Part Four: Airport Alternatives
by ANN Correspondent Larry Stencel
As you plan for your flight to Oshkosh, if you've decided to use
one of the smaller surrounding Wisconsin airports as your interim
destination or full-time base of operations, you are in for a real
treat. There are several to choose from and each has its own
'flavor.'
Because these airports are much easier to get in and out of --
you know, no sweaty palms -- and have numerous other advantages,
growing numbers of Oshkosh bound flyers are using them. The folks
running them have discovered that catering to AirVenture bound
pilots is good for their airport and local economy so they work
hard at making it “fun” for the arriving transient
pilots, as well. Some are also offering cheaper fuel to Oshkosh
bound pilots. These airports are “grass roots,”
personified.
In some cases, groups of airplanes meet up at these local
airfields and then depart together for Oshkosh. In others,
Oshkosh-bound flyers are heading directly to them for use as their
full-time base of operations. In advance of AirVenture, some
airports are providing cookouts and get-togethers or serving as
outlying air show practice fields. Having covered the larger
Oshkosh alternative airports, it‘s time to talk about a few
of these close in smaller alternate fields. Let's start with this
writer's home airport; it's indicative of the many others a flyer
could choose from.
Any pilot would have to love an airport in a small Wisconsin
town of just over 2,000 residents which has a major gas station
with an Ercoupe perched on the roof. Likewise, they'd have to love
a rescued airport dog named Spinner, who might be found in a
bicycle 'caboose' being pulled by the airport manager down main
street. The Wautoma airport (Y50), is located
about 35 miles due west of Oshkosh on highway 21 and south of town.
Home to EAA Chapter 1331, Wautoma is a super friendly airport that
works hard making the Oshkosh bound traveler feel as if they are
"home." Many folks return year after year for this very reason.
Have you ever wondered where the EAA finds a quiet grassy place
for their magazine feature airplane photo shoots with a cornfield
in the background and without hoards of people milling about? Well,
wonder no more. During AirVenture, the EAA often uses the Wautoma
airport's cornfield land, next to grass runway 08-26, as an idyllic
setting for these photos. Wautoma's runway and taxiway were just
repaved, a new 24/7 credit card operated fuel system was installed
and -- two years ago -- the taxiways around the hangars were
re-done and an AWOS was installed.
On Friday, August 1, the Y50 EAA Chapter is having a pig roast
and is serving breakfast on Saturday and Sunday at their hangar. In
years past, some of the StarDuster crowd and Pulsar crowd used
Wautoma as their base. Last year, one of the airplanes vying for
the 'Best of the Best' judging was trailered in and re-assembled
here. If you choose to use Y50 as your alternate, expect to park on
the grass. Camping is allowed; showers are available. Wautoma is
located just NW of Ripon so it's a good airport to wait out the air
show periods at Oshkosh IF you happen to arrive when Oshkosh is
closed.
Moving all the way east of Fond Du Lac, the Sheboygan
County airport (SBM), is located about 55 miles away from
OSH. Although that's a bit far for daily travel, Sheboygan is
located on Lake Michigan and is a great place to combine with
vacation time, especially if you have family with you who may want
to do something else. Home of EAA Chapter 766 (they built the
Voyager cockpit mockup in the EAA Museum), take a look at their
home in the Sheboygan County Aviation Heritage Center; this amazing
building is what an active EAA Chapter can accomplish. This year,
between 15-20 T-28s are expected to assemble there and hold daily
formation flying practice July 23 through 28. Camping is allowed
next to your airplane on grassy areas and a great airport
restaurant is located on the field. Transportation to OSH can be
arranged through one of the two FBO's located on the field. Greek
and Hmong Festivals will be held nearby on July 26 and 27.
The Brennand airport (79C), is located in
Neenah about 10 miles north of OSH and is the closest local public
airport to Oshkosh. Brennand was "rescued" from closure when its
original owner, Bill Brennand, sold it to Ted Vander Wielen about
10 years ago; a story that AOPA Prez Phil Boyer would love.
Brennand is celebrating 'Old Time Airport Days' on July 26 from
10AM and on. Brennand is notable in that they're offering
constantly rotating transportation to AirVenture all week for $10.
It would be possible to fly into Brennand early, spend the day at
Oshkosh and get back and out fairly quickly. Ted advises that
camping is allowed on his airport. Watch out for all the OSH
traffic because of it's close proximity.
Wausau Downtown Airport (AUW), is hosting the
National Ercoupe Convention from July 23 through 26 with a mass
gaggle flight to Oshkosh arriving around noon on Sunday, July 27.
They're expecting about 40 Ercoupes to participate in this get
together with 30 flying out to Oshkosh on Sunday. 2008 is the 'Year
of the Ercoupe' in the Vintage display area at Oshkosh.
The New Holstein Airport (8D1), on the east side of
Lake Winnebago about 40 road miles from Oshkosh, is once again
hosting the Super Cub Fly-In during the week of AirVenture. They
are expecting about 60 airplanes this year; registration is
required for the event but it is not limited to Cubs only. See: http://www.supercub.org/newholstein/
.
Want to make your trip to Oshkosh painless and get some of your
bi-annual out of the way as you learn more about your Piper or
Cessna? Try the 2008 "Gateway to Oshkosh" (GTO) Convention at
Steven's Point Airport (STE) NW of Oshkosh. This
is a five day trip starting on Saturday, July 26th at STE and
includes three days of complimentary bus travel to AirVenture from
Stevens Point, Monday through Wednesday. A pig roast will be held
on Saturday evening and a fly-out to the Central County airport in
Iola, WI is planned for Sunday prior to three days at OSH. See: http://gto.aircraftownersgroup.com/
If, by now, you're getting the idea that many of the airports
surrounding Oshkosh are having their own fun activities and are
worth looking into as alternates for AirVenture, you'd be right.
Give one a try. Bring a tent and tie downs and join the fun. You
won't be sorry.
No matter how you travel to Oshkosh, your ultimate destination
is AirVenture. In the last article of this series, we'll cover some
survival preparations and hints and kinks for enjoying the air
show.
See you at Oshkosh!