Fuel Cost Increase for OSH Trip

Lowflynjack

Lowflynjack

Final Approach
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Jack Fleetwood
I paid $5.48 yesterday for fuel and it was the lowest price in our area. With car gas, the stations around here have dropped down to an average of $2.99/gallon down from over $4.00, but it takes a long time for AvGas to come down because we try to avoid the most expensive places and they won't lower the cost until they get a cheaper load.

This got me thinking about OSH. I looked at my logbooks and it is an average of 16 hours for me to go to OSH and back, fueling four times. Last year, it was an average of $4.50/gal at most of my stops. Burning 13gph average, so around $936 in fuel.

This year, if I stop at my regular stops, 1st stop is $6.49, 2nd is $6.99, 3rd is $5.35, last is $5.75, so an average of $6.14 and thats assuming they don't raise the prices to gouge the OSH traffic, which they will. 13gph or $1277.12 in fuel!

I know a lot of you have to pay more and/or fly further. I'm not complaining, it is what it is, but I'm also expecting it is enough of an increase that many will back out of the trip. Luckily I have another pilot riding with me to split the costs, so it's not that much of an impact.

Has this changed any of your plans?
 
Jack, it's good you have a ride a long sharing expenses. Look at it from a different angle ... yes prices for fuel are horrible, but they'll get better soon (hopefully) ... your cost round trip is about $635, which if you were going commercial would be similar ... except you get the satisfaction, experience and memories of landing at the busiest airport in the world.
 
danhagan said:
Jack, it's good you have a ride a long sharing expenses. Look at it from a different angle ... yes prices for fuel are horrible, but they'll get better soon (hopefully) ... your cost round trip is about $635, which if you were going commercial would be similar ... except you get the satisfaction, experience and memories of landing at the busiest airport in the world.
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Yeah, I'm going and I'm not complaining! Of course I don't like it, but I looked at it today to give my friend a good estimate of what his half would be and it's a substantial increase that I think will shut some people down this year.
 
Actually, unlike many other businesses, I've found that most of the small town FBOs aren't gouging, in fact, they often offer Oshkosh deals. And while Basler isn't the cheapest FBO fuel wise, their onsite prices haven't historically been a gouge.

I paid $6.50 when I picked my plane up from annual last week. The cheap FBO near me is $5.69 right now. I'll probably take on the full load of 100 gallons going to OSH and burn two thirds of it. Typically, we don't stop for fuel unless we need a stop for another reason (often we'll hit 02C or HXF right before we get to the OSH area and get fuel and something to eat).
 
flyingron said:
Actually, unlike many other businesses, I've found that most of the small town FBOs aren't gouging, in fact, they often offer Oshkosh deals. And while Basler isn't the cheapest FBO fuel wise, their onsite prices haven't historically been a gouge.

I paid $6.50 when I picked my plane up from annual last week. The cheap FBO near me is $5.69 right now. I'll probably take on the full load of 100 gallons going to OSH and burn two thirds of it. Typically, we don't stop for fuel unless we need a stop for another reason (often we'll hit 02C or HXF right before we get to the OSH area and get fuel and something to eat).
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I get a discount at one stop, but another one always goes up the week before we go! Watertown, WI is where I stop every year on the way in to get one last good meal and sleep in a bed. Watertown FBO is the one that's $6.99, which is frustrating.
 
Lowflynjack said:
I get a discount at one stop, but another one always goes up the week before we go! Watertown, WI is where I stop every year on the way in to get one last good meal and sleep in a bed. Watertown FBO is the one that's $6.99, which is frustrating.
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Amusing. I've not been there in a long time. I purchased my Navion through Wisconsin Aviation in Watertown back in 1995.
 
flyingron said:
And while Basler isn't the cheapest FBO fuel wise, their onsite prices haven't historically been a gouge.
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And you can't beat the convenience.

For those who haven't been, you put a tag on your plane with fueling instructions and the basler trucks prowl the grounds looking for tags and filling.
 
172andyou said:
And you can't beat the convenience.

For those who haven't been, you put a tag on your plane with fueling instructions and the basler trucks prowl the grounds looking for tags and filling.
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Yeah, sometimes I have to chase them down though. I often fly several times during the show and need multiple top offs. s
 
Lowflynjack said:
I paid $5.48 yesterday for fuel and it was the lowest price in our area. With car gas, the stations around here have dropped down to an average of $2.99/gallon down from over $4.00, but it takes a long time for AvGas to come down because we try to avoid the most expensive places and they won't lower the cost until they get a cheaper load.

This got me thinking about OSH. I looked at my logbooks and it is an average of 16 hours for me to go to OSH and back, fueling four times. Last year, it was an average of $4.50/gal at most of my stops. Burning 13gph average, so around $936 in fuel.

This year, if I stop at my regular stops, 1st stop is $6.49, 2nd is $6.99, 3rd is $5.35, last is $5.75, so an average of $6.14 and thats assuming they don't raise the prices to gouge the OSH traffic, which they will. 13gph or $1277.12 in fuel!

I know a lot of you have to pay more and/or fly further. I'm not complaining, it is what it is, but I'm also expecting it is enough of an increase that many will back out of the trip. Luckily I have another pilot riding with me to split the costs, so it's not that much of an impact.

Has this changed any of your plans?
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i will be happy to trade gas bills with you. i figure 4000 round trip not including going to formation clinic in iowa the week before. yes, it has changed my plans, the plane is staying home this year.
 
172andyou said:
And you can't beat the convenience.
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I'm finding it a bit inconvenient and slightly annoying. No need for my address, phone# and e-mail to just hang on my prop for the day until they bother showing up. Especially if parked in a high foot traffic area. While we're aiding identity theft, want me to write down my SSN and credit card number?

1782143209546.png
 
My friend is driving his RV up. He gets 6 MPG (diesel) or as he puts it, he burns 10 GPH. Diesel is running in the AVGAS prices around here. It's crimping their travel plans.
 
AV8R_87 said:
I'm finding it a bit inconvenient and slightly annoying. No need for my address, phone# and e-mail to just hang on my prop for the day until they bother showing up. Especially if parked in a high foot traffic area. While we're aiding identity theft, want me to write down my SSN and credit card number?

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Pretty sure they'll process it minus the email and street addresses as the line guys are looking for fuel type, quantity, and any instructions. They'll track you down by your N-number if you somehow manage to skip without paying.

As for the cost of the trip. I just filled up a a nearby airport that usually is the cheapest in the area: $6.25 for self-serve. At my home base it's $7.82. It won't stop me from flying up, but I do hope it drops before July 17th as I'd rather spend that money on beer, brats, and cheese curds.
 
Have another commitment this year,so can’t make the trip. So not affected by price of fuel,good luck for all that are flying this year.
 
tsts4 said:
I do hope it drops before July 17th as I'd rather spend that money on beer, brats, and cheese curds.
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That's a serious concern there. If it starts to impact that portion of the budget, we'll need to start a GoFundMe!
 
Lowflynjack said:
we'll need to start a GoFundMe!
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@SixPapaCharlie is making senior pay now. I'm sure he can spare some cash for the benefit of the group and make a video about it.

tsts4 said:
Curious. What did they do?
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Left the tag on the prop with a note to fill in all entries. Felt tempted to fill them all in with middle fingers, but I restrained myself.
Had more than enough to make it to 57C and got fuel there.
 
Lowflynjack said:
I get a discount at one stop, but another one always goes up the week before we go! Watertown, WI is where I stop every year on the way in to get one last good meal and sleep in a bed. Watertown FBO is the one that's $6.99, which is frustrating.
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I'd fuel up at BUU or 57c. Currently C89 is a little cheaper and a crazy nice fbo, but was locked when I went on a Sunday. Luckily my uncle has a hangar there and happened to be there to let us in.

Edit: Watertown currently 7.29. Janesville actually isn't terrible either and Bessies is on field.
 
AV8R_87 said:
@SixPapaCharlie is making senior pay now. I'm sure he can spare some cash for the benefit of the group and make a video about it.


Left the tag on the prop with a note to fill in all entries. Felt tempted to fill them all in with middle fingers, but I restrained myself.
Had more than enough to make it to 57C and got fuel there.
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Next time put in the address to Wrigley Field or some other suitable location. To be honest I think I've just blindly filled the whole thing out our past 11 trips without giving it any thought, but publicly posting PII is a legit concern, even if the threat at Osh for collection in this instance is probably pretty low.
 
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Racerx said:
Edit: Watertown currently 7.29. Janesville actually isn't terrible either and Bessies is on field.
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Unfortunately, this is where I have a hotel room and my last stop before KOSH, so I'll have to pay whatever they charge.
 
Lol. $7.25/gallon here, and that's when the pump is working. I don't even look, but I'm guessing it's close to $10/gallon when I have to call out the fuel truck when it's not.

And this is at a kind of mid-sized airport in a secondary or even tertiary market - i.e. I'm guessing it's a LOT worse elsewhere. Wait'll the guys from San Francisco area chime in.

Is it impacting my flying? No, not really. But mostly because I decided long ago to plug my nose and keep flying until I run out of money or die (hopefully from natural causes, knock-on-wood), whichever comes first.
 
You might be wishing you were paying today’s prices in a month.

Today US commercial crude oil inventories are at historical lows. Projections indicate a risk of hitting critically low inventory levels in July coinciding with the peak driving period.
 
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The idea of high fuel prices putting a ceiling on attendance this year occurred to me several weeks ago. We'll burn about 100-120 gallons on the round trip, which will add at least $300 to the cost of the event compared to recent years. I'm just glad that the fuel company at my home field doles out some free tickets and we usually score a set of those. That takes $1,000 out of the top line cost.
 
Lowflynjack said:
Yeah, I'm going and I'm not complaining! Of course I don't like it, but I looked at it today to give my friend a good estimate of what his half would be and it's a substantial increase that I think will shut some people down this year.
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True ... but fortunately, I know a very good photographer that is probably responsible for many new pilots based on his magazine covers and articles.;):)
 
danhagan said:
True ... but fortunately, I know a very good photographer that is probably responsible for many new pilots based on his magazine covers and articles.;):)
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LOL, that photographer has really tried not to increase his rates, but may have to soon if this doesn't change!
 
Last month I flew NH to FL and back in the Cirrus to see my folks - I spent right at $1500 in gas. I stopped and visited friends in MD and SC and I look at is not only is that about the cost of a round trip first class ticket but I got (1) a better seat and (2) I made stops and saw folks I could never have done commercially - missing Oshkosh this year but will be back next year.
 
I'm still taking the T-6 because I pledged I would some time back; boy, I wish I had taken it last year instead! It'll be roughly 275 gallons to DBQ at an average of $6.35 per gallon (~$1750) plus what I fly there, to Osh, at Osh and home. I figure my fuel bill will be north of $4500 this year. :eek:
 
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