Parking question..

FredFenster

FredFenster

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Apr 18, 2013
Messages
429
Location
Manitowoc, WI
Display Name
Display name:
Greg L
So I've always driven to the EAA (the appropriate name for this event ;)), thinking of flying in for the day on Saturday and parking in Vintage. How does the daily parking work, do they marshal you in the general area and you pick whatever spot you want or do they tell you exactly where to park? I just want to make sure I can get to the plane during the airshow so I don't have to drag a wagon with 20 lbs. of my kid's toys in it all afternoon, and I see they have the burn line with restricted access this year during the Saturday and Sunday airshows.
 
You get marshaled and they tell you where to put the airplane. My guess is if you fly in on the Saturday during the airshow you will be a long ways from said airshow. Parking tend to get fairly full.

That said, there cane parking spots closer, since lots of folks who come in early also leave early. But I certainly wouldn't count on it.
 
Hmm.. you won't fly in during the airshow. It's NOTAM closed during all the airshow times.

There is a 30+ page NOTAM that describes the procedures for arriving at the event.

The appropriate name for the event is not "the EAA". It is named EAA Airventure. I think you're taking exception to the popular use of the city name of the airport at which it takes place as the name of the event. People don't say "I'm going to Whitman Field" or "I'm going to EAA Airventure" because the non-flying public have no clue where that is. Saying "I'm going to Oshkosh" is fairly specific.
 
steingar - Thanks, that was the info I was looking for.

rolivi - I've read the notam and know nobody is flying in during the show. Part of vintage parking is closed to all access during the afternoon airshow this year. If you left your chicken tendies in a cooler by your plane parked in that area, you're SOL and can't go near your plane until the airshow is over at 6pm. I wanted to know if there was a way to make sure I wouldn't get parked in that area if I flew in earlier in the day, but apparently there is no guarantee. "The EAA" is a local joke, I don't live very far away. If I told most people I know I was going to Oshkosh, they'd ask why I was going there.
 
rolivi said:
That's not a "local issue." Most everyone I tell asks the same thing.
Click to expand...

Only if "most" of them have nothing to do with flying. This is 42 years for me at "The Show"; you can call it Oshkosh, you can call it EAA, but "Airventure" is a fiction of EAA management who couldn't trademark Oshkosh or EAA in the flying community.

Yes, I was a pilot ten years before I got to go to The Show for the first time but knew about it as a student pilot, even though in those years it was at Rockford or Hales Corners.

Airventure my hind patootey.

Jim
 
I've never been to Oshkosh, but was planning to fly in on Friday 29th for the day. Reading this has me wondering, should I bother, or is it expected to be completely full? I'm in a 1985 C172.
 
Katamarino said:
I've never been to Oshkosh, but was planning to fly in on Friday 29th for the day. Reading this has me wondering, should I bother, or is it expected to be completely full? I'm in a 1985 C172.
Click to expand...

Read and follow the NOTAM. If the field is full it will be broadcast on the ATIS. Otherwise you'll be marshaled to parking. Could be quite the lineup to leave though.
 
FredFenster said:
So I've always driven to the EAA (the appropriate name for this event ;)), thinking of flying in for the day on Saturday and parking in Vintage. How does the daily parking work, do they marshal you in the general area and you pick whatever spot you want or do they tell you exactly where to park? I just want to make sure I can get to the plane during the airshow so I don't have to drag a wagon with 20 lbs. of my kid's toys in it all afternoon, and I see they have the burn line with restricted access this year during the Saturday and Sunday airshows.
Click to expand...


I have been volunteering in Vintage parking aircraft for over a decade. You will be told exactly which space we want you in. There is no difference between single day parking and anything else. There has been at times an area reserved for those not camping but those rules change periodically and I think as of last year, they went away completely, but things can change again.

The "BIRD" line is the where the crowd line is moved back during the Blue Angels show (initially named such due to the fact that it was the Thunderbirds that were performing." About 1PM each day the jets are performing, the crowds are pushed back to the row of speaker poles (about half way through the parking on the east side of Knapp Street). You are correct, you will not be able to get to your aircraft if parked east of the line during the show. The FAA doesn't allow anybody from the crowd out there and even the "staff" can only go another ten feet or so past the line coordinating things.

If it is important to you, you can certainly ask the marshalers to see if you can be accomodated.

I suggest making your VAP sign (to show the guys further away that you want to go to Vintage. Make another that says "WEST OF BIRD LINE" to hold up to the guys on the scooters who will escort you to your space.
 
Park in the North 40 and you shouldn't have any problems getting to the airplane during the airshow.
 
FredFenster said:
rolivi - I've read the notam and know nobody is flying in during the show. Part of vintage parking is closed to all access during the afternoon airshow this year.
Click to expand...
Only on the days that the Blues are flying. The FAA mandates the crowd line be back at the speaker poles during the show.
 
There should be parking by later week, of course it can change, WX & other factors play in.

Don't be concerned, keep abreast of parking availability, (web site, then ATIS) if needed just go to a 'reliever' airport & get a ride in.
 
What is the advantage of parking in Vintage? It appears I have a choice.
 
Its generally closer to the main display area and center plaza so less walking or tram rides (and its a LOT closer if you would happen to get parked north of 9/27) . Also if you go earlier in the week when general aviation parking fills up and closes, there still might be some room in vintage.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top