Oshkosh Planning -Advice Please

[Deleted]

Planning in advance regarding a trip to Oshkosh in 2022:- and after seeing the post on the FAB site re cancellation of OSHKOSH this year – I thought I would start the planning now- I therefore wondered if any kind souls would be able to give me an answer to a few of my queries or any other advice re the event:-


1. Do you have to be a member of the EAA to visit OSHKOSH?


2. Is it best to purchase tickets prior to going?.


3. Can you buy tickets daily or get a ticket for several days (Season Ticket)?


4. How many days is recommended to cover most areas- I intend to go for FOUR days.


5. Any good hotels in Appleton?


6. Where is it best to start from on day One.


7. Do shuttle buses run between various aircraft area’s?


8. Is there a shuttle bus to take you over to the Basler area and Biz Jets?


9. Visiting aircraft campsite- is that out of bounds or can you walk around.?


10. Any other advice or info would be appreciated.


It is a first visit for me to this event- in fact it is on my bucket list.


TIA


AM

[northbynorthwest]

Planning in advance regarding a trip to Oshkosh in 2022:- and after seeing the post on the FAB site re cancellation of OSHKOSH this year – I thought I would start the planning now- I therefore wondered if any kind souls would be able to give me an answer to a few of my queries or any other advice re the event:-


1. Do you have to be a member of the EAA to visit OSHKOSH? - No, but you will not get access to the flightline without being a member. You will kick yourself if you don't. You can actually join when you arrive. It starts gets really crowded from day before the convention opens right through the first weekend.


2. Is it best to purchase tickets prior to going?. - You can do that, but best to wait until you finalize dates, as I believe you purchase tickets for particular days.


3. Can you buy tickets daily or get a ticket for several days (Season Ticket)? - Yes and yes. You can join the EAA and purchase tickets at the same time. You get a discount on tickets as a member.


4. How many days is recommended to cover most areas- I intend to go for FOUR days. - It is totally overwhelming. Four days should be plenty. You will be knackered. Take time to get away from the show - like going to the seaplane base - just for a break.


5. Any good hotels in Appleton? - Yes, but they - and all hotels within 50 miles - book up solid well in advance. Rates go sky high too. (There are shuttle buses fro Appleton airport too - maybe one an hour.) There are dormitories available at some of the local colleges - example, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. There are others too. You can camp


6. Where is it best to start from on day One. - Take your time to plan your days to prevent wearing youself out. Remember he visiting aircraft will likely be there for several days, so don't waste energy by hitting all the aircraft parking areas.


7. Do shuttle buses run between various aircraft area’s? - Yes, within the flightline area - so must be a member. Free.


8. Is there a shuttle bus to take you over to the Basler area and Biz Jets? - Yes, they will take you to the light aircraft parking on the north side adjacent to Basler.


9. Visiting aircraft campsite- is that out of bounds or can you walk around.? - No, you can walk around this area at will.


10. Any other advice or info would be appreciated. - Go to the EAA Museum - Wonderful. Go to the Fly-in seaplane base - about 5 miles away on a bay on Lake Winnebago. Yes they
do have shuttle buses going there. Go to watch some of the evening activities - speakers / movies. Great atmosphere. The first Saturday / Sunday are crowded....the last two or three days will see a lot of visiting aircraft departing. The last day or so is not worth it. Summer in Wisconsin can be baking hot - and there is very little shade. On the other hand, you can get very strong thunderstorms whipping through. Lots of places to get food and drink at the show - can be long lines. Keep hydrated. They have lots of bathroom facilities all over. Lot of people fly to Chicago or Minneapolis and rent a car to get there - and car rental rates go up because of the demand. If you do rent a car, you can drive further away from the show to find maybe cheaper or more available accomodation. It is a bit of a trade off. Free parking - but having to find a parking space and dealing with the traffic is a real hassle. If you do drive, Wisconsin speed limits within towns are ridiculously low. The towns make a lot of income from the local police issuing tickets. Look at and study the google maps of the airfield and of the area.

[Deleted]

Fantastic- thanks for a very comprehensive reply gave me quite a bit to think about especially regarding the hotels etc.

AM

[mikep]

super reply from northbynorthwest - the only thing I would 'disagree' with is the observation four days should be plenty.

Go for the week (so much to see & do) - big discounts for members weekly entrance & if going for 4 days it is probably cheaper to buy the weekly pass anyway.

Myself & my son logged nothing but photographed everything - although we still missed hundreds. The first Cessna 172 built being one that still irks me a bit.


Being photographers we went straight to Runway 27 every morning (sun behind you) to photograph the arrivals/departures on that Runway (you can get up close & no large fences to contend with)

During the afternoon Airshow we would pick an area each day to walkaround - so Warbirds one day, Vintage the next etc etc

After the airshow finished, over to mid point on the North-South runways for more action shots.

Can't emphasise enough how changeable the weather can be.

I'd say to some extent what you do & how you do it can be governed by whether you go as a 'spotter' or you go as a 'photographer'

Feel free to PM me if you want to know anything else.

MP

[Deleted]

Thanks Mike- Some more great information- to add to my growing file of info.


Thanks Again


AM

[oshkoshsteve]

First off a quick bio from me. Originally from the Bolton, Lanc's area. Plane spotter since 1974. I have lived in Oshkosh WI since 1992. I volunteer for EAA Flight Line Operations,before, during and after the "Big Show". I live about 1/4 mile from the airport. Regards Steve Owen. Now to answer your questions 


 1. Do you have to be a member of the EAA to visit OSHKOSH?

A/  No you do not have to be a member to attend and have access to ALL the grounds, museum and Flight Line , but there are discounts for being a member on food, merchandise and tickets.. $40 well spent/





2. Is it best to purchase tickets prior to going?.

A/ Yes. You can buy online and get a discount also. Saves time when you enter the show grounds. EAA web site is a mine of info. www.eaa.org/airventure


3. Can you buy tickets daily or get a ticket for several days (Season Ticket)?

A/ Daily or weekly tickets are available, You get a break only the weekly tickets.
Members get a discount also.




4. How many days is recommended to cover most areas- I intend to go for FOUR days.

A/ YOU CAN NEVER cover it all. Impossible with 3 active runways. I would plan for  as many days as possibly can. People and planes start to arrive days prior to the “official” opening of the show. Mass arrives 120+ Bonanza’s etc happen the weekend prior to the opening on Monday. Access is allowed for free prior to the show. 


5. Any good hotels in Appleton?

A/ Appleton is 20 minutes North but as mentioned Hotels etc are fully booked (and very expensive) years ahead. The University Dorms are cheaper, but most are not air conditioned and temp's hit 30C+ with high humidity. Best bet is private housing in Oshkosh. My wife and I, do rent out rooms B&B for $80 per night.
Private room shared bathrooms.. Example the Hilton is normally $99 per night  EAA AirVenture time $699 per night-and a waiting list. Even the cheap motels triple or more their prices.




6. Where is it best to start from on day One.

A/  Anywhere, remember the flight-show line alone is over 2 mile long and ¼ deep or more deep. Not counting the aircraft camp grounds. We are talking over  10,000 plus aircraft for the week.
Planes come and go, everyday. I used to pick an area each day and stay there all day. Ie Monday Vintage  Tuesday Homebuilt etc 




7. Do shuttle buses run between various aircraft area’s?

A/ Yes there are free tram services to the major areas of the grounds.
To the sea plane base etc Again the web site has these mapped out for you.




8. Is there a shuttle bus to take you over to the Basler area and Biz Jets?

A/ Yes a yellow school bus runs around the perimeter road. All areas except the Weeks Hangar VIP area are open to wander around. The buses get very busy at peak times and full.





9. Visiting aircraft campsite- is that out of bounds or can you walk around.?

A/ Its a FREE country. YES  you can visit, and wander the  the aircraft camp grounds.
Both General aviation, home built vintage etc etc 




10. Any other advice or info would be appreciated.

A/ Good broken in comfortable walking-hiking boots. It s not uncommon to do 5-6 miles or more per day in the heat. Lots of sunscreen. Refillable water bottles. Water stands are available for free top ups.

Any advice feel free to contact me either public or private.. I have help many a British visitor over the years. many have become good friends. 

Regards Steve Owen Oshkosh WI USA   ex-Bolton Lancashire  "eh up Lad"    




It is a first visit for me to this event- in fact it is on my bucket list.

[gerrymanning]

Hello
All that Oshkosh Steve has written is spot on. However one small point is that the University opened a few years ago "Horizon Suites" these are very smart and have air-con. However each suite has two bedrooms with two beds in each and two bathrooms as well as a communal area. If you are going with friends this is ideal but on your own a bit expensive.

Have you thought about going with one of the UK-based aviation tour companies? There are several and most will always do Oshkosh. The big advantage to this is you meet the group at LHR and there is a Tour Manager who stays with the group all the way. Upon arrival in the USA (usually Chicago) a coach will take the group to the University Halls were rooms have been booked. Many of the people on these tours go every year and will point you in the right direction of places to go and what to see acording to your choice. The aircraft are parked in different sections such as warbirds, homebuilds, vintage, classics etc so if you have no interest in one type you can miss that area altogether.

You will NOT see everything it is far too big but once visited you will want to go again.

If you are going on your own, fly to Chicago, rent a car drive to Oshkosh and stay in Steve's B&B, $80/night is great value for Oshkosh and he says it is 1/4 mile from the airport so you can walk in and out each day.

You will love it and wonder why you did not visit years ago.

[Deleted]

Steve- Excellent- thankyou for the information which I have now put with all the other excellent information I have received. It is very much appreciated.


Gerry likewise- thankyou for getting back to me- regarding Oshkosh- it has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember- so I have decided to bite the bullet and go in 2022- whilst I am still able too.


I was going to go with the better half- but she has given me the option- which she would prefer of me going on an organised trip with as she says "likeminded people". So as soon as the 2022 itinery comes out with some of the firms i.e Aeroprints etc, I will be booking. Also she see's it as an opportunity to go somewhere in the sun with some of her friends, for a girlies week away- so its a win-win for both of us.


It may be hard work for a full week, but at least I can tick it off and say "I did it"


Thanks again lads for the info


Take care and most of all stay safe.


AM

[oshkoshsteve]

Hi AM When you get to Oshkosh in 2022 drop me a line I should be able, operations allowing, to meet in person.. Regards Steve Owen

[Deleted]

Will do, and thankyou again for the excellent information.

Stay safe

AM