Over the last couple weeks I have read a couple posts abour the upcoming Oshkosh and I have a couple things to say regarding "the greatest show on earth"
1) If you can go - GO! especially any of you KR guys - dont be frightened by the size and how busy it is. Get aquainted with the Notam and procedures and you will have not problem. If you wish to be comforted - maybe we will join up at Mark Jone's place and go as a group. That is always cool! It is a great experience that you wont forget. 2) There were rumblings on the internet about how unfair it was that Oshkosh was providing special parking for Cessna and wont for the KR guys. Here are a couple suggestions and pointers. Dont be hard on these EAA guys - most are volunteers and the few paid people that are responsible have a lot of issues to juggle to make this thing work. Parking for special groups is not a major concern, saftely and organization is. For those who dont like the fact that special parking for KRs isnt provided, may I inform you that last year I was given very special parking on behalf of EAA without asking for it. Tey heard about my plane and called me and tole me to inform them when I landed to request HQ when taxing in. I was parked right in front of the Homebuilt Headquarters and they had signs made up with my name and stats of the plane ready for display. It was so cool to get royal treatment on my first fly-in to Oshkosh that I wont ever forget. They worked hard to make that a possibility. They majority of spots in the Homebuilt section is "first come/first served" but there are some planes that are actually parked in other sections to give the public a variety of planes to look at in the Homebuilt section. For example: you know that if "first come/firstserved" was strictly held to that the entire Homebuilt section would probably be filled up with RV's I believe there were several hundred there last year...but only a few were in the Homebuilt section. The EAA staff purposely parks most farther away in another field due to the glut of RV's. This hold true to most commercial planes as well. The fact that only a few KRs come in allow us to park in the homebuilt area, and if we all fly it together chances are we can be parked as a group. I think EAA tries their best with the available slots and all the demands on them to make this the best show they can for the public. 3) I have been to Oshkosh many times but this (Lord willing) will be the second with N41768. Being there with your own plane is unlike any other experience. The people you meet are great and the whole atmosphere is electric. Make sure to take the time to visit and smell the roses a little. There is a lot to see. Yes, it is very commercialized but there is still plenty of the original EAA motto around "Learn, Build, and FLY". Some people have said they wont go because so much of that aspect of EAA is gone out of Oshkosh but it isnt their fault if "WE" dont show up. Look at the videos of Oshkosh in the 70 and 80s. It was filled with lots of guys (and gals) like us - we are still around - we just need to show up and let the public know that we are still out there. Just food for thought...... See you there! Bill and N41768
