Best Days for Warbirds at Oshkosh

[Jeff Funk]

I'm probably going to Oshkosh for the first time this year. I must take advantage of my cousin that lives about 30 minutes from there. Most importantly, his wife has offered to entertain my daughters so my wife and I can enjoy the show.. As it will be a family vacation, I'll have a day or two. Which days are typically best for warbirds? I've seen this discussion before, but didn't find it in my search. I need this info so I can plan family time between Oshkosh and Thunder Over Michigan.

Thanks for any advice,

Jeff

[Tim Savage]

Jeff,

The Sat Show seems to be the best for flying wise since that is the big Warbird flying Show.

But I'm sure you will find other who might have some better ideas.

Cheers
RER

Rob-

I am not sure that is necessarily true anymore...with the shift in days, and the fact that more and more groups of warbirds (T-6s, T-28s, T-34s Yaks, P-51s etc) meet the weekend before the Monday/Tuesday start it seems that more and more people leave before the weekend. Whether that will hold true this year, I cannot tell you. I know for sure that by Sunday morning, after the WB banquet, the place starts becoming a ghost town.

[Mark V]

Yes - things have changed. Anytime before the weekend is OK. No I am not joking, most of our P-51's have gone by Saturday morning. The earlier the better really. Experiencing the build up is (for me anyway) the best part of the convention. This has pretty much peaked by Thursday and things have moved rapidly downhill by the weekend in terms of warbird participation. For me the warbird awards dinner is the only reason to still be around by the weekend.

[JDK]

Hi Jeff,
I went for the first time last year. It really was A1. I joined the EAA beforehand, (www.eaa.org) and checked out the Airventure website (www.airventure.org) and map which gave me a feel for the place and a load of tips. Also ask all your aviation friends, you'll get a load of good advice and some envy.
Enjoy!

[Dennis Bergstrom]

I agree. Go early in the week. Many of the fighters and bombers leave Saturday morning, with more leaving Sunday morning. The Sunday afternoon show is pretty slim.

Up until the late 90s, the Saturday and Sunday warbird shows were the best. The 1995 mass flyby to celebrate the end of WWII was a sight I'll never forget. And the sound was amazing. The huge Oshkosh crowd was completely silent. A VERY moving experience. It'll be interesting to see what the 60th Anniversary celebration will be like this summer.

Dennis

[Jeff Funk]

Thanks guys!

Your comments reconfirm what I remembered.


Jeff

[mlenoch]

I think the warbird show is Wednesday and Friday. Thursday, the warbirds all stand down to attend their respective group safety briefings and seminars. There may be something on Tuesday. Sat & Sun are generally regular airshow with some warbird thrown in.

I go on friday, have been for a few years and it's always the best. By the weekend it's too crowded and some of the warbirds are static or gone.

[srpatterson]

Avoid the crowds and go early in the week. We always leave before the weekend as 1) The crowds are worse (more people and less aviation savvy) and 2) As we get together and fly formation practice the weekend before our "kitchen passes" have usually run out with the wives. Last year we bugged out early Friday morning. If the weather looks questionable guys will pull out on Thursday.

Also, as you don't get paid for flying in the show, and the fuel reimbursement is a joke (one year my refund check from EAA bounced, so I saved it as a souvenir) many guys only fly one warbird show, usually the Tuesday. I think Wednesday is the Mustang show, so most guys stand down that day, and as Vlado said Thursday is safety day.

People don't realize that if you fly in the show it kills most of the day, as you have to brief at noon and then get ready, and often you only get one or two passes. Personally I'm amazed they get any warbirds to fly. We like to fly in the smaller shows, as the crowds are better and the flying is much better.