Oshkosh July 23-29, 2012

[fleet16b]

BBQ? Now I just need to buy a warbird.

Nah ....I estimate only about 1/4 of us are actual Warbird owners.
The rest are made up of Museum pilots, erks and just plain Warbird fans and enthusiasts.

Oh did I forget to mention the Budwiser tankers ....two of them to be exact and its all the beer you can drink ....FO FREE

Oshkosh sounds better every minute doesn't it

[Beefitarian]

No, you didn't mention that. See this is partially why I didn't phone, I wouldn't have thought to ask, "Is there free beer?" This could save a guy like me 10s of dollars over a week.

[Colonel Sanders]

"Uh, say again what colour dot?"

VFR pilots do not transmit on the comm freq, when the OSH
NOTAM is in effect. The OSH Tower Controller, who sounds
like an auctioneer on meth (and is relieved frequently) talks
non-stop and pilots acknowledge clearances with vigorous
wing-wags.

As Cam says, there isn't much else like it.

[fleet16b]

No, you didn't mention that. See this is partially why I didn't phone, I wouldn't have thought to ask, "Is there free beer?" This could save a guy like me 10s of dollars over a week.

To be clear its not free beer every night but I do know of two good events where it is

There is also a Beerr tent/Gardens that has a band etc
Located right in the middle of the airport but on private property.
The landowner runs it and even gets bikini clad beer girls to mingle with the crowd
Osh definitely has something for everyone.

[Colonel Sanders]

Cam's amazing record:

18th oshkosh in a row

made me think, and sent me back to look. My EAA membership card says I joined in 1990, my IAC card says I joined in 2000, and my WBA card says I joined in 2010. Better late than never, I guess.

Scanning through my logbooks, my first trip to OSH was in 1992 in the trusty Maule, which had been in the family for 21 years by then ... 20 years ago. Here's a picture of it tied down overnight at Sudbury on the way there, on 28 July 1992:

www.pittspecials.com/images/maule_cysb_28july92.jpg

[fleet16b]

Looks kinda like Eric standing in front of that Maule

[Colonel Sanders]

He was minus 2.5 months old when that photo was taken

And there's too much hair in the photo. Remember, the 80's were just ending. Eric keeps his hair pretty short for helmets.

[Beefitarian]

Oh oh, I hope fleet didn't get so excited he hurt himself. Maybe I made this thread too early. I was getting nice and caught up in it. Now I'm trying to dig out the sidewalk from a huge dump of snow. I was winded just from running the snow thrower machine.
I ran over the extention cord too, brilliant.

[fleet16b]

Nope I'm still here

And still counting the days to Oshkosh .....but until then, I am working out a plan to skoot down to Sun N Fun for a vintage aircraft fix

Hoping to get a cheap flight into Tampa where a buddy will pick me up
On top of that, I am re-glassing and repainting the Finch canopies in preparation for the upcoming Airshow season.
I am really looking forward to the Canadian Warplane Heritage 40th Anniversary Airshow that I will be appearing in again.

Back to Oshkosh .
This years EAA will commemorate the Mighty Piper Cubs
They anticipate that there will 100s of them showing up and c/out the mass flyby.
My friend is considering having both his E2 Cub and J2 Cub at the show however its a long way from Ontario to Oshkosh is a 40 hp aircraft that flies at 50 mph so we will have to see.

[Beefitarian]

Good to hear. Could be tedious watching the cars on the interstate beat you to the next town.

I guess I moved the snow at just the right time. The wind stopped and the sun came out and most of the sidwalk is clean and bare now.

[Beefitarian]

Have you guys gone off the airport property much? I would like an honest opinion on raising some kids there. The real estate is super cheap compared to here right now. I'm not sure I could get my wife a good job but other wise it looks perfect.

[rapid602]

The airshows in the afternoon are ok, but ...

IMHO the best way to experience OSH is to fly in. No
side by side, no under and over. Fisk/ripon. Camp under
the wing by runway 9/27. Shower in the red barn. Drink
beer at Friar Tuck's, all sunburned with your feet hurting
from walking all day, sticky with sweat and sunblock.

The BEST show at OSH isn't the actual show, or any official
display.

all part of my obsession, sickness , pre occupation issues

Like the Colonel says .... when your walking around and you stumble apon Mr. Rutan, Pappy Boyington who the TV Show BAH BAH Black Sheep was about standing in line with you to use the washroom, and Bob Hoover taking 5 minutes to talk to you. Those are things you can't plan, but make for great memories. I haven't been back for some time and want to go again however I just never seem to be off. But if your out walking around, you are never disapointed and to what you see or the great people that you will meet. The afternoon airshow is fun, but ITS NOT THE SHOW.

[fleet16b]

Well the Osh fever is kicked up another notch.
Last week I applied for an got my annual passes from EAA.
Camping , parking , passes all complete.
Now to start thinking about what to take to sell this year at the Fly-Market
It is the year of the J3 Cub so I will most likely take some of my rarer Cub items from
my inventory to sell.
If you know how to sell used aircraft parts, the fly market is a good way to make money and not have to pay for the trip.
Most years I come out ahead.

[Beefitarian]

We took the kids for a drive on spring break. Stopped at Hills AFB & Legacy air museums. Both really good places for different reasons. Hills has a huge collection and Legacey is a living museum. Got up close with some bird dogs and P-51s.

http://www.hill.af.mil/

http://www.legacyflightmuseum.com/

[Beefitarian]

Two months away. Seems like a good time to bump this baby and get fleet all excited again.

Fleet and Colonel. You guys must be up on all the newest hand helds. Do you think the show would be a good place to buy one?

I'd like just a functional light aviation unit that can transmit so I could take it flying as a back up, even though it would spend most of it's life waiting, occasionally listening to ATC while watching planes come and go at airports.

I don't know, kind of sounds like a silly idea now that I wrote it out.

[FenderManDan]

Two months away. Seems like a good time to bump this baby and get fleet all excited again.

Fleet and Colonel. You guys must be up on all the newest hand helds. Do you think the show would be a good place to buy one?

I'd like just a functional light aviation unit that can transmit so I could take it flying as a back up, even though it would spend most of it's life waiting, occasionally listening to ATC while watching planes come and go at airports.

I don't know, kind of sounds like a silly idea now that I wrote it out.

I have a vertex unit that i use to get atis before i start the engine. In about 200 starts it will pay off. Kinda kidding there, but rally bought it as the backup. Ftu here in gta have old coms on their 172 and one of these days it will come handy.

On the OSH it doesn't look like i will go. Perhaps next year... Just wish for Bob H to live a long time.

[fleet16b]

Two months away. Seems like a good time to bump this baby and get fleet all excited again.

Fleet and Colonel. You guys must be up on all the newest hand helds. Do you think the show would be a good place to buy one?

I'd like just a functional light aviation unit that can transmit so I could take it flying as a back up, even though it would spend most of it's life waiting, occasionally listening to ATC while watching planes come and go at airports.

I don't know, kind of sounds like a silly idea now that I wrote it out.

Beef
You are a sick man, starting this thread, then winding me up like this every so often
Yup the fever is getting worse each week.
So bad that I went out and bought a new truck for the trip My old veehickle has 335,000 km and things have started failing so it was time.
Now I am sitting around waiting for the new Truck and Oshkosh......my wife thinks I am flipping out
As for hand held units , I use an ICOM A6 which has been really good for me . It also comes in a NavCom version.
I would definitely wait till OSKOSH to buy as there are usually good specials where you will get extras with the unit that are not part of the usual package.
Also if you are staying till the last day, you can usually haggle with the dealers a bit as the would rather sell that haul stuff home.
BUT.....before OSHKOSH, I have to fly the Hamilton Airshow , it will feed the habit in the meantime
Lots of events in Ontario this year so hoping for good weather

[Beefitarian]

I'm getting excited too. With all the airplane stuff my wife's been letting me do the last couple years it's tough to hate her. She pointed out my math error, it's actually just under three months. I must have been skipping May.

[Beefitarian]

The 2012 NOTAM is out.

http://www.airventure.org/flying/index.html#NOTAM

[jump154]

Bought the tickets, booked the campsite. Arriving on the Tuesday, leaving Sunday. Can't wait!

[ahramin]

Anyone have an empty seat? Land or Air? From any major airport anywhere?

[Beefitarian]

Well, I don't know if I'm going to be going after all. My wife was hinting that there might not be the funding.

[fleet16b]

Have had the new truck a week now and am really looking froward to driving it to Oshkosh.
Lots of room to haul down some used parts to sell at the FlyMart
With the early spring, I have had lots of flying so far this season, so I am primed for some big shows.
Flew to a great BBQ in Ft Erie Tueday night and had a really nice evening flight home

[Lotro]

Me, my 130 hours and http://www.3pointaviator.com's L4B are planning to go for the 75th anniversary of the Cub. Any tips anyone wants to provide would be welcome. Glen's helping me plan too, but needless to say, this is a big endeavor.

[Colonel Sanders]

Get a US CBP decal online.

Register with EAPIS.

Get the OSH NOTAM (it's out). Doesn't change much from year to year, but get this year's anyways. Basically, you don't talk, and you don't squawk. Get in line at the correct place and altitude, and do what you are told. Enthusiastic wing-rock to ack ATC.

Get USA VFR Sectionals and some kind of airport directory (I use AOPA).

Plan a route - probably through the Sault. I go direct over Lake Michigan, you probably don't want to do that.

To actually cross the border, you will need do EAPIS, and file - and activate! - a flight plan. And to enter the US, the FAA NOTAM says you must have a squawk code from ATC. If you do not have a transponder, fly a formation and only the leader squawks ALT. Be sure to remember to close your flight plan!

You will need to choose an airport for your first landing in the USA, to clear customs. There is a list here:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/

Arrive at OSH with plenty of fuel in case you have to orbit. Stop at Appleton for gas, for example. No side by side, no under and over. Have a beer at Friar Tucks and shower at the red barn.

Bring US cash, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen and tiedowns. Put a blue tarp over the wing to keep the water off, and put your tent underneath it.

On the way back, call 888-CAN-PASS to let customs know you are coming. 2 hrs notice is required. You need to choose an airport. File a flight plan - and AUTO-OPEN - with 800-WX-BRIEF and be sure to file an EAPIS departure. Close your flight plan!

Hope this helps, and thanks for the help you gave Eric!