"What is that idiot ahead of us doing? He's slowing down!"
"He was told to land at the far dot, he's landing on the near dot!"
"POWER! POWER! POWER!"
"GO AROUND! GO AROUND!"
(Based on a true experience!)

Yep, all kinds of fun things happen at OSH -- but they usually work out
just fine.

What Jack says is absolutely true -- you've got to be on your game.
Here are a few things I've learned over the years:

1. Do NOT arrive at RIPON at the end of a 4 hour leg. Stop short, and
arrive fresh.

2. Try to arrive mid- to late-morning. Don't be the first, don't be
the last -- and it's usually too danged hot to arrive in early
afternoon. (And don't forget the airspace is closed every afternoon
for the daily airshows!)

3. Eat a good breakfast. You will be in a high-stress, very busy
situation, and you do NOT want a blood sugar crash in the middle of it.


4. Try to hit Ripon coming in from the Southwest (for example, the
course from Iowa City is perfect), so that you don't have to make
radical turns to get in line over the railroad tracks. This will make
your life MUCH easier.

5. Be prepared to hold. They've added a new holding pattern this year,
to the usual "Rush Lake" pattern, and I suspect they'll use it.
(Although last year was actually the first time we were ever sent
around the lake. We have, however, been told many times to "hold in
place" by circling over a spot on the ground, prior to reaching Ripon.)

6. This means HAVE ENOUGH FUEL. You do NOT want to find yourself out
of fuel and ideas while holding in the busiest airspace in the world.

7. Practice holding an airspeed -- please! It's 90 KNOTS, folks, and
every year we seem to get behind someone who misinterprets the NOTAM,
and flies way too slow. And it's not just Cessa 140s and Cubs
puttering along -- last year we were stuck behind a Bonana going about
80 mph, which really backed things up.

8. Practice landing short -- and long. You might be asked to float it
down the runway -- and you might be told (not asked) to plant it on the
numbers. The runway is big, but you MUST be able to do what the
controller tells you to do, or you risk yourself and others.

9. KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. Do NOT talk on the radio -- only listen.
Idiots talking on the radio instantly announce their ignorance to a
*very* educated audience, and risk blocking essential ATC instructions.


None of this stuff is hard -- IF you are current and proficient. If
you have any doubts about your ability to fly the plane as described in
the NOTAM, go practice!

But DON'T land somewhere else, cuz you're intimidated by all this.
Landing at OSH is the thrill of a lifetime, and, quite frankly, coming
to OSH by landing at Fond du Lac or Appleton and riding the bus up is
like kissing your sister. It's ALMOST right, but not quite...

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"