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Airventure 2014 - thinking about it already!

California Flyer

California Flyer

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Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
7,336
Location
Groveland, California
It's only January, but I'm already making plans to get to Airventure again this year. After last year's nice trip, I was planning on settling in to an "every other year" routine, but a couple of events have forced me to rethink that plan.

As many of you know, I live on an Air Park, a very active aviation community with a lot of retired commercial pilots and mechanics. As you walk along the taxiway, many hangars have home-built "project" planes in various states of completion, plus scores of other singles, twins, and even jets just waiting to fly somewhere.

When I went to Oshkosh last year, I ran into several of my neighbors, and this year will be no different. One neighbor is completing his plans-built Marquart in time to fly it there and enter it in the competition. Another neighbor has even grander plans- his company has designed an aircraft called the Ion and has now produced three of them. Last year he exhibited one, but this year he plans on bringing all three of them to the event. This is where I come in, indirectly...

The neighbor has asked my friend Dan (the one who flew with me last year to Oshkosh) to be in one of the planes as a co-pilot. Dan's up for it, but the question of "how to get to Minnesota?" came up- the planes are being developed at an airport north of Minneapolis, MN. Well, I'm always up for an adventure
> The current plan is for Dan and I to fly from California to Minnesota, then I'd drop my plane at their airport for the week and drive the company's van down to Airventure, since they need to ferry it there anyway. I've already done the scary "Oskhosh Arrival" and really don't want to fly that crazy, crowded approach without another pilot with me in the plane. We almost hit other aircraft twice during our arrival and once on departure due to errors by ATC and other pilots not seeing us. We'll stay for a few days, then make our way back up to MN to pick up the plane and head home, likely by way of the southwest desert for a change of scenery.__Plans are evolving of course, but that's the current thinking.__So who else is headed to Wisconsin
 
I timed my arrival at OSH last year for early morning and was the only plane in sight. Literally no one in front or behind me!
 
I wish that was the case! We arrived on Sunday afternoon (had to wait out some IFR conditions) and arrived in the thick of it all. There must have been 20 planes in the pattern! We were told to do a short approach (start our base turn early), which I did, only to see another plane on short final coming straight at us. We ended up doing a 360 over the field to get out of the way and back into the line of planes on downwind. Before that, we were cut off at the Ripon starting point by a flight of Bonanzas. Departing, we were directed to move out onto the runway to get set for takeoff when I noticed another plane that was landing on our runway- ATC saw it next and yelled "STOP STOP STOP!!!" which we had thankfully already done.

So yeah, I've had my fill of exciting landings there
>
 
I'm flyin' in !!! It is way too exciting to pass up...never had a problem with the traffic or the pattern...but I usually time my arrival for just after the afternoon airshow and try to get there with just enough time to set up camp before dark.
 
The way the timing is looking, I would be doing a Sunday afternoon arrival, the same "witching hour" that we had last year. If I found someone else to "ride shotgun" to look out for traffic, I'd feel a bit better about the arrival, but on the other hand, the plan we're cooking up makes sense on a couple of other levels. Another part of the puzzle is that we're staying in a rented house rather than camping or staying in the dorms. Having a car will help in this regard.

I've got several months to flesh things out, but at least I know I'll see some 172 Club member faces when I get there!
 
I'm torn over going, on one hand, it's an experience of a lifetime and I went in 2013, on the other, I would like to find a co-pilot that is willing to purchase the fuel round trip.

The way I look at it is that I paid for the plane, hangar, insurance, maintenance and what not all year, the riding party or person should be willing to purchase the fuel.

The other thing is shaking it up a bit by going to a destination other than the same place every year, I would like to get to Idaho, Montana and Colorado.

If I went to airventure 2014 it would be with the Cessna's to Oshkosh mass arrival, great way to arrive traffic free, trouble free and well equipped.

Sorting it out ??
 
It is tempting to plan a trip up there but with a new grandchild on the scene there is one particular destination that continues to draw us. Someday, someday.
 
Rusty, your thought of wanting to go to Idaho, Montana or Colorado can be worked into an Oshkosh trip! Just head to Wisconsin, stay only a couple of nights, then continue your trip. That's what we're doing. We're coming at it from the other direction, of course, but intend to work in a couple of stops along our journey because we're in the "general vicinity". We're way in the early stages on planning this part, but have kicked around the idea of coming back via Monument Valley/Four Corners to see the Southwest scenery, plus we will try to carve a path through Wyoming that doesn't involve the boring I-80 corridor. For you, you could stay at OSH for a couple of nights, then cross the plains (easy) and head for Montana and then Idaho, or head further south to reach Colorado. Both of those destinations are a day's journey in a 172.
 
California Flyer" said:
Rusty, your thought of wanting to go to Idaho, Montana or Colorado can be worked into an Oshkosh trip! Just head to Wisconsin, stay only a couple of nights, then continue your trip. That's what we're doing. We're coming at it from the other direction, of course, but intend to work in a couple of stops along our journey because we're in the "general vicinity". We're way in the early stages on planning this part, but have kicked around the idea of coming back via Monument Valley/Four Corners to see the Southwest scenery, plus we will try to carve a path through Wyoming that doesn't involve the boring I-80 corridor. For you, you could stay at OSH for a couple of nights, then cross the plains (easy) and head for Montana and then Idaho, or head further south to reach Colorado. Both of those destinations are a day's journey in a 172.
Click to expand...


Good idea ! Arrive with C20 stay a couple 2 to 3 days, then head west further.
 
California Flyer" said:
I wish that was the case! We arrived on Sunday afternoon (had to wait out some IFR conditions) and arrived in the thick of it all. There must have been 20 planes in the pattern! We were told to do a short approach (start our base turn early), which I did, only to see another plane on short final coming straight at us. We ended up doing a 360 over the field to get out of the way and back into the line of planes on downwind. Before that, we were cut off at the Ripon starting point by a flight of Bonanzas. Departing, we were directed to move out onto the runway to get set for takeoff when I noticed another plane that was landing on our runway- ATC saw it next and yelled "STOP STOP STOP!!!" which we had thankfully already done.

So yeah, I've had my fill of exciting landings there
quote]__Hey CF, you hit a mighty fine landing...I saw it!
Click to expand...
 
I went through all of my AV videos but as it turns out I did not get your landing captured as I had hoped. Oh well, you will all just have to take my word for it!!!
>
 
Hey, I was there, and was pretty elated that we made it on the ground safely after all the near-misses!
 
I stopped at East Troy, MI on Monday afternoon. Actually still had time to make it to OSH but would have arrived just before they closed the rwys and been pitching camp in the dark. East Troy was a great little field, self-serve mogas and a comfy sofa in the pilot lounge which was unlocked. If I go again this year, which is doubtful, I'll probably do the same.
 
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