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EAA AirVenture OSHKOSH 2018

Aussie Aviators & Enthusiasts Tour

Oshkosh 2018
The largest aviation event in the world!

Land Content OnlyTwin Share: $2038 per person
+ Single Supplement: $1465

  • Oshkosh to Dayton & Washington DC Tour
    Twin Share: $2086 per person + Single Supplement: $1068 (Includes airfares from Dayton to Washington DC) View Itinerary

As you would expect at the world’s largest aviation event the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture -Oshkosh there is a lot to see and do. The tour includes 6 action packed days on Wittman Field, home of EAA. Oshkosh never fails to deliver – it has an amazing mix of pretty much every conceivable form of aviation both on the ground and in the air.

Oshkosh has it all if you love the thrill & excitement of Aviation.

On this tour we plan to visit to Sanders Aeronautics in Kenosha: many of you will know of this company and its amazing restoration work on various types of warbirds. On-route to Oshkosh we will visit the outstanding Harley Davidson Museum.

DAYTON & WASHINGTON DC TOUR
Sunday 29th July – Monday 6th August

We are offering an optional extension which can be added to the Oshkosh tour, it complements the world’s largest aviation event.

Over an additional 7 days we will visit:

  • The National Museum of the USAF.
  • The Fields where flight began
  • The National Air and Space Museum
  • The Steven Udvar-Hazy Centre
  • Collection of aircraft in the Grissom Air Museum

We will have free time in Washington DC to visit many of the National Heritage of the US

We are sorry but this tour is fully booked.

Description

To visit and experience EAA AirVenture Oshkosh at Wittman Regional Airport is a “Must Do” for Australian Aviators and Enthusiasts. In 2017 the number of aircraft visiting, on display and performing was amazing, nothing like it in the world today.

  • 10,000 plus visiting aircraft
  • 2,885 show planes including 1,124 home builds/kits, 1,032 vintage and classics, 371 warbirds, 135 microlights, 101 floatplanes, 31 helicopters and 41 aerobatic aircraft
  • 891+ trade exhibitors in 5 huge exhibition halls
  • 1,050 forums and workshops attended by more than 75,000 people.

The American Barnstormers Tour announced that after a six-year hiatus, in 2018 it will be leading a tour of 10 antique Travel Air biplanes across the Midwest to culminate at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018. The 90-year-old type is a classic example from the golden age of aviation, and it was the top of the line for civilian airplanes in the USA in the 1920s.

There were around 15,000 aircraft movements at Wittman Regional Airport at EAA Oshkosh event in 2017 making it the world’s busiest airport at the time.

In addition, there is:

  • Giant Fly Market selling non-aviation and aviation items (from whole to bits of aircraft)
  • See 800 plus general aviation aircraft companies with their latest products
  • The floatplane ‘Splash-In’ on nearby Lake Winnebago
  • Optional pleasure flights in a B-17 Flying Fortress, Ford Trimotor and Bell 47 helicopters
  • Demonstration flights during the mornings
  • A daily Airshow each afternoon including warbirds with pyrotechnics
  • The EAA’s Pioneer Air Museum: a large collection of immaculate aeroplanes including rare types and world record-breakers
  • Theatre In The Woods – nightly musical entertainment

Details on how to obtain EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) membership and purchase an admission wristband – which can be done on the day, or in advance at reduced rates – can be found here.

The cheapest option for attending all 6 days is to join the EAA – as an International Member – and to purchase a Weekly Wristband. Note: EAA membership allows the member to take in one person (a spouse, partner or fellow enthusiast) at a reduced price.

For those who meet the criteria, why not apply for media accreditation via the EAA’s website, which includes free admission.

On Sunday we drive back to Chicago O‘Hare International Airport and return to Australia according to each person’s flight arrangements. If you are traveling with us on the additional tour to Dayton & Washington DC your luxury coach will continue on our journey to Indiana and Ohio.

Flights are from all Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. All transfers in the USA are by specially chartered luxury coach.

On your arrival at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, you should make your way to the Hilton Hotel which is within walking distance of the terminals. Your Runway room is ready for you.

We stay in Oshkosh itself, in the Horizon Village hall of residence (air conditioned suites) on the campus of the University of Wisconsin (UWO), on a room only basis.

Tour commences July 21, 2018

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To request a place on a Global Aviation Tour, please complete and submit the following booking form. Your request will be acknowledged by our tours manager and payment options will be provided. If you have any questions with regard to booking please call (03) 9827 8800.

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Tour Itinerary: EAA AirVenture OSHKOSH 2018

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DAY 1: SATURDAY, 21st JULY

We arrive the same day, after long flights we look forward to a relaxing night at the Hilton hotel located at the O’Hare International Airport.

When you collect your luggage make your way to the Hilton Hotel which is located on O’Hare International Airport grounds. There is an internal walkway between the hotel and the domestic terminals. We have requested rooms with views of the runways.

This evening we plan for everyone to get together for a ‘meet and greet’ in the hotel’s bar.

DAY 2: SUNDAY, 22nd JULY

At 09:00 we meet our driver and board our air-conditioned luxury coach for our drive north to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. We make a stop at the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Museum in Milwaukee; time to enjoy a tour and/or eat lunch in their café.

Later that afternoon we arrive at the University Wisconsin (UWO) in Oshkosh and check in to the Horizon Village; we stay 7 nights in our air conditioned suites on a room only basis. Located around the campus are various restaurants and bars.

Favourite place for breakfast is the Blackhawk all-you-can-eat cafeteria. A great meeting spot after a long day at Wittman Field is Kelly’s Bar around the corner from our accommodation.

DAYS 3 – 8: MONDAY, 23rd JULY – SATURDAY, 28th JULY

You have 6 full days at Oshkosh 2018 to enjoy the thrill and excitement at your own leisure. Each morning there are multiple streams of aircraft landing one after the other on both runways, plus demonstration flights of new aircraft by their manufacturers.

The very popular Ford Trimotor is continually taking to the sky giving pleasure flights, as are the Bell 47 ‘MASH’ helicopters across from the EAA Aviation Museum; B-17 Flying Fortress flights are also usually available. All flights are only bookable on the day. Throughout the day, every day, there are seminars, presentations and technical workshops; the 5 exhibition halls and the ‘Fly’ Market will be doing good business. In the afternoons the daily Airshow takes off, featuring antiques, classics and new types. On several days there are specially extended Airshows featuring warbirds – with lots of pyrotechnics including the awesome, mile-long ‘Wall of Fire’!

From the hurly burly and crowds on Wittman Field to the relative peace and quiet of the wooded shores of Lake Winnebago, and the beautiful floatplane base which is home to the EAA’s “Splash-In”. You can see 50 or more floatplanes ranging in size from small Cessna’s and Cubs, to larger types like the Grumman HU-16 Albatross, Catalina, and even a rare Piaggio. Relax in the shade; enjoy a drink, a BBQ or sandwich. Jump on board the electric boat for a tour around the anchorage.

DAY 9: SUNDAY, 29th JULY

We depart our accommodation for Chicago, on-route a stop will be make for lunch. North of Chicago we are planning a stop at the town of Kenosha; at the airfield is one of Sanders Aeronautics restoration facilities. This company is famous for restoring warbirds – especially Hawker Sea Fury’s!

We arrive at O’Hare International airport in the afternoon for flight connections back to Australia or to your next destination.

DAY 10: Monday, 30th JULY

In Flight to Australia

DAY 11: Monday, 31st JULY

Arrive in Australia

Tour Extension Itinerary: Oshkosh to Dayton & Washington DC Tour

DAY 1: SUNDAY, 29th JULY

This morning at 09:00 our coach departs the UWO campus for Chicago, on-route a stop will be made for lunch. North of Chicago we are planning a stop at the town of Kenosha; at the airfield is one of Sanders Aeronautics restoration facilities. This company is famous for restoring warbirds – especially Hawker Sea Fury’s!

Continuing through beautiful farmlands we arrive in the small town of Logansport, Indiana where we stay overnight at the Holiday Inn Express on a bed and breakfast basis. It has an indoor swimming pool and free Wi-Fi. 2-minute’s walk from the hotel is a number of restaurants and bars.

DAY 2: MONDAY, 30th JULY

At 09:30 we drive a few kilometres to the Grissom Air Museum. Normally closed on Mondays it is opening especially for our group! Named after US astronaut Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, it was founded in 1981 and currently has 28 aircraft in its collection, including:

  • a rare 2-seat TF-102 variant which was flown by former President George W. Bush
  • a F-100 Super Sabre flown by Apollo 11 Astronaut and first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong
  • a B-25 that starred in the cult film Catch-22 as “Passionate Paulette”


We then take a lunch break before driving across beautiful farmlands from Indiana to Dayton Ohio.

Dayton is home to Wilbur and Orville Wright. It was here that they invented and perfected manned powered flight. “They taught the world to fly! Dayton is aviation mecca!

Arriving in Fairborn, Dayton we stay 2 nights at the Holiday Inn on a bed and breakfast basis; facilities include on-site restaurant, bar, indoor swimming pool and free Wi-Fi.

DAY 3: TUESDAY, 31st JULY

Today we spend all day at the gigantic US Air Force Museum in Dayton – Ohio, it is the world’s largest military aviation museum featuring more than 360 aircraft, aerospace vehicles and missiles covering over 17 acres of indoor exhibits. Examine a Wright Brothers plane, sit in a jet cockpit and walk through a NASA shuttle crew compartment.

In the new 224,000 square foot, climate-controlled fourth hangar is dedicated to space to the US Air Force past, present and future travel in space and the opportunity to consolidate the presidential and research and development aircraft, the building house aircraft such as the C-141C Hanoi Taxi and the C- 130E.

You will need more than one full day at this fabulous museum to see everything at a leisurely pace.

DAY 4: WEDNESDAY, 1st AUGUST

Leaving the hotel at 08:45 we enjoy a second full day at the National Museum of the US Air Force.

Alternatively, for those who wish, today we will visit Aviation Heritage at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field and Interpretive Centre and the Huffman Prairie Flying Field, this 84-acre field is where Wilbur and Orville Wright perfected their flight skills in the Wright Flyer III, the world’s first fully controllable airplane.

Please note: the above is an option and the cost of the coach and admissions is not included in the tour price. If you are interested please annotate your booking form and we will calculate the cost of the coach based on the numbers wishing to take up this option.

At 17:00 we depart and return to the Holiday Inn to collect our luggage which we placed in the hotel’s storeroom this morning. We then go to Dayton Airport, about a 30 minute drive away, and check-in with American Airlines for our flight to Washington’s downtown airport.

  • Dayton Airport Flight: AA 5311 Depart: 19:40
  • Washington’s Ronald Reagan Airport Arrive: 21:07


On arrival we board our waiting coach for the short 10 kilometre transfer to the Comfort Inn Downtown DC/Convention Centre on 13th Street NW where we stay 3 nights on a bed and breakfast basis. Facilities include free Wi-Fi and a shop serving snacks, coffee, soft drinks etc. There are many restaurants, cafes and bars in the downtown Washington DC area.

DAY 5 & 6: THURSDAY, 2nd AUGUST & FRIDAY, 3rd AUGUST

2 free days to explore Washington DC, visit the National Air and Space Museum.
Other great attractions to visit:

  • The White House
  • Lincoln Memorial
  • Capitol Hill
  • International Spy Museum
  • Famous Union Station
  • Arlington Cemetery
  • Pentagon 911 Memorial

Or just relax with a visit to amazing bars and restaurants or visit the Outlet shops for an amazing bargain. Travel around the capitol is quick, easy, cheap and safe on the underground transportation system or take a cruise down the Potomac River to Maryland’s.

On one of the 2 days we will visit – as a group – the Steven Udvar-Hazy (SUHC) Centre. Some may like to spend all day here, whilst others just a couple or three hours. Therefore, to give everyone complete flexibility we will travel there and back by pre-paid taxis.

The times of the transfers to be determined once we know the final numbers on the tour.
Please note: there is no storage facilities for luggage at the SUHC – hence we do not visit on our last day.

The huge Steven Udvar-Hazy Centre has an amazing collection of aircraft: ranging from a 1903 Wright Flyer, the famous B-29 “Enola Gay”, the Apollo 11 Command Module to the Space Shuttle Columbia.

DAY 7: SATURDAY, 4TH AUGUST

Most of the day is free.

Later in the afternoon we depart for Washington’s Dulles International Airport and our flight connections back to Australia or to your next destination.

DAY 8: SUNDAY, 5TH AUGUST

In-flight

DAY 9: MONDAY, 6TH AUGUST

Arrive Australia