Oshkosh 2025

[flyingron]

I’m starting to put together my pile to pack, likely will need to drive but have not given up on flying yet. Building my pack list.

On the wristbands, I really dislike wearing stuff on my wrist. Is there a work around? Any way to take off at night?

Rod Machado wore his on his ankle. "Banded like a bird."

 

[flyingron]

Yeah but someone like Rod is not walking through the pedestrian gates like the rest of us mortals

I think he did. Bertorelli introduced me to him at our first Oshkosh and we went out to dinner with him a few times. We always went through the regular gates.

 

[crash7]

I’ve heard of (but never tried myself) where you can go to a ticket booth with a visibly worn out wristband and get a replacement. Only if it’s still properly secured on your wrist and they must put tue new one on you (to avoid fraud).
Again, I’ve never tried, but I swear I’ve heard of that happening.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gprellwitz]

Standard yearly invite to anyone that wants to climb around on a T-6. PM me and we'll make it happen.

We've flown a Harvard. Does that disqualify us from flying a T-6?

And we received our wristbands a couple of days ago!

 

[unsafervguy]

We've flown a Harvard. Does that disqualify us from flying a T-6?

And we received our wristbands a couple of days ago!

no, but you have to end everything you say with "eh"

 

[gprellwitz]

no, but you have to end everything you say with "eh"

Nope, because it was a South African (IIRC) Harvard in New Zealand!

 

[WDD]

Odd question. What time does FISK open in the mornings?

Is it less crowded first thing, or later around 9:00 or 10:00?

 

[Lowflynjack]

Odd question. What time does FISK open in the mornings?

Is it less crowded first thing, or later around 9:00 or 10:00?

It opens at 7AM. They ask slower planes that have trouble going 90 knots to get in early. It's way less crowded early in my opinion.

Edit: it opens at 7AM, except on Thursday after the night airshow, then it's 8AM. They do that to help with all of the departing traffic that morning.

 

[baboss]

Odd question. What time does FISK open in the mornings?

Is it less crowded first thing, or later around 9:00 or 10:00?

For reference, back page of the NOTAM/NOTICE

From Noon CDT July 17 through Noon CDT July 28, 2025, Wittman Regional Airport will be closed to all ARRIVING aircraft from 8:00 PM until 7:00 AM CDT daily and closed to all DEPARTING aircraft from 8:00 PM until 6:00 AM CDT daily.

 

[WDD]

It's way less crowded early in my opinion.

Thanks

 

[WDD]

Is/are there runway(s) that is/are more likely to be used? 27? 36?

What is the likelihood of starting from Rippon, or is that rare and most folks start at Green Lake or Puckaway Lake?

 

[ytodd]

Is/are there runway(s) that is/are more likely to be used? 27? 36?

What is the likelihood of starting from Rippon, or is that rare and most folks start at Green Lake or Puckaway Lake?

In my not so expert opinion, and only flying into OSH 13 times, it's almost always 27 and 36L/R unless the winds are really favoring 9 and 18.

I almost always started right at Rippon between 7 and 7:30 am the Friday before the show, but last year it was Green Lake. Not sure why, there were not many of us and it was only like 7:20.

 

[ytodd]

Also, for what it's worth, when it is not busy and you get a runway assignment you can ask for the other one and they usually give it to you. Some Friday mornings flying in I have been asked what runway I want. When it is busy those luxuries go away.

 

[WDD]

Also, for what it's worth, when it is not busy and you get a runway assignment you can ask for the other one and they usually give it to you. Some Friday mornings flying in I have been asked what runway I want. When it is busy those luxuries go away.

What runway do you prefer / would you ask for if had the chance?

 

[4RNB]

What runway do you prefer / would you ask for if had the chance?

I know what the utubers ask for and what seems to be easier, more normal. I don’t intend this to be smart atsed but maybe look at directions for each runway and decide for yourself?

 

[ytodd]

What runway do you prefer / would you ask for if had the chance?

I camp in the North 40 so I always prefer 27 or 9 because it is less taxi time.

 

[WDD]

I know what the utubers ask for and what seems to be easier, more normal. I don’t intend this to be smart atsed but maybe look at directions for each runway and decide for yourself?

I'm in the middle of studying them, making notes, drawing out instructions for my knee pad, etc. As smart as I am, I haven't been there before so I do try to learn from others. I may not know what I don't know to ask. That said, 36 L or R being a left hand turn from Fisk Ave looks to be the easiest. But maybe actual experience might trump my never been there guess.

 

[Sam D]

I'm in the middle of studying them, making notes, drawing out instructions for my knee pad, etc. As smart as I am, I haven't been there before so I do try to learn from others. I may not know what I don't know to ask. That said, 36 L or R being a left hand turn from Fisk Ave looks to be the easiest. But maybe actual experience might trump my never been there guess.

If you plan on flying to Portage (C47) and then north to Endeavor Bridge, you'll only get short cuts from there if another starting point to the approach is used. I find that more relaxing than planning on something further up and getting surprised to start earlier.

I'd also suggest "flying" the approach either on a flight simulator that has good satellite images or Google earth at the appropriate altitude. This helps get a sense of what you will be seeing (e.g. the tracks from Ripon that parallel the road and then don't parallel the road and the parallel it again!)

 

[tsts4]

If given a choice I prefer 36, but really it’s no big deal one way or the other. In 10 years of flying in I’ve either landed 27 or 36, but mostly 27. When it’s busy you won’t be given a choice and please don’t be that guy, key up and clog the freq trying to get some kind of preference. You should be able to arrive and depart Osh and never say a single word on the radio.

 

[mcdewey]

I'm in the middle of studying them, making notes, drawing out instructions for my knee pad, etc. As smart as I am, I haven't been there before so I do try to learn from others. I may not know what I don't know to ask. That said, 36 L or R being a left hand turn from Fisk Ave looks to be the easiest. But maybe actual experience might trump my never been there guess.

36 is like a long left base. 27 is like a strafing run (but fun nonetheless)

 

[Ed Haywood]

What runway do you prefer / would you ask for if had the chance?

Unless you are VERY wind sensitive, forget this idea. Just follow the conga line in and go where they tell you. Keep it simple the first time.

 

[Ed Haywood]

I'm in the middle of studying them, making notes, drawing out instructions for my knee pad, etc. As smart as I am, I haven't been there before so I do try to learn from others. I may not know what I don't know to ask. That said, 36 L or R being a left hand turn from Fisk Ave looks to be the easiest. But maybe actual experience might trump my never been there guess.

I understand the urge to overthink this the first time, but it's not necessary. Listen to ATIS. Fly to the announced start point. Follow the conga line through the waypoints. When you get to Fisk, listen for instructions, rock your wings, then turn or not. Switch to tower and land where they tell you. Turn off, show your sign, and follow the guys with flags. Camp and enjoy. Use sunscreen and drink water. Be sure to come back and tell us how easy it was.

 

[4RNB]

I'm in the middle of studying them, making notes, drawing out instructions for my knee pad, etc. As smart as I am, I haven't been there before so I do try to learn from others. I may not know what I don't know to ask. That said, 36 L or R being a left hand turn from Fisk Ave looks to be the easiest. But maybe actual experience might trump my never been there guess.

I agree.
I'm not a daredevil but will be tempted to ask for the other if I get a chance to fly there, just to wear my big boy britches!

 

[kyleb]

I'm probably the only one here who's landed on 18 from the downwind for 27. It was an interesting audible by the tower and a "You want me to what??.. OK" from me.

 

[kyleb]

What runway do you prefer / would you ask for if had the chance?

In (relatively) slow times at Fisk, they will ask if you want 09/27 or 18/36. 09 and 36 are the easier options if one (or both) is/are available.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Also, for what it's worth, when it is not busy and you get a runway assignment you can ask for the other one and they usually give it to you. Some Friday mornings flying in I have been asked what runway I want. When it is busy those luxuries go away.

Please, DON'T ASK. Keep yer dang mouth shut like the NOTAM says - If traffic is light enough, Fisk ATC will *ask* you which runway you want. If they don't ask, don't send them further down the tubes by jumping in and asking them to change their plan and clogging their frequency.

What runway do you prefer / would you ask for if had the chance?

Depends where you're parking. North 40, you want 9/27. Vintage, South 40 you'll want 18/36. Homebuilts and Warbirds, either way works but you'll probably spend less time taxiing on the grass from 18/36.

That said, 36 L or R being a left hand turn from Fisk Ave looks to be the easiest. But maybe actual experience might trump my never been there guess.

In terms of landing, I would rank them as follows:
Easiest is 9, it's just about a 30-degree (maybe less) dogleg from the railroad tracks to final.
Next easiest is 36L, which is just a left base.
Next would be 36R, which is also a left base but you'll need to be good at keeping your speed up after landing, as this is the only runway that you don't jump off into the grass - You just taxi all the way to the north end, and if there's someone landing behind you, you need to not be in their way. On the relatively rare occasions I get this, I fly the approach at 90 knots, pull power on short final, let it float a bit if necessary, and then just use aero braking only - Stay off the wheel brakes until you actually need to slow down at the end.
Next would be 27. This is a right-hand traffic pattern, and you need to be ready to modify your approach at the very last minute according to ATC instructions. For example, when the guy in front of me didn't understand how to make a short approach to a dot and instead wanted to fly his base dang near over the Lake Winnebago shoreline and have a mile final, ATC had a couple of us cut inside him and make short approaches to green and orange dots. Betcha know who got thanked and welcomed to OSH and who didn't.
And finally, 18R is the hardest. This is left traffic to a spot on the runway with a VERY early descent (starting at the crosswind-to-downwind turn), absolutely no flying north of the control tower so you don't get tangled up with 9/27 traffic, and there really is no final - Ideally your base leg starts at maybe 200 AGL and you start your turn to "final" at 50 AGL, complete the turn, flare and land. This is not how most people fly on a normal day.

That said - IMO you should either prepare and practice flying approaches in the style of all of the above so that you're proficient in ALL of them, or you shouldn't fly into Oshkosh - Go to Fond du Lac, Appleton, Green Bay, Brennand, or any of the other numerous airports in the area that offer ground transportation to Oshkosh. You're flying into the busiest airport in the world, so you'd best be on top of your game.

You should be able to arrive and depart Osh and never say a single word on the radio.

FTFY.

I'm probably the only one here who's landed on 18 from the downwind for 27. It was an interesting audible by the tower and a "You want me to what??.. OK" from me.

That actually used to be one of the published approaches, 2018 was the last year it existed in the NOTAM. That said, I only ever saw it get used for the Ford Trimotors, because they're giving rides and coming in on an unpublished arrival from the north, but they load up near 18/36. It would make the list above maybe not as the hardest, but as the most fraught with peril - You'll be even closer to other traffic that isn't on the same frequency, you had to cross the 9/27 centerline at or above 1500' to avoid tangling with go-arounds from 9/27... It was probably the least safe approach out of them all.

 

[ytodd]

Please, DON'T ASK. Keep yer dang mouth shut like the NOTAM says - If traffic is light enough, Fisk ATC will *ask* you which runway you want. If they don't ask, don't send them further down the tubes by jumping in and asking them to change their plan and clogging their frequency.

Where in the NOTAM does it say to "keep yer dang mouth shut"?? You mean this part on page 7?

At Fisk

Controllers will call your aircraft by color and

type (if known). No verbal responses are

required. If you do not understand the ATC

instructions, or need clarification, request

instructions on frequency.

When you are in the immediate vicinity of Fisk

(less than 2 miles), ATC will issue a runway

assignment, transition to the airport and

appropriate Tower frequency to monitor. Do not

proceed beyond Fisk or change to Tower

frequency without ATC authorization.

I stand by my previous statement (sorry you don't like it). If there is little to no traffic, it is perfectly fine to request another assignment. In fact the 2 times I have done the controllers happily obliged. The controllers did not "ask" me anything. How is it "sending them further down the tubes" or "clogging up their frequency" when there is little to no traffic?

I guess page 8 doesn't tell you to keep yer dang mouth shut" either.... that traffic volume permitting part makes alot of sense to me.

Flights of Aircraft

Some pilots travel together to AirVenture as a

“flight”. Flights approaching Ripon should, traffic

volume permitting, advise Fisk ATC (120.7) of

position, identifying as a “flight of number and

type aircraft”.

 

[172andyou]

I'd also suggest "flying" the approach either on a flight simulator that has good satellite images or Google earth at the appropriate altitude. This helps get a sense of what you will be seeing (e.g. the tracks from Ripon that parallel the road and then don't parallel the road and the parallel it again!)

I understand the urge to overthink this the first time, but it's not necessary. Listen to ATIS. Fly to the announced start point. Follow the conga line through the waypoints. When you get to Fisk, listen for instructions, rock your wings, then turn or not. Switch to tower and land where they tell you. Turn off, show your sign, and follow the guys with flags. Camp and enjoy. Use sunscreen and drink water. Be sure to come back and tell us how easy it was.

Amusingly, I agree with both these comments. Seems like people either massively over prepare or go full Leeroy Jenkins and send it. It's really not that hard to read the notam, understand the procedures that apply to you and then fly it.

Now, that said, running through it in a sim is pretty helpful in terms of getting an idea what the ground references will be. I did this before my first trip and it was one of the pieces of my over preparedness that I would suggest to others. The fact that I had spent time memorizing the entire notam, including the Lake Winnebago balloon arrival, was time I'll never get back.

 

[Lowflynjack]

I'm in the middle of studying them, making notes, drawing out instructions for my knee pad, etc. As smart as I am, I haven't been there before so I do try to learn from others. I may not know what I don't know to ask. That said, 36 L or R being a left hand turn from Fisk Ave looks to be the easiest. But maybe actual experience might trump my never been there guess.

Watch the EAA videos they provide: Click Here. You'll feel like you've been there before when you arrive. I've had to start at Ripon and Green most years and only once had to start at Endeavor when they opened camping late due to rain (Sloshkosh).

My tip, print the NOTAM and highlight important info. For example, Runway Number and Frequency. When you check ATIS on the way in, they'll tell you which two runways they're using. Put those in the front and have them ready to reference. Otherwise, breathe, keep your head on a swivel, and breathe! It's not bad and by year two you'll be a pro.

 

[WDD]

So..... If you hear on the ATTIS that the GAP parking is full, is there still an option to go park in the GAC / Camping section? Surely you don't turn around an go home .

 

[Groundpounder]

Assuming I am sitting at my computer when RV camp sites open up for reservation, how hard is it to get a site with electrics and water? And what does it mean by "Campers must pay from the day they secure the site through the end of the show"? Does that mean I have to pay from the day I make the reservation (I.e. June 27th) thru the end of the show?

 

[tsts4]

So..... If you hear on the ATTIS that the GAP parking is full, is there still an option to go park in the GAC / Camping section? Surely you don't turn around an go home .

Yes, but you need to have a plan B and C just in case. Rain can have a huge impact on the available space due ot field conditons. Ive seen arrivals turned off except for show planes (ie War birds, Experimentals, etc).

Also even if parking/camping is available the arrivals can be shut down and holding in process (seen that happen due to crashes). In t hat case I highly recommend having a divert field in mind and wait it out temp closures on the ground.

 

[tsts4]

Assuming I am sitting at my computer when RV camp sites open up for reservation, how hard is it to get a site with electrics and water? And what does it mean by "Campers must pay from the day they secure the site through the end of the show"? Does that mean I have to pay from the day I make the reservation (I.e. June 27th) thru the end of the show?

The sites opened up 12 days ago for reservations. However, I just looked and there are hook-up sites still available. Yes you pay from the day of the reservation until the end of the show. Unfortunately, if you leave early there's no refund for the hook-up sites unlike the unimproved sites which only have 3-day minimum, and you can get a refund for any un-used days.

 

[Groundpounder]

I just looked and there are hook-up sites available. Yes you pay from the day of the reservation until the end of the show. Unfortunately, if you leave early there's no refund for the hook-up sites unlike the unimproved sites which only have 3-day minimum, and you can get a refund for any un-used days.

OK, so if I want to show up on day 1 of the show, I have to pay from then till the end of the show, right? Not from the day I make the actual reservation?

 

[418KG]

OK, so if I want to show up on day 1 of the show, I have to pay from then till the end of the show, right? Not from the day I make the actual reservation?

If you reserve a site today it will cost you $1805. You have to pay the nightly rate from today through end of show

consequently I have a basic site because I don’t want eaa to be listed in divorce paperwork.

 

[Groundpounder]

If you reserve a site today it will cost you $1805. You have to pay the nightly rate from today through end of show

Jesus H! That is absurd.

 

[418KG]

Jesus H! That is absurd.

I don’t disagree, but they do it because people will reserve sites the first available day, (which is around 3K I believe) just to have an advantageous location.

 

[172andyou]

Jesus H! That is absurd.

Think of it as an way of doing an auction. It maximizes the value of a very scarce resource to the benefit of the nonprofit that depends on this event for most of its funding.

 

[418KG]

Think of it as a way of doing an auction. It maximizes the value of a very scarce resource to the benefit of the nonprofit that depends on this event for most of its funding.

That is probably a better way to view it than mine, but maybe they will soon hit critical mass of improved sites and the supply will be more closely matched to demand. I’m not sure I’ve seen this many sites available this close to start of show, but to be fair, I haven’t paid much attention to it in past years as I was not camping in an rv until now

 

[Groundpounder]

Think of it as an way of doing an auction. It maximizes the value of a very scarce resource to the benefit of the nonprofit that depends on this event for most of its funding.

I think the nonprofit should be in quotes.