Airventure 2025 | Day 5

July 20 | The day didn’t dawn bright and shiny for the trip up to AirVenture. While Oshkosh was VFR (visual flight rules), Madison, which pay between Brodhead and Oshkosh was IFR.

I walked over to the Chapter 431 clubhouse and had another satisfying breakfast, then packed my bags and broke down the tent so I would be ready when the weather finally improved.

I had another tasty breakfast, courtesy of Chapter 431. Airplanes started departing before 9, with two Hatz biplanes taking off below the overcast just after that. Things had improved enough by 10 that I made one last weather check and taxied out to the grass runway to leave Brodhead for another year.

By the time I got within about 30 miles, the transition pattern had moved away from Green Lake to Puckaway Lake. I altered course and entered the stream of aircraft in line at 1800 feet MSL and 90 knots, and congaed my way to runway 9 for an uneventful landing. The line of airplanes showing as green arrowheads looked like a necklace winding toward Oshkosh, but everyone behaved.

After setting up camp and registering, I loaded the boxes of parts for sale at the Aeromart into the back of one of the EAA “taxis”. I didn’t get to the market until after 3, and spent the next two hours pricing and labeling parts.

I finally stopped by the Hangar Café for a bowl of chicken and vegetables over rice and a bottle of water. Going back to camp and my airplane, I worked on arranging my tent. My old tent had been a fifty-dollar one that I used for twenty years. Every time it rained, I got a nice, cold shower without having to leave the tent.

Because I thought I might bring Norah out, I decided to buy a new tent. I asked Patty Dorlac, who has worked on the flightline forever. She recommended the Cabela’s Alaskan Guide six-person tent. I ordered one, set it up in the back yard before leaving, and was instantly intimidated. Roomy, I can stand up in it. At Oshkosh, the guy camping next to me referred to it as the Taj Mahal. I thought I had made a mistake not getting the four-person one, but by the end of the week I feel right at home.