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Every year aviation enthusiasts gather in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for one of the largest air shows in the world. The EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Air Show is a one week long event complete with workshops, seminars, daily air shows and my favorite, warbirds. The video below highlights some of our experiences at the 2018 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Air Show.
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Air Show
Table of Contents
EAA AirVenture Parking, Camping & Tips
Parking – Parking on site costs $10 per vehicle per day. There are three general parking lots to choose from, the one closest to the entrance will fill up first. If you end up in one of the lots further away, there are complimentary shuttles that drop you off close to the main gate. We parked our camper van in the gray lot along with many other RVs.
Camping – Whether you’re tent camping, renting a camper or bringing your own RV, there are several options for camping at the air show. EAA’s website has a list of camping options.
Tips – It’s our second year at the air show so I thought I’d share a few tips we’ve learned.
– Comfortable walking shoes. There are trams tours and shuttles, but expect to walk at least a mile or two. We averaged four miles a day walking around the air show.
– Sun protection. Bring the right gear to protect you from the sun. I personally love my Tilley hat which offers good sun protection for my face and neck.
– Weather. The weather can change quickly in Oshkosh. Be prepared for hot and humid or windy and rainy.
– Reusable water bottle. $2 for a bottle of water can add up quickly if you want to stay hydrated. Save some money and fill up at the drinking fountains.
More EAA AirVenture Videos
These videos are from the 2016 air show including a warbirds compilation at the end.
Day 1: Boeing B-17, P-51 Mustang, Curtis P-40 Warhawk, Canadian Harvard Aerobatics Team.
Day 2 – Grumman F8 Bearcat, P-51 Mustang, F4 Corsair, B-25 Mitchell, F-16 Falcon, A-10 Warthog, and various other planes and warbirds. This video was shot from “the Ditch.”
Day 3 – Martin Mars a.k.a. the Hawaii Mars, Grumman G-21 Goose from EAA Seaplane base.
Day 4 – C5 Galaxy and the various vendors at the air show.
Day 5 – 1924 Model T Ford tour around the air show grounds.
Day 6 – Canadian Forces Snowbirds (431 Air Demonstration Squadron), air show complete with fireworks.
Warbirds Compilation Video
Compilation of the warbirds at the Oshkosh air show. Some of the warbirds in this video: P-51 Mustang, P-40 Warhawk, F4U Corsair, B-25 Mitchell, B-17 Fortress, T-6 Texan, A-1 Skyraider, A-10 Warthog, F-16 Falcon, F-18 Hornet, C-5 Galaxy, Martin Mars, Grumman Goose
Ford AirVenture 2018 Hat (Giveaway Ended)
Each year, Ford releases a special edition EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Air Show hat. This year, we have two hats to giveaway to our readers. To enter, be a newsletter subscriber AND leave a comment on this post with the timestamp of your favorite plane featured in our 2018 video at the beginning of this post. Deadline to enter is August 5, 2018 at 11:59pm ET. Only U.S. residents over the age of 18 can enter. Winners will be notified via email and will have 24 hours to provide a mailing address that the hat can be sent to.
Congrats to Ted Selb and Chris H. winners of the Ford hat giveaway.
I know I’m late to the game, but hopefully you’ll respond. I see y’all went over two years. Looks like first year was in your Class A and you drove your Jeep toad. Second time was in your class b Hymer, but you parked.
Where did you end up camping and then driving in?
Why not try for a spot at Camp Scholler?
We had friends in the area so we stayed with them both times.
I have 2 photos of an experimental aircraft taken in 1985. They were headed to an air show in Mi. Wish I had more info on this plane which was designed to fly from roof top of office bldgs. need to send photos somehow.
Yes the P-40 inspired me as a kid, too! I made one out of a Guillows kit and crushed it when the rubber band wound too tight. I would like the Ford hat to wear when I fly my 1:5 scale RC Ford Flivver 2a (#268)! I made it from plans just this year. Thanks again!
I love your show at Oshkosh, thanks. I couldn’t be there this year.
I really enjoyed the video on the Oshkosh EAA convention. I have been to it many times but it has been a while. Your coverage of the convention is inspiring me to attend the convention.
I volunteer at the National Museum of WWII Aviation in Colorado Springs, CO doing restorations and display demonstrations. I hope to see you there some time.
I have several favorite war birds from WWII but the one I cherish the most is the B-17 Flying Fortress. My dad was a gunnery instructor in Kingman, AZ during WWII.
Thank you for what you do.
Bob Garcia
Thanks Bob and when we come back through CO we’d love to stop in.
6:14; The P40. Like you, the first time I went to EAA with my Dad when I was a kid, the warbirds amazed me! My Dad is a pilot and member of EAA and I can’t wait to go to EAA next year, we are already planning for a fantastic week. Love your video and cant wait to read more on your blog about your travels
The EAA is about home built general aviation and historic general aviation, with some historic commercial and military aircraft as well. I know you can’t see everything at AirVenture in one day but you should have shown the area where people fly-in, park and camp out with their home built and antique classic aircraft. I think this kind thing is inline with the mindset of people who enjoy RV’ing.
Unfortunately we can’t show everything and the warbirds are really what inspire and excite me so most of my time was spent there exploring and waiting to get those shots of them staring up. We spent a few hours just to get those few minutes worth of footage.
Great video & I wish I’d been able to attend so maybe next year.
How many days were you there & did you boondock?
We went to the show two days and boondocked on a fellow WTR Family member’s driveway.
7:50 Love the P51D
6:12 . . .. love that iconic paint job! But I think the most fun for me was seeing the American versus British camp setups. Maybe because I’m a long time fan of M.A.S.H.? Another great post and terrific video. Thank you for sharing. Happy and safe travels!
Big fan of the A-10. Used to see those low overhead when I was stationed at Ft Bragg. And I think those were B-29 Mitchell’s parading by? Got to climb around on one here in Austin recently. Also saw a B-17 here as well. Those old aircraft give me goose bumps. Joined the Commemorative Air Force to help keep the vintage birds flying.
Hey Joe and Kait, Thank you for the Ford Tri-Motor section of the video. It really brought back memories and we used to fly the “Tin Goose” from Port Clinton to the Kelley’s and Bass Islands in Lake Erie during the summer back in the 60’s. A wonderful memory reinstated by you both! As Bob Hope would croon, “Thanks for the Memories”…. Bill
Oh yeah, may not count but time was 4:39
You’re very welcome!
I love the P 51 @ 6:53.
You won’t believe what happened today in Chicago IL. One of the planes from this show flying back to Cleveland OH had an emergency landing on Lake Shore drive (I-41). Its a two passenger blue with yellow wings plane. His engine began losing power and the pilot did a mayday call stating he only had 30% engine power landing in the midst of traffic flying under a walkway bridge, a Harrison Ford maneuver, with no one hurt in the plane or cars! God is good!! You can see actual footage yourself on ABC7 Chicago and ABC World News with David Muir. Sorry on the duplication.
Yeah we saw a news report about that. Thanks for sharing!
Having just bought my Ford (first one since ’76) and being a huge fan of all things airworthy I’d love one of those hats.
Having grown up on Air Force bases in the ’40s and ’50s my first love was building warbirds and my all time favorite, right up to today, was the P-51 Mustang. When I went in, unfortunately, I ended up working on B-52’s but ended up falling in love with the BUFFS.
I flew from Travis AFB to Guam on a DC-3 much like the one you were standing next to in Jan ’65, 36 hours in the air. Not the most pleasant thing I ever did.
Looks like you had a ball at the show and sure wish I was there with you. Did you happen by the bush pilots? Trent Palmer is there with the “Flying Cowboys” and understand they put on quite a show. Check out his channel sometime if you love planes, pretty interesting.
*Dance the Skies*
Subscribed
0:22 F-15 Eagle
Great video. Makes me want to go to Osh more than ever. My wife and I have been talking about the nomad lifestyle also! How do I enter to win one of the Ford hats you mentioned?
Thanks for the video!
F4U Corsair 7:56
Great video, I hope to goto AirVenture Oshkosh some year. Do you camp at the air show or only go for the day?
My fav, the P40. I love the paint on her. Time 6:11
My favorite Warbird is the P-51D Mustang. Timestamp 6:20.
Of the warbirds I especially enjoy the “Launch and Recovery”, it is truly a parade of Warbirds.
Been going to EAA for 41 years, this will be year 42. C U Saturday. Great Video quality and Pics!
Liked the video and yes the Warbirds are great to see. I did get to fly in one of the tri-motors many years ago.
B-29 Flying Fortress “Doc” @ ts 1:29.
I have followed the restoration of this plane. Can’t wait to see it up close. Great Video!
Oshkosh best video thanks
Nice video. We used to go to OshKosh for EAA during the 80’s and 90”s. F4U Corsair at 8:24 is my favorite. My dad used to repair these during WWII in the South Pacific. They are a very cool plane
It’s definitely one of my favorites. Always loved those wings.
Haven’t been to Oshkosh in years, need to go again sometime.
Outstanding video, you two! I’ve never been but you captured everything I would have wanted to see. At the time stamp of 4:39, the cold & dark start-up of the Ford Tri-Motor was my favorite, seeing the passengers inside excited for their upcoming flight. It was like stepping way back in time to a different aviation era. I don’t know what that might have cost for a Tri-Motor flight, but I would have been in line.
The Tri-Motor flights were $75 ($10 off if you signed up before 8:30am I believe) so not bad considering the cost of some of the other planes they were selling rides on. It was very cool to stand next to while it fired up!
Joe, I actually got some left seat time years ago in tri motor – or as the German version was called – “Iron Annie” What a gas! It doesn’t really trim out, its like flying a very old pick up truck! Its not fast, its not all that pretty, but boy it was fun! I’ll say howdy if I see you guys wandering around tomorrow! Stay cool and watch out for the two engine, jato bottle equipped (with afterburner) skeeters! Yipes and holey molee! I grew up in Michigan, but live in the Pacific NW so I had forgotten about them! Now I remember!!! What a day!
Great tour of the show-favorite plane – B29 “Doc”
Yo. My favorite plane of the ones you featured would be the A-10. I would have loved to have seen a P-38, but sadly I didn’t see one.
Oh and the Timesamp of that is at 8:02
Unfortunately there weren’t any P-38’s there. I’ve only ever seen one and that was at Planes of Fame in Chino, CA.
I came within the flip of a coin of being in the “rumble seat” of a P-38! The area that was used for the big WW II radios was just large enough for a seat – and I mean just! I lost the coin flip! Whaaaaaaa! (The other person just wouldn’t go two of three) LoL Eahhhhh another giant Wisconsin EAA skeeter (This one bit the dust and will bite no more!)
How fun! I have a few favorites!
3:55 The Willys but I’m a Jeep girl so that’s a given ! ?
10:29 was cool
10:42 and 11:00….just wow!!
11:32 was AAACK
13:38….sweet touch!
Now back to watching more Coachman Crossfit reviews! ?
Ha! Out of all that, you start looking up Crossfit reviews 😉
Great video
Hi guys! Loved the video. I think my favorite plane was the bi-plane racing the car @ 12:02. The finish line was obscured by smoke and I couldn’t tell who won! The plane was obviously ahead at the halfway mark, but the car has a much tighter turning radius 🙂
That car had no chance lol
Fun stuff!
We couldn’t tell who won either!
Very well done review of the airshow. Even though we live on the SE coast of South Carolina we must put this on our bucket list. I have seen all your videos and enjoy snooping on your lifestyle.
I agree the Warbird may be a favorite. My best friend flew F4’s off the US Enterprise having made what he calls 86 crashes on the carrier.
Impressive!
It’s definitely a must see. Well worth coming up for the week. We only showed a fraction of what all the show has to offer.
What fun! Thanks for taking us along with you, to the EAA AirVenture Osh Kosh Air Show Joe! It rekindles the joy from years past, when my dad would take me to the air show and talk about his experiences during WWII, as a navigator on the Bombers. I have pictures of him in the planes he flew, but can only recall the B-29, which was impressive, indeed. The plane I’m choosing today from your video looks very much like the models my dad flew. The time stamp is at 5:24. I wonder what model that one is?
If you’re referring to the 4 engine tail dragger, that was a B17. If you mean the three engine plane, that’s a Ford Tri-Motor.
loved the whole show but day 4 2:34 was the best for me because it brought back good times with my husband
Great video. My dad was a world war II pilot and flew I think B-17s and some others. I loved looking at the B-29. What camera do you use for your footage. I’m buying my first class B next week and plan on traveling extensively in it. Thanks for all the great tips and information.
Gregg Hershberger
Hey Gregg! Our content is all shot using our iPhones. We’re currently using the 8 plus.