Countdown to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Begins

In 97 days, give or take, the population of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, will increase dramatically as aviation enthusiasts make their way to Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) for the 73rd EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

The event, which runs from July 20-26, attracts thousands from all over the world. Some drive in, some fly in. If you have never been there before, let’s help you prepare for the grand experience with these seven tips:

1. Planning the Flight

If you’re going to fly in your own airplane and have not done so before, arrange to fly with an AirVenture-experienced copilot. Reach out on pilot forums, type clubs, and other social media to find someone who has made the journey before and understands the importance of briefing and understanding a multipage NOTAM, which is usually released 30-45 days before you need it.

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Plan to arrive at least a day (or two) before the show starts, especially if you plan to camp on-site. This means anticipating weather along the route that could cause you to divert to another airport or delay a day of flying.

Call the FBOs on your itinerary and ask if they offer a discount for those en route to AirVenture. Many do.

2. Secure Lodging in Advance

Drive-in camping is permitted at Camp Scholler. You can car camp, RV camp, and tent camp there. Reserve your spot at EAA.org.

If you fly in, you can plan to sleep beneath or next to your aircraft. Advance show tickets, camping packages, and space bookings are already on sale at EAA.org. 

If you are a nonmember, there are special camping packages for the week only available online.

Pro tip: Bring an extra tarp for your tent just in case it rains.

If you’re not quite ready to camp, several colleges and universities in the area have space for rent.

Some of the residence halls are equipped with elevators and some have air conditioning. The rooms come with single beds, usually two to a room. The washrooms are down the hall. Bed linens are provided. Some have a dining hall with breakfast service.

While not glamorous accommodations many people enjoy the nostalgia of staying in a room that takes them back to college or their military tech school experience. There is usually bus service to get you from the dormitories to the show grounds.

Hotels and Airbnbs are also options, but they are filling up fast.

3. Personal Equipment You Will Need

It is Wisconsin. It will be July. It will be hot. Your basic equipment should include: water bottle (there are water fountains on the grounds to refill from), hat with a brim, sunglasses, sunscreen, and good walking shoes.

Carry a plastic rain poncho or at least a giant trash bag in your gear bag. They protect your gear from rain and can be used as a ground cloth, giving you something to sit on during the airshow. It’s also a good idea to carry hand sanitizer and a roll of toilet paper in the event the restrooms and portable toilets and restrooms run out.

Have a backpack or traveler’s bag to carry your items in and be prepared for it to be searched when you arrive on-site. Please note: weapons and alcohol are prohibited.

Cell service can be spotty at the show, so don’t count on being able to reach someone by phone. Consider equipping everyone in your party with an AirTag so you can track them like a sea turtle.

Make a plan to meet at a specific place on the grounds at the end of the day—the Brown Arch is a favorite spot— so no one gets left behind.

Pro tip: If you are driving into the show, drop an AirTag in your car, especially if it is a rental because they all look alike at the end of the day when you are tired.

4. Visiting the Exhibits

Before you arrive on-site, make a list of exhibits or aircraft you want to see and people you would like to talk to—for example, representatives from a school or aviation company. If able, make appointments for early in the morning when the grounds are less crowded.

If you are offered a chance to sit down in an air-conditioned tent and offered a bottle of water, accept both. Conserving energy is key.

The welcome packet you get when you walk in the gate will have a map of the grounds and information about the trams that travel the area. Use them when possible.

You will find the exhibit hangars are usually crowded and hot by midafternoon, so visit them earlier in the day when both temperature and crowd size are more tolerable.

5. Flight Line Behavior

Visit the ultralight and warbird areas early in the morning. Take the tram tour for best results. If you are self-touring, keep in mind both are active areas, and there may be aircraft flying, so keep your head on a swivel to avoid walking in front of a moving aircraft.

Beware of prop wash, and obey the instructions of the volunteers who are there to marshal aircraft and assist pedestrians with crossing taxiways.

Do not touch the airplanes—especially not the propellers. For the unfamiliar, this is like picking up someone else’s baby without permission—just don’t do it.

On days when the warbirds perform the warbird area becomes busy, so work around the launch and recovery times.

Pro tip: If you plan to buy a warbird Hawaiian shirt (also known as Oshkosh formal) and require a larger size, do it early in the week. By the third day of the show most of the larger sizes are gone.

6. Lost and Found

Locate the Lost and Found before you need it. The volunteers that support this place are committed to helping visitors. Help them do their job by putting your name and cellphone number on your belongings. They can call you and help you get the item back.

A few years ago volunteers took to social media to help a little boy get a stuffed animal back.

7. Arrange for Items to Be Shipped Home

It is easy to come home from AirVenture with a lot more stuff than you arrived with. A radio here, a gear bag there, toys for the grandkids—it adds up.

Don’t try to fly it all home. You can easily overload your aircraft and luggage quickly. Use the shipping services on-site instead.