in. While EAA needs to make a "go" / "no go" decision much earlier (perhaps even May) because of all the event logistics, these smaller and dispersed types of "pre-AirVenture" events don't have to make such an early decision, because they don't have to consider all the AirVenture types of logistics that EAA needs to put in place for a VERY large crowd. Under this concept, these types of dispersed "mini fly-ins" can make the decision as late as early to mid-July, instead of the May decision point for EAA for AirVenture. This concept "buys" up to two months of time for the unknowns to be resolved. In this case, time is good. Since they tend to be smaller, focused groups -- like type clubs, they have the internal communications that they need for this type of flexibility. I think this is possible, and if some of these smaller "mini fly-ins" are go, then I will be there, trekking to WI for an aviation gathering. And, in my opinion, if EAA were on their game, as well as corporate entities such as Dynon or uAvionix were on their game, they would be locating these types of "AirVenture affiliated" pre-Oshkosh fly-ins, and finding ways to get involved, just in case AV doesn't happen this year, but the smaller "affiliated" fly-ins do take place. Again, contingency planning, much like the kind of planning that we do as pilots -- alternate airports, divert plans, weather, near airport after maintenance, etc. All based on risk mitigation, while continuing to pursue the mission to the extent possible.

Thanks, Wayne