Getting to Oshkosh from the UK

[wallyinoz]

I am in Australia, but we spend 3 months JUL - OCT in the UK. I want to go to Oshkosh next year which is at the end of July. I suspect it may be cheaper and more satisfactory to do an Oshkosh diversion from the UK than to change our usual travel plans to accommodate the airshow.

Can any of you good people provide any advice of package deals etc that depart UK for Oshkosh?

cheers

wal

[Paul Bradley]

Wal, you should look at Ian Allan Travel tours - they always do one to Oshkosh. www.ianallantravel.com/aviationtours/

[wallyinoz]

Thanks Paul, sounds like a plan!

[Graham77]

I did the trip many years ago and we flew into Chicago and rented a big SUV to take the 7 of us upto the airshow and stayed in some college style campus accommodation nearby ( although this was organised by our American colleagues). It was fairly pain free from what I recall but may well be harder now. I hear that accommodation nearby is the big issue as opposed to travel so the package route may be the simpler/best way to go.

Very good airshow though so definitely worth the trip

Enjoy

Graham

[HOUSTON]

Wal, you should look at Ian Allan Travel tours - they always do one to Oshkosh. www.ianallantravel.com/aviationtours/

thats good to know.thank you for the linky.

[wallyinoz]

Hi Paul and all

I have done it! Booked to Oshkosh 2015 through Ian Allen tours.. anyone else going?

wal

[Procopius]

I live a few hours south of Oshkosh and will likely be going next year.

[Navy Bird]

I'll be going too, just as soon as Procopius invites me to ride along in the back of his R.V.

Cheers,

Bill

[wallyinoz]

I live a few hours south of Oshkosh and will likely be going next year.

maybe us 2 wannabe brits can get together cheers

wal

[The Cameraman]

Hi Guys n Gals,

it's an amazing show. When I visited in 2012 I worked flight line ops each day and did the first, two hour shift every morning. So each day began with doughnuts being delivered by Air Traffic, then a short briefing, before we took our vehicles to the aircraft parking zones. My main role was directing aircraft upon them clearing the runway. This gave me an true sense of getting involved and putting something back into aviation.

My days then continued by signing off shift and taking my camera, to wherever I wanted, before taking a short bus ride ($3) over to the Oshkosh Seaplane base. There I had lunch, took some shots and returned to the show. The afternoons went by in what felt like minutes, before the evening parties started!

My best tips would be;

-use factor 50 sun lotion,

-take a lightweight waterproof cape, just in case the weather turns (it can do so in minutes),

-drink loads of fluids (there are free water fountains across the show),

-always wear a hat and get one with plenty of rear coverage, as photographers can get serious neck burn,

-there are free trams (tractors towing trailers of seats) running throughout the day. You may think they're a gimmick but use 'em to save your legs, as it's 3 miles from end to end,

-don't try to do all the show, there's just too much for even a full week (I never even managed to get to the museum, so I'll save that for my next visit),

-they usually operate Bell 47 pleasure flights over the show, so please take it as you'll really get a sense of scale to the event,

-check what days the mass arrivals are taking place, they're an amazing sight,

-the field is split into different zones, e.g warbirds, rotary, LSA's, vintage etc, so go to those that you prefer,

-don't miss the night time air-show with fireworks, it's amazing,

-take spare camera batteries and rechargers,

-sign on at the international visitors tent,

-start saving when you get home as you will return!!!!

we had about 11,000 aircraft during my stay!!!!

By the way,when I arrived at the amphibian zone (at the show, not at the Seaplane base), I was given a cold beer by the crew of a beautiful Grumman Goose. So I chatted with them a while, and went to photograph the next Goose - who's crew gave me a freezing cold whiskey cocktail. So I chatted with them for a while and went on to shot the next Goose, who's crew gave me another awesome cocktail! So I chatted with them for a while and walked away, before taking a snooze under the shade given by the wing of a Beaver! Hic - you have been warned.

Have a great time.

Regards

Reggie

Edited December 2, 2014 by The Cameraman

[HOUSTON]

Reggie,

Oh wow!

Great tips for the new traveler to OSHKOSH ... One of these days I am gonna treat MYSELF when I go back to visit family...

[Procopius]

I'll be going too, just as soon as Procopius invites me to ride along in the back of his R.V.

Cheers,

Bill

If I had an RV...

One thing I did learn was that it's generally cheaper to get a hotel further north of Oshkosh; my wife and I stayed at a place about an hour past it for much cheaper than anywhere south of the town, or indeed in it.

[JasonC]

I went with my father over 25 years ago. We drove down from where we were staying with relatives in Toronto. Set up our little two man tent in the midst of rank upon rank of hulking RVs. By way of identification, we had a little white ensign on top of the tent just to let the locals know that we weren't impoverished, merely English.

Hope you have a good time.

J.