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Brad
Kinda funny, its less than 2hrs away and never flown in there yet.

A buddy that goes every year flew along. Upon arrival we grabbed the crew car and he showed me all the camping places, where they like to watch planes, etc. So it was nice to get a preview. Some interesing things:

1. You can actually taxi right up to the Hilton Garden Inn parking lot :) Probably unobtainable during Air Venture but would be fun for the (3) of us to pop in there once to check out the museum, let the kiddo swim in the pool, etc.

2. Basler is remodeling. That big terminal they are in will completely demo'd and it will be all grass vs any buildings. Their new building is adjacent (west side). I thought they said the the old terminal will be completely down by Airventure?

3. Those 2 little crossing runways embedded at the end of 36 and 09 are darn fun to taxi across. I had to look at my taxi diagram an extra 30 seconds to not foo up the hold shorts. Once again, probably a non-issue during air venture.

4. Holy crap is 18/36 long! Actually, its not the runway its the taxi time to get all the way down there. You could easily take off on the taxi way then touch down again.

5. Was neat to see a "ice highway" across the lake.

6. The people at Basler were great.

7. I only saw 2 other planes the entire time - thought it would have been more busy during normal times.

8. Someone there must restore DC3's?

...hoping to at least drive and camp there this year but who knows.
 
5. Was neat to see a "ice highway" across the lake.
I'm told an old trick in a Wisconsin winter is to stop halfway across the lake, hit the "ONSTAR" button, and claim to be lost. The map at Onstar, of course, just shows a lake.....

I've stayed several times in the Hilton Garden Inn. Nice hotel, convenient to the airport, but actually prefer the Best Western convention center in downtown. Right on the river walk, you can sip a beer as the boat traffic goes by, or stroll along the walk to the lake. Had live music in the park on my last visit. Room rates are about the same, and if you have a car, it's less than ten minutes from the Hilton.
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Ron Wanttaja
 
We stayed at the Hilton during what would have been AirVenture 2020 last July. We decided to get a room there mainly for the novelty since we’d never try to stay there during a show. I was less than impressed. It was OK but nothing special other than having a ramp and that was just OK as the gate was jacked up.
 
4. Holy crap is 18/36 long! Actually, its not the runway its the taxi time to get all the way down there. You could easily take off on the taxi way then touch down again.

For sure. They can land 4 small GA planes simultaneously on 18/36, with the tower calling out the painted dot for your touchdown point. And during AirVenture, the taxiway becomes 36R/18L to land even more planes! Like Harrison Ford, only this time it's approved.

Very fun to sit by the runway and watch planes land for an hour.
 
...Very fun to sit by the runway and watch planes land for an hour.

Just an hour? :cool:

A lawn chair, beverage cooler, the handheld radio tuned to one of the tower frequencies and the entertainment value for the entire afternoon on the day before show opening is priceless. :D
 
Thanks for the report. I plan on stopping, for the first time, in May or early June.
 
Just an hour? :cool:

A lawn chair, beverage cooler, the handheld radio tuned to one of the tower frequencies and the entertainment value for the entire afternoon on the day before show opening is priceless. :D
AirVenture 2019 happened as I was freshly recovering from prostate cancer surgery. I was grateful to have the live webcams to watch from my recliner at home every day that week ...
 
Just an hour? :cool:

A lawn chair, beverage cooler, the handheld radio tuned to one of the tower frequencies and the entertainment value for the entire afternoon on the day before show opening is priceless. :D

Too much else to see and do!! :)

The show is such great exercise too. The iPhone health app said I averaged about 11 miles of walking per day.
 
Too much else to see and do!! :)

The show is such great exercise too. The iPhone health app said I averaged about 11 miles of walking per day.

We like to sit and watch the 9/27 arrivals on the Saturday and/or Sunday before the show starts. Tons of arrivals and not much else to do as none of the venders or hangars are open yet.
 
Just an hour? :cool:

A lawn chair, beverage cooler, the handheld radio tuned to one of the tower frequencies and the entertainment value for the entire afternoon on the day before show opening is priceless. :D
Yup. Sitting on the beach...
 
Won an airplane from the EAA once. A friend flew me in (how often does your friend win and airplane?). We landed. I didn't recognize the place. I had no idea where to go. Interesting experience.
 
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