Okay, if you are reading this blog and don’t know what Oshkosh (KOSH) is, I have to ask why?  The way I ususally try to explain it is, what Sturgis is to bikers, Oshkosh is to pilots.  What Mecca is to muslims, Oshkosh is to pilots.  If it flies, you’ll see it at Oshkosh. I have made two trips to Oshkosh, once in 2003 and one in 2005.  On my first trip there in 2003 I camped under my wing and I have to say I enjoyed that more. Life on the field during that two weeks is just something you can’t describe.  On my second trip there in 2005 we got a bunch of guys together to rent a house.  That was really nice the first night when there were only 3 of us guys there.  Two of us sat out on the covered porch until about midnight and watched the thunderstorms blow by.  When the rest of the guys got there it got a little crowded and uncomfortable.  I probably won’t do that again.  The next trip will be camping again.  I’ll probably go again in 2007.

 

 

Rushford (55Y) was eaily my favorite stop on any trip to Oshkosh.  This is a small country airport hidden out in a cornfield.  There is an honor FBO and self-serve fuel.  The FBO consists of a mobile home with 2 bedrooms (which pilots are welcome to use) a fully stocked freezer with frozen dinners (leave a donation for the food) and sodas.  There are some nice easy chairs in the living room with a picture window which overlooks the runway.  When I had stopped to fuel up, the airport manager flew in from a nearby airport because he heard me on the radio.  He just wanted to say hello and thank me for stopping in.  This airport is my absolute favorite and I have never been able to visit there since that first trip.  I really do hope to return.  They have cheap fuel too.  Definitely try to stop in here if you’re in the area.

On my second trip to Oshkosh I flew all the way to Minneapolis on the first day before I stopped for the night.  We landed at Anoka County / Blaine Airport (KANE) This is by far the longest cross-country I have ever flown.  I stopped there because the other aircraft in our two ship formation was going to overnight there.  The guys in the tower seemed a little confused by our arrival.  What are airplanes doing at an airport anyway?  They also underestimated our speed as evident by the controller telling me he’d call my base turn, and then forgetting until I was almost a mile off centerline and reminded him.  Then he got grumpy.  It took about an hour for the hotel shuttle to show up.  When we got to the hotel we were informed that they wouldn’t return us to the airport so we had to call a cab.  The Jamaican cab driver didn’t even know there was an airport in town and drove us all over the county trying to find it.  If you’re ever in the area, find another airport.

 

 

Riverton Wyoming (KRIW) was the mid-point on my first trip to Oshkosh.  I stopped overnight there on the way to and on the way back.  I really like this airport.  This is a good-sized regional aiport with air carrier service but with a friendly country feel to it.  The folks who run Jim’s Aircraft Service where exceptionally friendly and helpful in getting me to and from my hotel.  On my first visit there they gave me the courtesy car over night so I could expore the town.  I really liked that town and I can’t even put my finger on why.

 

 

Valentine Nebraska was another one of those Oshkosh fuel stops I made.  I stoped here on my return trip back in 2003.  I can’t remember much about this airport because it wasn’t really my destination.  This was just a quick stop for fuel before going on to Wyoming for my overnight stop.

I’ve stopped at Pierre, South Dakota (KPIR) several times on my trips to Oshkosh. This trip however, was the first time I ever stayed in the city of Pierre (pronounced “peer” by the locals.) The FBO (Capital City) called The Best Western Ramkota Inn to come and pick me up. Fifteen minutes later I was checking in. Everone I met was very friendly. The airport itself has great facilities. The town was very picturesque and interesting. I didn’t have time to explore it on this trip but I will definately take more time on the next trip.

Douglas Wyoming (KDGW) was my next stop after Jackpot, NV on my 2005 trip to Oshkosh.  It has the distinction of being where my friend Rob tried to land his plane on a dragstrip (the old airport.)  It also has the distinction of being the place where I hit a dustdevil in about the same place on TWO different trips!  This is just a good old country airport.  Enough said.

The Dutchman has been to Jackpot Nevada (06U) exactly three times.  The first time on my way to Oshkosh in 2003 and again on my way back.  Then again in 2005 on second trip to Oshkosh.  This is a pretty neat stop.  The airport is run by Cactus Pete’s Resort and Casino.  The gas is inexpensive and is dispensed by the guys that manage the campground which is right next to the airport.  The casino is right across the street as are the eats and the hotel.  The guys at the campground have always been friendly and helpful.  The airport has an interesting approach in that there is a rather large bluff right on the approach which requires a dogleg to get around. 

 I have a video of the approach which I will be adding later.