Piper Cub Gathering 20 Miles East Of KOSH

By Maria Morrison

For the past 14 years, New Holstein airport has been hosting a Piper Cub fly-in that happens to coincide with AirVenture. On Monday, the first day of the New Holstein fly-in, I visited the airport, featuring 31 taildraggers, 35 tents, and eight people.

Located 20 miles east of Oshkosh airport, New Holstein has one paved and one grass runway. Their annual fly-in is led by Steve Johnson, a Kansas City resident who owns and runs the website supercub.org. All tailwheel aircraft are welcome to fly in and park in the grass, but the attendees are predominantly SuperCubs. Most people fly in and pitch a tent or two, although hotels are also available nearby.

On Monday, about 40 pilots took a bus to AirVenture while a few people stayed back and enjoyed the opportunity to practice for Wednesday's spot landing contest. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, there are 'fly-outs', where all the cubs go invade some other airport in the area for lunch. Fly-outs are scheduled to Sugar Ridge, Saxon Homestead Farm, and Washington Island. Wednesday evening, Johnson hosts a pig roast open to the public that normally brings in 200-300 people.

Aircraft at New Holstein include Cessnas, Huskies, a Waco, a Maule, and a Bellanca. Cubs have many different features, including flaps-vs-no flaps, pressure cowlings-vs-exposed cylinders, bush tires, belly pods, and various paint schemes. One airplane even had a scooter attached to the side with fittings than seemed flightworthy, despite the Vespa being hardly aerodynamic.

The fly-in has been growing every year since it began, but Johnson does not want it to grow into an Oshkosh-sized event.  Instead, he enjoys limiting it to Cubs and similar aircraft. If someone comes with a tricycle-geared airplane, they are welcome to tie down at the nearby FBO. Taildraggers are strongly recommended to register in advance.

(Image courtesy of New Holstein Chamber of Commerce)

FMI: www.supercub.org/NewHolstein