Cherokees 2 Osh

Why Would I Want To Be Part of a Mass Arrival!

Your first thoughts as you read this, in all likelihood mirror my first thoughts as I read about Mass Arrivals the very first time. Why would someone want to make this more difficult than it needs to be. After all, you simply put your tent and sleeping bag in the airplane, point it in the general direction of Oshkosh, and follow an airplane in. Nothing to it!!!!!!!! I know that is overly simplistic, but that is what it breaks down to for some that come to Oshkosh. However, there is risk associated with that scenario. To begin with you know NOTHING about the skill level or attention to detail of that person who is flying ahead of and behind you. Furthermore, you are on your own for a number of things, not the least of which is that you have no control over the traffic volume at your arrival time.

Let us compare that to a Mass Arrival. You are still flying the same separation between aircraft. However, you are doing it in a much safer environment. To begin with, the Cherokee Lead has signed a Letter of Agreement with FAA that binds us all together for a common goal. As part of that agreement, FAA is clearing the airspace to bring the Flight to OSH intact. Before you were part of this group, you were screened. You met and meshed with the other members of the group more than once prior to arrival at Oshkosh. On top of that, you were briefed in great detail at the MANDATORY Safety Briefing how we were to arrive, and if there were any questions, they were answered on the ground. You don't have to worry about missing a radio call in the busy airspace since only two people talk to Oshkosh Tower. Once on the ground, Flight Line Operations people know exactly what you want and are ready to accommodate. On top of all that, you will be part of history --

The Third Annual Cherokees to Oshkosh Mass Arrival

Terry - Cherokee Lead

Information

Congratulations and a heartfelt thank-you to all the pilots that flew the Cherokees to Oshkosh 2011 Mass Arrival. You all did a superb job and as a result, we have been invited to participate again in 2012. This will be year three (3) for Cherokees to Oshkosh. The pieces are already being put in place for a Friday July 20th arrival at 1:00 PM. We have retained the same team that propelled us forward in 2011 and as a result, 2012 will be enhanced immeasurably. I am confident all the returning pilots are looking forward to interacting with the Cherokees to Oshkosh team once again as much as Karen and I are. For those of you that are joining us for the first time in 2012, staging and final training will be at our host airport in Waupaca, WI (KPCZ) which is about 30 NM NW of Oshkosh. We were treated exceptionally well there last year, and we look forward to assembling and launching many more mass arrivals with them as part of Cherokees to Oshkosh. Our host hotel is the Comfort Inn which includes the Ale House next door. Call it coincidence, both are owned by a Comanche driver who treated us just like royalty and gave us a great rate! While in Waupaca, in addition to training, we have some other things in the planning stages. There will be a BBQ Thursday night in the Cherokee Hangar at KPCZ, and we are also working on a Spot Landing Contest. As soon as the plans are finalized, we will be making the announcements.

We will be limited in our number again this year, so please make your decision to join us early. Based on our experience from last year, there will be no change in the registration process. We will not open it up until January 1st of 2012. We found the first year when people registered early, life's detours created a number of cancellations by February. Check the website for the announcements that registration is open. In addition, for those of you who are EAA members, there will be an announcement in the EAA Hotline as well as our facebook page.

This is first and foremost a camping event. There are some joining us who simply cannot camp. We love them all the same, and cannot fathom this happening without them. However the core focus of Cherokees to Oshkosh is to fly a flawless approach and then sit around our campsite in the North 40 basking in the afterglow. With the new and improved facilities in the North 40, compared to the first time Karen and I camped at OSH in 1977, the term roughing it hardly applies anymore. If you have not camped before, we encourage you to give it a try. The quiet time at Wittman Field in the early morning is something that just has to be experienced once in every pilot's lifetime. Much like last year, I will have the coffee brewing on my Coleman stove and all you need to bring is a cup.

There will be a lot of information forthcoming in the coming months. We expect everything to be finalized by January of 2012. The website will be the primary conduit for information. If you have any questions however, please feel free to contact any member of the Cherokees to Oshkosh team. Our contact numbers are under the tab, and we all love to answer questions.

On behalf of everyone that is helping to make Cherokees to Oshkosh an enjoyable experience again in 2012, thank you for your interest. I sincerely hope you join us. We have a core group that you will enjoy meeting, getting to know, and keeping in touch with for years to come.

Links

EAA Airventure

Waupaca Airport (kpcz)

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