Oshkosh Grass Landing?

[billyod]

Anyone know if you can request a grass landing near the pavement, or at the short grass strip at oshkosh? Maules gathering? Maules parking and camping area? big tires parking?

Please advise -

Thanks!

[Flyhound]

The last time I flew in to Oshkosh they were busy as stink and had volunteers lining grass along the runways to direct planes to parking. Grass won't be an option with their tightly choreographed arrival procedures. They've already got planes landing long and short on the same strip at the same time with directions to pull into the grass as soon as possible. There are too many arrivals and departures to accommodate exceptions to the process.

[aero101]

Once you report in, controllers generally don't want to even talk to you again... They will call out clearances to land long and short from visual contact with acft in pattern. It is quite the show of controller skills in conjunction with pilot skills. They usually publish their arrival procedures, report points, etc, which is best reviewed if flying in. ABW's will land ok on pavement, you will get a very slight nose pitch down on touch down, but nothing to be concerned about, and a couple of asphalt landings won't hurt the ABW's at all. I quite often do flight reviews up here in owners aircraft with big tires. I always have them land on the pavement at least once. You'd be surprised at numbers that didn't think that was doable, and the excuses as to why they can't do that. I usually ask what they'd do if low fuel situation and pavement or road was all that was available?

[Undaunted]

As stated above there are no grass landings, they will not let you land at Pioneer, the grass strip either.

Make sure you read and are familiar with the NOTAM, it spells out the process. Last year I heard them tell someone to land outside of the area, get the Notam, read it, then come back. It is way too busy there.

As you approach from the Southwest, there will be a point where a controller tells you whether you are continuing in for the 9-27 runway or you are turning right for the 18-36 runway (and unless winds are crazy they will be landing 2-3 aircraft simultaneously on BOTH runways. Looks like films of Dec 7th. They do not want you to talk to controllers, HOWEVER if you get to the split where they tell you which runway to use and it is not favored due to wind, make a very quick and immediate request to go to the other runway due to crosswinds. They will likely allow this, it happened to 2 planes in the line last year. We were lucky enough to have them send us to the favored runway. Pay attention to altitudes in the pattern, planes will be taking off directly under you if you have to cross over the runway. After that it can get wild, follow their directions immediately! they routed us to a landing from mid-downwind straight to the last spot on the runway to land ie a 90degree immediate final, (hailing us "YELLOW MAULE, turn IMMEDIATELY to green dot and LAND NOW), another plane was on a 45 degree final to the middle dot on the runway and another on a straight in for the numbers. It sounds crazy, it is, but it works well if you do as told and pay attention to flying your airplane, letting them worry about keeping others off your back! It is a great experience, everyone should do it! Once down you will IMMEDIATELY be flagged off the runway into the grass and attendants will flag you to parking.

Where are you coming in from?

[TomD]

As you approach the reporting point keep your head on a swivel and if you have anyone else with you have them help call traffic.

Once you are in the conga line it is pretty controlled but it is like bees returning to the hive at the rally point.

As Undaunted said be ready for a midfield base to a dot. These controllers have a pretty good idea of what a Maule can do so they can give us a pretty "abrupt" landing pattern.

Have fun.

[Mountain Doctor]

The only thing I'd add, having been there, is to make sure your copilot(s) are scanning as hard as possible as well. There is a lot to hit there.

[cs409]

just checking out the oshkosh site which is great, and viewing some youtube. a few questions for some of yall that have attended.. average length of stay, is it best to show up first day etc.... do yall camp or hotel it? and last, what do most focus on at the show or do some just try to take it all in! thanks in advance....