Oshkosh and Milwaukee 2025

[Berf]

So it's goodbye, at least for this year, to RIAT. After many years the spirit and soul of the show have been eaten too much for me and I am heading away for another show I have been meaning to go to for many years - Oshkosh. Sure I will miss a few cracking items that the team will conjure up and I will miss departures (I would miss arrivals but not the stupid o'clock start to queue in the car before queuing to get in to then sprint to the crowd line). I will go to the USAF museum at Wright Patterson before moving on to Chicago, then the Milwaukee show and Oshkosh. So if anyone has any advice (aviation and other) (I have already booked accommodation for Oshkosh) it would be most welcome (I have looked back at some of the previous posts which were very useful). Thanks in advance.

[microlight]

Look forward to a report on how it all pans out , looking at doing similar in the next couple of years

[GeorgeP]

If you happen to travel to the USA well before the start of Osh 25, then Thunder Over Michigan is worthwhile attending. It is sometimes held during the weekend prior, but this year's show is about a month before Osh. The TBM Avenger is the focus this year, with about ten turkeys rumoured to be attending. Hope that you have a fab time.

[Berf]

Thanks for the replies. Not going to make Thunder but will try to attend the show at Fort Wayne for a day. Does anyone know what the Oshkosh final Sunday is like - the show is shorter so do participants start departing straight after? Thanks

[Yorky]

After going the last 3 years in a row I'm giving it a miss this year. The last Sunday is not worth going as the aircraft parks are virtually empty and there is not much left to display hense why it's shorter. Saturday is usually the last day for me.

[GeorgeP]

...Does anyone know what the Oshkosh final Sunday is like - the show is shorter so do participants start departing straight after? Thanks

A lot of attendees (not necessarily performers) begin to leave by as early as Thursday, particularly if poor weather is forecast for Friday onward. You are correct about some performers departing immediately after their Sunday appearance. I stick around for the whole week (Saturday before until Monday after) because it's a bloody long way to anywhere from Australia and I want to see as much as I can. The Sunday show is a budget/shorter version of the main days' show, but it's not the only attraction for me. The departing military and warbird types are the attraction and plenty of antique (vintage) aircraft are still about on the Sunday.

[Berf]

Thanks again all

[Berf]

For anyone heading to Oshkosh the first schedules have now been published https://www.eaa.org/airventure/features ... 6621D&_z=z

[Berf]

And anyone heading for Milwaukee (or the Waterstone Bank Air and Water Show) the list is here https://mkeairwatershow.com/performers/ although who knows if it will all turn up

[Berf]

And if you are heading to Milwaukee or Oshkosh the Friday before is the first day of the small Janesville Piston and Props show (which is expanded on the Saturday) https://pistonsprops.com/attractions/

[CWS]

Seeing A-10s and B1 on some of those lists ... makes me want to be there!

[sylvancatharsis]

Just be forewarned that Milwaukee has a bit of a bad rap in these parts for announcing all sorts of military flybys and one-off role demos, only for the majority, if not all, to drop off the list in the weeks leading up to the show. Still a solid lineup from the established acts, and seems worth a stop if you're in the area.

[Berf]

Yes I have read that - fortunately for me it's the Blue Angels that I am going for - not likely to see them in Europe and it's probably my last US trip - at least for a while. Any of the others are a bonus -although I would expect the F-22 Raptor to turn up!

[farnboroughrob]

I went in 2023 and stopped off in Milwaukee on the Saturday before Oshkosh started. The majourity of the flying display aircraft were parked on the military ramp at the airport. There is a decient viewing area and the airport has a F-4 and B-25 gate guards, plus several Shorts 330/360 around.
We did Oshkosh Saturday pm until Thursday and it was amazing. However I am very much into GA types so the flying display was something i didn't concentrate on, standing next to a P-51 on start was much more my thing. One amazing part was watching the F-22's do an amazing beat up on arrival on the sunday afternoon Its a crazy experience, and the people are so friendley, never felt more at home somewhere in my life. There was none of the helf and safety BS only a small part of the aircraft were roped off, other wise full airside acess round the whole field. Also no issues parking in alternative viewing spots on the 27 approach or the west side of the field.

[Berf]

Thanks Rob useful info..

[GeorgeP]

...One amazing part was watching the F-22's do an amazing beat up on arrival on the sunday afternoon. Its a crazy experience, and the people are so friendley, never felt more at home somewhere in my life. There was none of the helf and safety BS only a small part of the aircraft were roped off, other wise full airside acess round the whole field. Also no issues parking in alternative viewing spots on the 27 approach or the west side of the field.

I'll second Rob's observations. I am continually surprised by the generous 'rules' at Osh. As he mentioned, there's nuthin' better than standing a few metres from a warbird as the pilot wakes the 2,000 horses under the bonnet.

The US military arrivals are legendary, and often much more spectacular than their appearance during the airshow.

And I only recently discovered (after five visits to Osh ) that the Bizet ramp to the north of 27 is open to anyone who wants to go there. Must remember to take the tram over to that part of the airport next time.

[CWS]

[Berf]

Yup for me that's going to be a highlight

[CWS]

Yup for me that's going to be a highlight

One year I will have to risk not doing Riat and do Oshkosh.

Get some really weird and wacky stuff there!

[GeorgeP]

I cannot attend, so of course it's coming this year. Just like the replica Me-262 from Virginia Beach. And, knowing my luck, the EAA will soon announce the participation of a King Cobra, an A-model P-51, the Collings Foundation's F-100, and a Black Widow...

One year I will have to risk not doing Riat and do Oshkosh...

IMO, it's not a risk, rather an opportunity to experience an airshow that is an order of magnitude larger than anything that you have previously experienced.

[sylvancatharsis]

I think I picked a good year to go to Oshkosh for the first time! Going Tuesday through Friday, so I should get to see all the good stuff except the Jet WACO, which I've seen before but is still awesome. Just need the weather to play ball. And it's tornado alley in mid-summer. Fingers crossed.

One year I will have to risk not doing Riat and do Oshkosh.

You could technically do both, though you'd have to skip RIAT departures and miss the opening day at Oshkosh (or do RIAT departures and miss two official public days at Oshkosh). Hectic, and maybe just a little bit mad, but doable.

Oh, and just a bit expensive...

[Berf]

I think I picked a good year to go to Oshkosh for the first time! Going Tuesday through Friday, so I should get to see all the good stuff except the Jet WACO, which I've seen before but is still awesome. Just need the weather to play ball. And it's tornado alley in mid-summer. Fingers crossed.

One year I will have to risk not doing Riat and do Oshkosh.

You could technically do both, though you'd have to skip RIAT departures and miss the opening day at Oshkosh (or do RIAT departures and miss two official public days at Oshkosh). Hectic, and maybe just a little bit mad, but doable.

Oh, and just a bit expensive...

I will be there from Sunday to Sunday - it's probably the only time I will ever go. I was going to Milwaukee on the Sunday (as well as Sat) but will sacrifice the Blue Angels again for the Sunday arrivals at Oshkosh.

[PeteFenwick]

After RIAT arrivals I will be at Oshkosh Sunday to Sunday. I have been before (family in USA) but Oshkosh is like nothing else aviation wise. Weather can be mixed and it is really frustrating deciding which of the 2 main runways to spend time at. But oh the variety and proximity to aircraft.

Should be on every aviation enthusiasts bucket list.

[CWS]

Certainly one to look out for. I would need to learn how it all works at Oshkosh, seems like it isn't just your run of the mill airshow.

Would love to catch mainly the USAF/Navy etc that aren't the official display teams. I've watched so many videos and seen stuff like B-1 display, twilight takeoff etc. Pair of Raptors just bashing up the airfield. Mig 29 etc

Looks like a lot of potential to see some really rare 'displays' that aren't an official display.

[sylvancatharsis]

B-1B flyby added on Monday at Oshkosh!

(...the day before I get there.)