(Ian Baren) wrote:

Any pointers to websites or message board records would be greatly
appreciated.

Yep, like the others have said, read the NOTAM, and get familiar with the
landmarks. Your situation will be much like ours last year (first time, and
with 2 pilots on board). We found it worked fine to have one person flying
(staying on speed and altitude, watching for traffic separation), and the
other person reading the notam, watching the landmarks, etc. "There's the
railroad tracks, follow them. See the strobes", etc.) It was a lot of fun,
and no problem. The wildest thing for us was as we got closer we were
amazed that we weren't seeing more traffic forming up, and then I did a
little clearing turn, and saw 4 planes right behind us. It was hilarious -
"They're following US, are they crazy?"

Interestingly, we tried a similar experience in October, flying in to the
nearby Copper State flyin. It was much smaller, but total chaos by
comparison - planes busting into the pattern at high speed, poor radio
work, etc. Oshkosh was much better organized and I think everyone is a
little more sharply focused, knowing that it's "the big one".

Mike