When I first visited in 1998 or so, my mind boggled at the incredible variety of flying rarities on display, and with my cheap film camera in hand, I pursued them all with ferocity. Now, having stalked and captured the most intriguing specimens—and having met new friends every year—AirVenture has become an annual reunion of some of my favorite people in the world.

Historically, I’d spend the week wandering around the grounds, either encountering friends entirely by chance or by arranging various meeting times and locations (1 p.m. in the shade beneath the Piaggio Royal Gull, for example). But now, with an airplane of my own, everything has changed.

Namely, I now make a point to create my very own underwing patio. A gathering place with cool shade, comfy chairs, ice-cold drinks, and pleasant company. Having set up and hosted such meeting spots for three years, I believe I’ve discovered some of the most crucial elements. 

Nemo Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair ($250)

When it comes to items that separate you from the ground, I believe it’s well worth spending a premium for the good stuff. Tires, mattresses, shoes, rock-climbing rope, and parachutes come to mind. This is a category where the cheapest options can create experiences that are miserable at best or disastrous at worst.

In the world of folding chairs, it seems quality is proportional to cost. After researching and sampling many various options, I’ve finally arrived at the Nemo Stargaze reclining camp chair. While pricey at $250, this is one of those items you buy once and enjoy forever. The perfect design and sleep-inducing comfort endure long after you’ve forgotten about the money you’ve spent. 

Like most folding chairs, the Stargaze packs down into a smaller zippered carrying bag. It doesn’t pack down quite as small as some chairs out there, but it’s a worthy price to pay for sublime comfort. It’s also quick and easy to set up, with no tricky fitments or overly tight tolerances to annoy you. At night, to prevent the chair from becoming soaked in dew, it only takes a few seconds to unclip the two anchor points and toss the fabric part into a tent.

I bought a couple of extras for friends, and everyone remarked about how comfy they were. With dedicated pockets for a drink and a phone, everyone settles in, and few look forward to getting back up.

Solar-Powered String Lights ($33)

On a warm summer night with a light breeze and sparkling conversation, it’s really nice to add just a bit of ambiance. In typical camping environments, a campfire is ideal—but with 40 or so gallons of 100LL just overhead, there are better options. 

I’m a fan of the Lepro brand string lights I found on Amazon. With solar power, the lights charge up during the day and then turn on at night. I hang mine up beneath the wing and simply set the small solar panel on top of the plane.

There is one downside. They won’t turn on until the photocell is convinced it’s completely dark out. This is annoying, as I find myself wanting the lights to turn on about an hour or two before they do. Accordingly, I have to use tape to cover the photocell as dusk settles in.

I put up with the annoyance, however, because unlike many string lights out there, the Lepros have a nice, warm, golden glow despite being LEDs. This creates a pleasant atmosphere that you really appreciate after seeing other LED string lights that have a high color temperature.

This year, for example, one camping neighbor’s harsh whitish-blue lights created an atmosphere every bit as charming as a vape shop in a strip mall, whereas my campsite was warm and inviting.

Pelican 30-Quart Elite Cooler ($250)

Icy-cold drinks are critical in hot, humid Wisconsin summers.

The first year I attended AirVenture as an airplane owner, I brought along a cheap styrofoam cooler to keep drinks chilled. It lasted about three days before cracking and being rendered useless.

The subsequent hunt for the perfect cooler was more complex than I expected. I wanted the perfect size—small enough to fit into my back seat for transport, yet big enough to hold a fair amount of beverages. I also decided I wanted one that performed well, as it would be sitting outside in the sun all day, every day.

I decided on the Pelican 30-quart Elite cooler. Compared to the equivalent Yeti, it has thicker walls, and I reasoned this equates to better insulation. It also has more robust latches and features some shallow cup holders on top that make it a decent side table or ottoman when closed.

I ordered white to better reflect the sun throughout the day, and it has performed beautifully. I typically add a small bag of ice once per day, which is more than necessary. Now, two years into ownership, I can’t find a single aspect to complain about.

Alps Mountaineering Camp Table ($80)

A good underwing table is the least exciting item on the list but also arguably the most useful.

Whether used to brew coffee, prepare meals, or simply keep everyday items in a handy, orderly state, it earns its keep every day. The trick is finding one that is perfectly sized for GA camping.

At 28 inches square and 27 inches tall, the Alps Mountaineering Camp Table fits the bill. Even better, it quickly collapses into a 7.5-by-4-by-28-inch pouch for transport and, with its aluminum construction, weighs only 6 pounds. The top can be easily removed and hosed off if needed, and while parts of it are plastic, everything appears to be relatively robust and durable.  

I’ve found that a good camp table isn’t truly valued until you’ve used it—and then you have to go without it. Suddenly, things like food, phone chargers, sunscreen, and all the random miscellanea that one compiles throughout the day begin to collect on the ground and in various corners of the aircraft cabin. It’s one item I’m happy to have along on any camping trip.

Anker Power Station ($329-$600)

As airplane campsites at AirVenture lack any kind of power, keeping devices charged has always been a challenge.

Historically, my strategy was to use two small 20,000 mAh power banks, leaving one plugged into a communal charging station overnight—unattended—while using the other. While this did keep my phone charged, it became annoying to monitor the charge levels of each, hoping to find an available outlet at the charging station…and then hoping it wouldn’t grow legs and walk away.

This year, I went nuclear. Not literally, although the power output of my big Anker C1000 1,056 watt-hour (Wh) charging station sometimes has me guessing. While expensive, there is another option at $600, only $100 more than the next smaller option, and I like to err on the side of more capacity.

I wasn’t sure about how much capacity I’d actually need. I knew I’d have a guest in their own tent next to my plane for the week, and I knew that we both wanted to keep our devices fully charged. I also knew that, as a good host, I’d like to be able to offer a top-off to friends stopping by for a visit.

For nine days, I did all of these things—and ended up using less than half of the C1000’s total capacity of 1,056 Wh. So, I clearly overbought. The upside? Now, I know I can run a couple of small fans at future AirVentures to keep cool and keep mosquitos away.

So, based on my own mission requirements, the smaller $500 Anker C800 Plus, with 768 Wh of capacity, would easily suffice while saving me money. For just one person, the even smaller Anker 535, with 512 Wh of capacity, would likely be just fine.

Regardless of which model you choose, having all the power you need right at your airplane for a week or more is a total game changer. 

The post 5 of the Best Pieces of Gear for Epic Underwing Camping appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

As is the case with any first-time airplane owner, he’s pretty excited and has been asking me all kinds of thoughtful questions about the logistics of flying into the biggest aviation celebration in the world, EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. One of his first questions pertained to the geography of the July 22-28 event and in what area he should plan to park and camp.

• READ MORE: Oshkosh 2024 Notice Outlines Changes for Pilots Flying to AirVenture

Without hesitation, I recommended that he join a mutual friend and me in the centrally located vintage area. A solid week of knuckleheaded antics with a couple of old friends as our airplanes are parked side by side at Oshkosh is the stuff of dreams. As I looked into it, however, I discovered that his airplane—a beautiful 1973 Bellanca Super Viking—was built just past the 1971 cutoff for the vintage category.

I found this to be frustrating. I know the cutoff has to be made somewhere, but his Super Viking is relatively rare, with a sweet design and old-school craftsmanship. It seems wrong that it’s not permitted in the vintage area while scores of Bonanzas and Mooneys that are barely distinguishable from their 1980s-era counterparts fill the rows there. 

As it turns out, the Experimental Aircraft Association clearly defines not just the vintage category of aircraft but the subcategories as well. Within vintage, they are as follows:

• Antique: Aircraft manufactured before August 31, 1945
• Classic: Aircraft manufactured from September 1, 1945, through December 31, 1955
• Contemporary: Aircraft manufactured from January 1, 1956, through December 31, 1970

Chris, therefore, needed a quick lesson on the lay of the land at AirVenture. And so I presented him with an overview of his options, such as they are.

As his aircraft doesn’t fit into the EAA’s categories of vintage, experimental, or warbird, he will be directed to one of two areas upon landing—the “North 40” or the “South 40.” Located at the far north and far south ends of Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH), respectively, these are the largest areas where most airplane owners park and camp.

• READ MORE: Flying Into AirVenture: A Carefully Orchestrated Cacophony of Chaos

They are, however, quite different. And while arriving aircraft are not guaranteed to have a choice of which they’ll be directed toward after landing, pilots can print and display a sign requesting one or the other.

If the incoming traffic flow and the workload of the ground marshallers allow, they’ll direct you to your preferred area. So it’s good to know how they differ. 

Additionally, each area has its own unique vibe, with differences not readily apparent in the Oshkosh Notice and markedly different pros and cons. Here’s how I described them to Chris:

North 40

The North 40 is the area surrounding Runways 9-27 at the north end of the airport.

It’s got a lot going for it. The proximity to businesses and restaurants makes it easy to walk to grab a bite of non-EAA food or pick up some supplies. The latter comes in handy when a severe storm approaches and materials for last-minute hail protection suddenly become needed.

Because parking/camping spots are arranged on both sides of the runway, the views of arriving and departing aircraft are fantastic. One needs only walk to the end of their row to sit and watch all the arrivals and departures. It’s not at all unusual for your morning wake-up call to come in the form of multiple P-51s banking directly overhead as they depart for a dawn patrol formation flight. Few alarms are so sublime.

Amenities abound in the North 40. In addition to a small shower trailer on the north side of 9-27, the south side has two separate shower/restroom buildings. Several rows down, there is also a cafe that serves full meals and a small store for toiletries, snacks, and necessities.

A regular procession of dedicated school buses makes constant loops from the show entrance to the Basler ramp in the northeast corner of the airport. Simply flag down one as needed, settle in among your new friends for the ride, and call out the row number where you’d like to be dropped off. I like to leave a small tip for the driver after reaching my destination.

The biggest downside? The steady noise from Interstate 41 and adjacent roads. While mostly just background noise, it adds something of a rest area vibe to an otherwise magical aviation experience. At night, it’s not uncommon for an errant semitruck, Harley-Davidson, or emergency vehicle to wake you up from an otherwise peaceful slumber.

South 40

If the North 40 is city living, the South 40 is quiet life out in the country.

The very southern end borders a 55 mph county road, but there’s otherwise no automobile traffic noise to speak of at night. It’s a peaceful, relaxing vibe.

While the peaceful tranquility is nice with respect to cars, it’s a bit of a downer when it comes to airplanes. Situated well south of Runway 36-18, there are no great views of the runway and only approaches—not landings—are visible from most rows. The vast majority of the South 40 is well south of the action.

The EAA has done a good job bringing the recently expanded South 40 up to speed with amenities. It still falls short of the North 40, but it now has a small store, and showers are easy to find. In addition, there are now more numerous and more frequent shuttles to and from the main show grounds, making it easier to get back and forth. 

For those regularly frequenting the ultralight strip, the South 40 sits in relatively close proximity. Campers stuck walking back to their airplanes after the legendary STOL demo and Twilight Flight Fest face a walk of only a mile to the most distant row in the South 40. This compares with a walk of nearly three miles to the most distant row of the North 40 and provides strong motivation to catch the last shuttle before being shut down for the night.

Armed with a clearer understanding of his camping options, Chris is now better prepared for his first trip to AirVenture in his first airplane. With any luck, the EAA will gradually expand the cutoff for the vintage category to include his sweet Viking.

Until then, I’m sure he’ll have a blast wherever he ends up.

The post Airplane Types Unlock AirVenture Locations for Parking, Camping appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

• READ MORE: Hartzell Expands Composite Prop Series in Top Prop Program

JJ Frigge, President of Hartzell, said in a release, “This exclusive discount and our contribution to the RAF exemplify our commitment to the adventure of flight and the RAF’s mission to maintain aviation access to the backcountry.”

RAF chairman John McKenna echoed the sentiment, saying, “Hartzell’s continued support of the RAF is a genuine benefit to our supporters and serves as a powerful incentive for new RAF supporters.”

The RAF is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving backcountry airstrips across the U.S.

The backcountry propellers eligible for the discount include:

• The Voyager: A three-blade aluminum scimitar optimized for the Cessna 180, 182, 185, and 206 models powered by certain Continental 470 engines, and Continental 520 and 550 engines under a recent STC.
• The Pathfinder: A three-blade “Raptor” carbon fiber composite available for the Cubcrafters XCub and Carbon Cub FX, as well as the Glasair Sportsman, American Legend, and several other experimental aircraft.
• The Trailblazer: A two-blade or three-blade carbon fiber composite available for various aircraft from American Champion, American Legend, Aviat, Avipro, Cubcrafters, Glasair, Maule, and several other experimental aircraft.

These propellers are meticulously designed to enhance backcountry performance, fostering shorter takeoff rolls and improved climb rates.

The post Hartzell Extends Generous Prop Discounts to RAF Supporters appeared first on FLYING Magazine.