• Members have access to more of the website than non-members.
• Membership is required in order to register for B2OSH events.
• Members receive B2OSH email newsletters.

• We don't share any membership info, except as needed to organize B2OSH.
• We need your real name. We delete anonymous/fake memberships.
• We don't need your address, but it helps to know geographical demographics.
• If you register for B2OSH, we need your cell phone number and aircraft data.
• We need your email address for our newsletters, typically 4-8 per year.

If you own a Bonanza you probably should not fly it without being a member of ABS. It is, without doubt, the finest type specific organization in the world. Where else can one get real answers to questions about your airplane, answers that have not been emasculated by passing through a corporate legal department? Knowledgeable non-Beech-owner A&P mechanics join for access to the incredible technical expertise. ABS Magazine is the unparalleled leader in its field. The list of benefits is too long to enumerate. For more information and to join: Click on the American Bonanza Society logo.

For purely selfish reasons you will save significantly on AirVenture admission tickets and get free admission to the EAA Museum. The savings is greater than the cost of membership. Going with family? Get a family membership for only ten bucks more and really save a bundle. Additionally, you receive many benefits including one of the finest magazines in aviation and you support a wonderful organization that benefits all of us in general aviation. To receive the discount you must buy your membership before buying your tickets. Consult the EAA website for membership fees and the AirVenture site for event prices.

Yes. Check the box on the registration form that you will “Not fly in the formation”. Fill out the registration form, pay your balance.

Party with us at La Crosse. Park on Colgan's transient ramp – NOT with the B2OSH fleet. Fly to Oshkosh via the Ripon/Fisk arrival according to the NOTAM. You must follow directions of flagmen. Because there is no reserved parking in the North 40, you will not park among B2OSH formation aircraft. Proximity of your parking space to the B2OSH tent will depend on your arrival time vs. that of the formation.

No one is allowed to trail the formation to OSH! You would interfere with go-arounds, and you would land without a clearance at the busiest airport in the world.

Do NOT try, or ask, to park in the B2OSH camping area.

Park where directed. EAA North 40 Parking does not take requests. Period. The only way to park with the group is to fly in with the group.

If joining us at OSH and not participating at LSE, fill out the registration form and pay for it. Our arrival Pizza & Margarita Party starts at approximately 1:00 p.m. local time. Unfortunately, weather may dictate a different arrival time for our group, so be flexible. If you join us at OSH, you still need to fill out a registration form. Our parties are not open to the public. Tickets are not available ‘at the door'. Registrants who choose to not fly in the formation will be accorded all other privileges, such as eligibility to participate in our raffle.

Absolutely. When B2OSH started, attendees were almost all male adults. Over the years we have grown into a family organization and encourage spouses and children of all ages. They are the future of aviation. You will find they quickly join up with others their own age, have a great time together, make life-long friendships, and look eagerly to coming back to AirVenture to see their friends again.

Friendships made among our group are special and survive distance and time. Doubly true for the B2OSH Kid Posse.

We cannot guarantee parking together (let alone getting prime parking real estate) if we arrive the day before the show opens. The entire concept of B2OSH is parking, thus camping, together. Saturday arrival also allows great opportunities to visit the EAA Museum and to check out the flight line before they get crowded.

Earlier presents logistical challenges in La Crosse. Later exposes us to greater likelihood of afternoon thunderstorms.

We were offered first choice of arrival slots, because ours is the oldest and best group. We chose what was then the first available slot – noon take-off; 1:00 PM arrival. The lunch-time arrival turned the Margarita Party into a Pizza AND Margarita Party. Thank you, Kevin!

The Bonanzas to Oshkosh arrival is “part of the show”, according to EAA brass and the FAA. We are the unofficial opening act of AirVenture. “When the Bonanzas arrive, it's Oshkosh!”

B2OSH was organized so Bonanza-owning friends could camp together. The formation is the means of arriving together to accomplish this. If health or other reasons require a stay in a room, your participation is still OK, but we discourage people registering solely for the formation flight with no intention of socializing with us. B2OSH is NOT, repeat, NOT an alternative for those who wish to avoid the Ripon/Fisk arrival.

Yes. All planes parked in the camping area must pay the camping fee regardless of the presence of a tent, and regardless of whether they paid to camp elsewhere. Do not argue with EAA volunteers if you find a notice on your plane to pay N40 fees. It reflects poorly on all of us.

Yes. All B2OSH formation arrival aircraft must park together in Aircraft Camping, better known as “The North 40”. Our Letter of Agreement (LOA) with the FAA specifies that we “roll off the runway and follow flagmen to parking.” For Runways 36, that means the end of the runway. EAA Flight Line Operations (parking crews) expects us to taxi as one, meaning nobody turns out of line to park somewhere else. We are a formation until engine shutdown.

There is a separate free aircraft parking area for non-campers. It is located on the far north end of the airfield. There are other parking areas for AirVenture, including Vintage, which has its own camping fee. If you don't park with us in the N40, then register as “Not Flying in the Formation”. Do the Ripon/Fisk arrival and park wherever you wish.

Bottom line: Aircraft that fly in with B2OSH, will park with B2OSH.

No. But you can tilt the odds in your favor. Even if in the same element, you might be parked at the end of one row and your friend at the beginning of the next. If you arrive at La Crosse together you will improve your chances. Once on the ground at Oshkosh we are at the total mercy of the ground crew and must do as they direct. If it doesn't work out consider it an opportunity to meet great new friends. That's what this is all about.

No, but we do our best to honor requests to fly with specific wingmen. Handled on an individual basis, by prior arrangement. No guarantees. Contact our leader.

Your airplane will get wet. The flight has flown through rain showers in the past, relishing the cooling effect, and the near absence of bugs on wings & windshields. B2OSH weather minima not about precipitation. They are about wind, visibility, and ceiling. We require better than VFR. We delayed for three hours in 2022. It is possible the formation flight can be delayed a day due to weather or other issues. There are no contingency plans for delay beyond one day. Life can be like that. In 2010 Oshkosh had so much rain in the first two weeks of July that the field was saturated. Four inches and three inches of rain the two nights before our arrival finished off the field. The field was closed for arrivals until Wednesday and the formation flight was cancelled. Most of us flew to adjoining airfields or drove from Rockford. Nearly everyone made it to OSH. EAA offered us the only available parcel of suitable ground for camping without aircraft. “Sloshkosh” was one of the best times for B2OSH, ever. 2019 was similar – no B2OSH flight due to flooded North 40. There was no suitable area for camping without our planes. Everyone was on their own. We connected with each other in the ABS tent all week.

• Via the website. Please make sure your Member Profile includes cell phone #.
• Make sure your profile has model & tail number of the plane you will fly in the event.

2 options: Via our secure website with PayPal/Credit Card; or snail mail a paper check.

• Note: B2OSH registration does not fully cover meals & organizational expenses. Sponsorships and our raffle make up the shortfall. Nobody profits. Nobody is paid.
• Note 2: Clinic fees cover meals and materials provided by the host. No more.

Yes. 130 airplanes. The next-larger arrival groups have limits of 75 and 70. Spots in the line-up are not reserved until payment of the registration fee is made.

In prior years we did not accept registrations after the deadline. Ordering shirts and caps for embroidery requires lead-time. The past few years we have been a little more lenient, but late registrations require so much extra work that this is an incentive to register on time.

Yes, but ... The Northwest Clinic at Bremerton, Washington is scheduled after the deadline, due to historical weather considerations. Register and pay for B2OSH before the May 31 deadline. If, after the clinic, you decide you do not want to participate in B2OSH this year, we will issue you a full refund.

It depends. Refunds will be issued if cancellation is received by May 31. Otherwise, thank you for donating to our great parties.

At La Crosse when you check in. If not at LSE, at Oshkosh after our arrival.

Unless otherwise instructed, we will try to sell them and issue a refund. Otherwise, we will ask you to cover costs of shipping them to you.

Absolutely. Travel Airs, too. Our twin-engine fleet is growing and their pilots are developing their own camaraderie. We typically have 15 – 20. For safety reasons twins fly at the back of the formation and take off with a larger interval to accommodate Blue Line airspeed. Training requirements are the same.

T-34s are also welcome.

Yes. If you are FAA-qualified, insured to fly the airplane, and you attended a B2OSH clinic, you are good-to-go.

Yes, with limited exceptions, considered on an individual basis. No exceptions for first-time B2OSH pilots. Experienced B2OSHers who maintain formation currency may ask for an alternate means of compliance.

Double Yes. FFI and FAST cards are for flying formation in airshows. The B2OSH flight is not an airshow routine. Our “admin” (administrative items - procedures, protocols, terminology, etc.) is not the same as FFI or FAST admin. Unclear admin leads to confusion.

Yes. Bonanzas to Oshkosh formation procedures and protocols are based on FFI guidance. Formation Flying, Incorporated is a private organization authorized to issue FAA-approved Airshow Formation Waiver cards. Bonanzas to Oshkosh is NOT an airshow-precision formation flight; we are an enroute formation designed to get us to Oshkosh together safely. Bonanzas to Oshkosh formation guidance is based on the RV Formation Guide and its Bonanza Supplement.

For those interested, FAST expanded and updated the T-34 Manual. It's called the Formation Pilot's Knowledge Guide. It's an excellent reference. There are links to FFI and FAST pdfs on this site's TRAINING page.

The Darton International video "Formation Flying - The Art" is an outstanding FAST ground school, approximately 4 hours long. It includes extensive airborne video demonstrating all the techniques and maneuvers, flown in T-28s. There is enough here to improve even the experienced formation pilot's skills. Very highly recommended. Spruce and Amazon are currently out of stock. It might be out of print. Try https://www.actechbooks.com/0631-DAR-B.html

Note: Where there are differences: FFI trumps FAST and B2OSH admin trumps all.

Make sure both comm radios and the intercom work well. Ask a stranger pilot if he would fly in it. If he or she expresses any reluctance, perhaps you should wipe off all the oil and wash the airplane. Address deferred maintenance items that might scare people flying with you. Clinic safety observers deserve to coach formation skills in airplanes that appear to be well-maintained. Wingmen, too.

Probably. Many safety observer/coaches are comfortable without a control wheel in front of them. Some are not. Tell the clinic host well in advance. She or he will ping the JAFOs and let you know. His or her decision will be final; you may try another clinic.

Just Another “Friendly” Observer”.

In 2021 we moved to La Crosse because Rockford was no longer available. We chose La Crosse because it has 150' wide runways, which our 3-ship takeoff requires. LSE has sufficient ramp space. Colgan Air and LSE Airport Authority appeared eager to have us. Colgan has a big hangar for our Friday evening Hangar Party. LSE-OSH is a longer flight, but that was not a deal breaker.

We've flown out of LSE the past 3 years. We learned that, yes, airport management likes us. The Tower Chief is very much willing to accommodate our needs, too. Colgan Air is WONDERFUL! Similar to Emery at RFD, Colgan treats us like family. And, the city of La Crosse is very cool! More of us each year arrive at LSE a day or 2 early to enjoy the town.

Yes. $20 per airplane. Colgan Air is our host and they arrange for use of the ramp space we need to stage up to 130 airplanes. They schedule maximum staff to take care of us. Colgan also provides their large hangar for our Hangar Party Friday evening, briefing Saturday morning, and for us to hang around in general. TSA rules require that Colgan provides 2 badged security people while we occupy their big hangar all day Friday & half of Saturday. Most years B2OSH pays the ramp fees for everyone, depending on sponsorship.

Registered pilots will receive explicit instructions via e-mail and the B2OSH Ground Force volunteer crew will direct you.

No. You must reserve your own hotel room with a credit card guarantee for late arrival. We have blocks of rooms at discounted rates held for B2OSH participants at multiple hotels. See the La Crosse -> Hotels page for details.

1. Our good friend Kevin donated many great items to the ABS tent. One of those items is a power grid that can accommodate multiple phone chargers, either standard electrical plug or 12-volt vehicle accessory plug.
2. There will be a generator with power strip in the B2OSH tent.
3. There are several outlets at the shower areas. There are many cell phones plugged in there most evenings, but you are trusting your fellow pilots.
4. EAA provides a reasonably secure area with outlets in the little building where they rent tie-downs, near the registration building and the temporary FSS building. It is locked overnight and attended during the day.
5. Find a friend staying in a home or motel.
6. There are vendors selling batteries and chargers. They will gladly recharge while you spend an hour or two for lunch or watching the airshow. One more point: there will be about 100,000 people there each day. Those little walkie-talkies only have a few frequencies and you will be hard-pressed to get a word in edgewise.

A board approximately 12" x 18" placed under each tire in the camping area prevents the wheels from sinking into the grass and makes tugging out of your parking space much easier.

From the ABS President when the Spar Web AD appeared: "One of the important things we learned from the ABS spar web study (and demonstrated to the government) is that the cracking is caused by tension stresses on the belly of the airplane resisted by the spars. This can arise in several ground operational scenarios, hard braking, high power run-ups, and towing over bumps or out of trenches in the turf. If you can visualize pulling hard on the nose gear while the mains are stuck in the mud you are visualizing the exact scenario that would cause the web to want to pull away from the huck bolts and eventually form cracks. Not only do the boards make it easier on your back, they may help prevent a future spar web crack."

Note: Do NOT leave your wheel boards behind! This is NOT a generous gesture for "the next guy". It's a potentially deadly hazard for the next person who mows the grass.

1. Food – You can buy anything and everything you need at the local supermarket. We now take a cooler, pack it with camp supplies, then empty it out and store food there. Don't bring any food, unless it's a regional item you want to bring and is not available at Oshkosh!
2. Camp Equipment – Bring the best tent, sleeping bag, cot, etc. that you can afford. When it's raining, and you are soaked - it's not the time to wish you hadn't bought "el cheapo". It can be unbearably warm or relatively cold at night. In general, a normal summer weight sleeping bag will do, with a sheet available for the really hot, humid nights. Camp stoves, tables, lanterns - really is up to you - be realistic with how much time you really will spend in camp.
3. Clothes – Pack lightly. Every year I bring WAY too many clothes. In general, shorts, light shirts, maybe a pair of sweats, and one set of decent "going out clothes". Do NOT skimp on socks and good walking shoes. Your feet will thank you. Also, pack a "hit and run" kit for the night in La Crosse - you don't want to drag everything out for just one night.
4. Tie Downs – BRING THEM! You do not want to buy the EAA sets. I recommend going to the local farm supply store and getting "pig stakes". Use motorcycle tie downs instead of rope, as they are infinitely adjustable. Rope does work.
5. Sunscreen, Bug Spray, etc. – Bring whatever you think you will need to last the week in Wisconsin in the middle of the summer. Bring a rain poncho, backpack, and water bottle for the day long hikes to AirVenture.

Yes. Unlike our friends in the Mooney Caravan, we can choose to bring larger (therefore heavier) and more comfortable tents. There is nothing wrong with being able to stand up when getting dressed, or being able to play cards at a small table if it rains in the afternoon. Some bring cots which assure your sleeping bag stays dry in case heavy nighttime rains soak through the tent floor. Most use an air-mattress or foam pad. Experience also favors having plenty of metal tent stakes and some spare rope. Plastic stakes may shatter if the ground is very dry during insertion. As you load your airplane, consider weighing groups of items on a bathroom scale to check CG and W&B. If only one or two going, consider removing the rear seats for easier packing. Mosquitoes can be aggressive after the sun goes down. Bring mosquito repellent. Bring something to sit on. Forget something? A Target is within walking distance, a Wal-Mart a short cab ride away. Both have extensive camping gear and other supplies. Some prefer to buy throw away coolers, chairs, etc. rather than bring from home.

It is usually hot during the day and it's common to see some sunburns. A comfortable hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes are important. One sweatshirt is sufficient if we are lucky enough to experience a cool evening. A lightweight, waterproof jacket is worthwhile. Expect at least one big thunderstorm during the week.

Some bring their camp stoves and cook most of their meals tent side (propane grill, not charcoal). There are numerous fast-food vendors at the airshow and many restaurants in Oshkosh, with probably a half dozen that can be reached by an easy walk from our campsite. Cabs, Uber, or Lyft can be called if you decide to go downtown. There is a supermarket a short walk from our usual camp site. If you leave something behind, don't worry!

The individual shower stalls in the Women's Showers, while Spartan, are clean and have small racks for soap or shampoo containers. I have found that for this one week I can survive with a bottle of mild body soap in a plastic (unbreakable when dropped) bottle which doubles as shampoo. This is very handy, travels well, and eliminates gooey bars of soap that are a real mess when camping. There is also a large area inside with sinks, running water, and mirrors. Towels will dry hung inside your tent or on the prop; this is a matter of personal preference. I found over the years that a nice tan-colored towel visually holds up for a week better than most colors. (Update: There are 2 shower buildings now. The new one is an upgrade with flush toilets and the old one now has flush toilets, also.)

Timing one's daily shower is a learned Oshkosh skill. I found that a long hot shower in the late afternoon washes all the dust off from a long day walking the flight line or display buildings and provides a good opportunity to clean up and change clothes for the evening. Early in the morning showers are crowded with lots of kids and their moms; hot water sometimes runs low during peak early morning shower time. Remember, this is camping; relax from your regular "home" schedule.

(Also known as Port-O-San, Johnny-On-The-Spot, Porta-Potti, Port-O-Potty and a host of other names in the outdoor waste management business.) Yup, a fact of life at Oshkosh. EAA does a great job, all things considered. Toilet paper is adequately supplied and a very thorough cleaning is carried out at least once daily. It seems to be another fact of life that when you are in your tent and crawl into your sleeping bag at the end of the day, the urge to pee becomes the only thought, whether founded in reality or not. Remember how you got to Oshkosh: you can comfortably rely upon "Gotta Goes" or the infamous Lady J Adapter in the privacy of your own tent. Sure beats walking around the campground at night in my book! Enjoy the luxury of a real flush toilet if at a restaurant off-site.

Update: There are now a reasonable number of “regular” flush toilets inside the shower buildings, thanks to the efforts of B2OSHer Lisa. There are also indoor flush toilets at 2 of the 4 large Exhibit Hangars.

No, with a little bit of Yes. The OSH departure procedures are spelled out in the AirVenture NOTAM. B2OSH aircraft depart according to those procedures, like everyone else. There are 2 things we expect and insist all B2OSH pilots do when it's time to leave:

1. Pull your airplane out of its camping/parking spot and turn it 90°, pointing down the row. Get help if you need it. There will be plenty of fellow Beechcraft owners and their friends around. Do NOT start your engine(s) with prop blast pointing at anyone else's tents, airplanes, or other property.
2. Pick up your wheel boards and tie-downs and put them in your airplane or in a garbage bin. Do not leave anything on or in the ground “for the next guy”. Do not leave boards or other unwanted stuff in the B2OSH tent. Thank you!