EAA AirVenture Could Be Compared To A Place Where Birds Flock Together…And The Migration Is About To Begin

Maybe it’s the flying thing that makes pilots act like birds. It seems we like to hang around with other birds just like us, and that’s what happens when airplane clubs form-up to fly to Oshkosh on masse. EAA has announced that the flocks are starting to gather as we get closer to AirVenture kicking off.

Leaders from the Bonanzas to Oshkosh (B2Osh), the Mooney Caravan, Cessnas to Oshkosh (C2Osh), and Cherokees to Oshkosh provided updates on their plans for flying into Wittman Regional Airport the weekend prior to opening day July 20.

Bonanzas to Oshkosh is preparing for its 25th flight in 26 years (the 2010 flight was canceled due to “Sloshkosh”), according to flight coordinator Larry Gaines. As of this week there are 50 aircraft registrations.

“Lower fuel prices will make this year’s Bonanzas to Oshkosh a big one,” Gaines predicts, also noting that there’s increased interest in being a part of the silver anniversary.

Most B2Osh participants will gather at Rockford, IL on Friday, July 17, and attend the hangar party at Emery Air that night. Departure for Oshkosh is at noon Saturday with an arrival of approximately 1 p.m. Visit the B2Osh website for more information.

Cessnas 2 Oshkosh (C2Osh) will again gather at Dodge County Airport, Juneau, WI, for the flight north to Oshkosh, set for noon on July 18. So far, according to Gil Velez, communications database administrator and webmaster for the C2Osh website, 35 planes are registered. As in 2014, Cessna Cardinals are joining up in large numbers and account for nearly half the registrations thus far.

The 18th Mooney Caravan to Oshkosh is scheduled to depart Madison, WI at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, and arrive at Oshkosh at 11 a.m. Organizers are expecting 35-45 planes to participate.

While in Madison, flight participants will practice and brief for the flight, and enjoy their traditional Mexican buffet and roast at Pedro's restaurant. At Oshkosh a Caravan-only pancake breakfast is scheduled for Monday followed by a Mooney owner's forum at 10 a.m. Tuesday evening is the annual barbecue, and Wednesday features an engine operations seminar followed by an expert panel seminar with WINGS credit.

So far close to 30 registrations have been made to participate in the sixth annual Cherokees to Oshkosh mass arrival set for Saturday, July 18 at 11 a.m., departing from Waupaca, WI. That evening flight participants will enjoy dinner together at the Charcoal Pit. This year’s Cherokee Leads are long-time volunteers Doane and Karole Bailey, of Sharpsville, PA.

All four of these groups are currently working to put together an EAA webinar focusing on their history, training requirements, and the benefits of traveling to Oshkosh in a mass arrival.

(Image provided by EAA)

FMI: www.eaa.org