July 19-25, 2026 - AirVenture 2026
Homebuilt Camping
My RV has around 2,300 hours on it so I was excited to be able to get the 2,000 hours sign from Homebuilders Headquarters.  In the five full days I was at AirVenture, mine was the only 2,000 hour sign I saw.  No 3,000 or higher either.
   
 Looking out over Homebuilt Camping.
   
Early in the week, homebuilt parking in particular was much less populated than it normally is.  I guess the haze, Wittman Field being IMC for a large chuck of Friday and Sunday, and then winds on Monday and Tuesday really kept pilots away.
   

Homebuilt camping wasn't as full as I've seen it in the past.
   
Normally the empty grass would be filled with RVs.
   
Wednesday morning, standing in line at Homebuilder's Headquarters, for free donuts and coffee.
   
I talked with some interesting pilots over donuts and coffee.
   
I ate multiple meals at the Tailwind Cafe which was catered by Porker John's BBQ & Wings, a restaurant out in town.
   
I had breakfast one morning at the Homebuilt Cafe.
   
The breakfast was pretty good!
   
SOS
   
I ate dinner at the famous SOS Brothers a couple of times.
   
SOS Brothers was always jammed when I was there.
   
The Essex Skypark bubbas enjoying a cold beverage at the SOS Brothers.
   
A very popular place.
   
Looking back at the iconic yellow balloon.
   

By midweek, homebuilt parking was almost filled with RVs.

Looking east towards runway 18/36.
   
Looking west towards the Homebuilt Camping Pavilion.
   
Still some empty spots in Homebuilt Camping.
   
I had washed and hand-polished the RV just prior to leaving for Oshskosh.  But by mid-week, my RV was filthy from the dirt and dust.
   
The first night airshow is Wednesday night.  So a lot of planes bug out Thursday morning.
   
By Friday morning only a few planes including mine were left on the back row.
   
My plane all by its lonesome.  It's always a little sad towards the end of the week when most of the homebuilts have departed.  But I wanted to see the Red Arrows.  Their first airshow was Friday afternoon.  So I didn't leave until Saturday.
   
 
   
Previous
Home
Next