ScottSchmidt
Well Known Member
OSH 2018
This was a crazy year for getting in and the only blame goes to Mother Nature. We still had an awesome show and this should not deter anyone from coming. If your worried, come on Thursday or Friday and it will typically be non-event.
Sure the controllers could have done better and kept the stream of planes coming to the runway and increased their landing rate by 5-10% but it would not have made a difference I don't think. (It would be interesting to see the real landing and holding data) When the airport is only open a few hours on Saturday and Sunday due to weather and 10,000+ planes are trying to make it in.....this is the result.
Here are some observations I made that surprised me.
- I landed on Saturday around 6pm and was shocked to see how many planes were already in the North 40 and how few RV's there were. The GA planes know this place fills fast and we should expect Friday and Saturday to start getting busier every year. I would not be surprised if GA was filled by Friday in the next 10 years. Camping at Scholler is getting busier every year too. We continue to move out a row or two even though our spots are roped off 12-13 days before the show starts. I am surprised at how many people love Oshkosh on the RV (motorhome type) forums and have nothing to do with aviation other than they like a fun party.
-I am not going to bash any controllers because everyone did their best. When I landed they were asking for 1 mile spacing which is almost impossible in itself. I was listening on the radio on Sunday because we were watching two more friends land and they said 2 miles (what.......). I am sure that was there way of saying, "make it at least make it 1/2 mile guys".
Ripon to Fisk is 10nm. 1 mile spacing is 10 planes between the two points, 2 mile spacing is 5 planes. I had someone send a screen shot of my approach on Saturday and counted around 24 planes between Ripon and Fisk, Sunday was worse. Typically is works great.
-Yes, there was lots of piloting that was less desirable out there. Lots of skill gaps, disorientation of where to go with planes everywhere and fatigue. I have flown Ripon/Fisk 20-30 times and I understand how crazy it could be if it was your first time with 50 of your closest friends around you. For your first or second time make sure you don't fly in on Sunday. I have never flown in on Sunday and never plan on it.
We had another awesome year at Oshkosh and nobody wanted to go home.
I will say this..there are some very creative people out there and I can't wait to see someone next year with their "2018 Arrival Procedure" t-shirt that says, "turn left, turn left, turn left, turn left, turn left, turn left...Rock your wings and welcome to Oshkosh"
The arrival just made those words "turn right" sound like you won the lottery!
This was a crazy year for getting in and the only blame goes to Mother Nature. We still had an awesome show and this should not deter anyone from coming. If your worried, come on Thursday or Friday and it will typically be non-event.
Sure the controllers could have done better and kept the stream of planes coming to the runway and increased their landing rate by 5-10% but it would not have made a difference I don't think. (It would be interesting to see the real landing and holding data) When the airport is only open a few hours on Saturday and Sunday due to weather and 10,000+ planes are trying to make it in.....this is the result.
Here are some observations I made that surprised me.
- I landed on Saturday around 6pm and was shocked to see how many planes were already in the North 40 and how few RV's there were. The GA planes know this place fills fast and we should expect Friday and Saturday to start getting busier every year. I would not be surprised if GA was filled by Friday in the next 10 years. Camping at Scholler is getting busier every year too. We continue to move out a row or two even though our spots are roped off 12-13 days before the show starts. I am surprised at how many people love Oshkosh on the RV (motorhome type) forums and have nothing to do with aviation other than they like a fun party.
-I am not going to bash any controllers because everyone did their best. When I landed they were asking for 1 mile spacing which is almost impossible in itself. I was listening on the radio on Sunday because we were watching two more friends land and they said 2 miles (what.......). I am sure that was there way of saying, "make it at least make it 1/2 mile guys".
Ripon to Fisk is 10nm. 1 mile spacing is 10 planes between the two points, 2 mile spacing is 5 planes. I had someone send a screen shot of my approach on Saturday and counted around 24 planes between Ripon and Fisk, Sunday was worse. Typically is works great.
-Yes, there was lots of piloting that was less desirable out there. Lots of skill gaps, disorientation of where to go with planes everywhere and fatigue. I have flown Ripon/Fisk 20-30 times and I understand how crazy it could be if it was your first time with 50 of your closest friends around you. For your first or second time make sure you don't fly in on Sunday. I have never flown in on Sunday and never plan on it.
We had another awesome year at Oshkosh and nobody wanted to go home.
I will say this..there are some very creative people out there and I can't wait to see someone next year with their "2018 Arrival Procedure" t-shirt that says, "turn left, turn left, turn left, turn left, turn left, turn left...Rock your wings and welcome to Oshkosh"
The arrival just made those words "turn right" sound like you won the lottery!