Flying to Oshkosh in Your Ideal Aircraft, or Not

Like any long cross country, a flight to Oshkosh can be complicated by weather and timing.

Jonathan Welsh

Monday, July 31, 2023 at 11:36 AM ET

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Like any long cross-country, a flight to Oshkosh can be complicated by weather and timing. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

A pilot recounts their attempt to fly to Oshkosh, where they initially pushed through worsening weather conditions driven by a strong desire to reach the destination and a personal tendency to ignore risk.
Facing rapidly developing thunderstorms, the pilot had a critical realization about their stubbornness, safely diverted, and landed, ultimately scrubbing the mission.
The experience underscores the importance of prioritizing flight safety over the desire to reach a destination and the need for pilots to recognize and overcome personal biases when assessing risk.

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Oshkosh is a dream destination for many pilots, including yours truly, and flying to the big show in one’s own airplane is considered a rite of passage. As with other missions, though, especially long, complicated ones, we have to weigh the importance of getting there against the need to fly safely and smartly.

While nearly all of us have received “the talk” regarding risk mitigation, we do not necessarily apply that wisdom as readily as we should. I was on my way to Oshkosh last week when I came to terms with my tendency to push ahead when the conditions are clearly telling me to end the endeavor.