AirVenture itself is officially two days away, but that doesn’t mean that Wittman Field isn’t humming and full of people and airplanes. It is set-up day for vendors and those getting ready to show airplanes, teach construction, and expose non-flyers to the many and varied facets of aviation. Airventure isn’t just a “Big Tent” – it is a large number of Big Tents… and they all have to be set up.
My Oshkosh starts with a day of no assignments, no pressure, and no responsibility. As I always say, the Friday before the show is my one day to just hang out and be a pilot with everyone else. We got up with the sun and enjoyed morning coffee at the Homebuilt Camping Pavilion where have a tent pitched for a couple of nights before moving to our rental house. Honestly – the two nights in the tent give us some REAL AirVenture experience before having to admit that air conditioning and a nice shower at the end of the day helps the writing process.
Part of the early arrival process is finding food. Last night we walked the mile around the end of runway 27 to get to a favorite Wisconsin haunt, Friar Tucks. Their bacon cheeseburger is almost too big for a single sitting – but after putting that away as the only real meal of the day, we got ready to walk the mile back to the tent… and as usual, got picked up by a golf cart headed our direction. It saves on shoe leather.
Today was a day of wandering and watching airplane arrivals. Honestly, the number of homebuilts was less than expected – but we hear that the Vintage area was filling up fast. Lots of room here in HBC and HBP, so mount up and fly in – the weather is great!
This is also a great day to take pictures of things without people in front of them – the Brown Arch, Oshkosh Tower… icons of the experience.
The hunt for food ended at the A&W by the tower – just about the only place open onsite (at the north end) this early. Once you’re tried their cheese curds, you’re hooked – “Wisconsin Crack” is what I call them, and feel (slightly) bad when I spring them on an unsuspecting newbie. It’s easy to develop a three-pack-a-day habit.
Oh – before we go join in with the homebuilt volunteer cookout, here’s a tip on something new – rental coolers are available in homebuilt camping for a reasonable fee – so if you fly in and want to stock up on food and beverages that need to be kept cool, get here early – they’ve got forty of them, and when their out, they’re out!
