Oshkosh

[phintz]

Hello all! Was wondering about people who fly into Oshkosh. How does refueling work ? Do they drive around and fill you up? Also do they have 91 oct? Just curious and looking ahead.

Patrick
Series 6 -tri gear

[jrevens]

Hi Patrick,
They come around with a fuel truck, going up & down the rows of aircraft all week long. This is for 100LL. I don't believe that auto gas is available on the field, but I'm not sure. There are several small airports that make for good stops before you get to OSH. One of my favorites is Portage, WI. They do have self-serve auto fuel there. It's a good one if you're coming from the west. I like to have plenty of fuel on board before approaching OSH, but still top-off after arriving. I've flown my T-18 there from Denver 18 times since the early 90's, and there have been several years where I had to hold due to a problem on the field or traffic volume.

[Paul Z]

I stopped at Tri-Township Airport, Thomson, IL., going both ways, they have MoGas, and a nice runway. I stopped there because I knew the fuel would be pricy at Oshkosh. Yes, the FBO drives a truck up and down the lines seeing if anyone needed fuel, I wasn’t at or near my plane any of the times they drove by, so I ended up having to call the FBO and ask them to make a stop for fuel. Although they only put in about 5 or 6 Gallons. Next time I’m just going to fuel up at Portage, WI. on the way up, and after departing Oshkosh. Thanks John Evens. Portage and Tri-Township both show they have MoGas and Portage is a lot closer to Oshkosh only 45 miles to Oshkosh, I will only burn 2.5 Gallons after the fill up at Portage. With that little out of the Tanks, I’d check the fuel before I left to make sure no one borrowed any, and I would just leave Oshkosh, and Fly to Portage to Top Off the Tanks, saving about $1.57 per Gallon at Oshkosh.

KSFY - Tri-Township AirportSavanna, Illinois to KOSH - Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin is a 134 Miles
C47 - Portage Municipal Airport, Portage, Wisconsin to KOSH - Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin is a 47 Miles

In checking todays fuel Prices, Portage is even cheaper than Tri-Township, almost $0.71 cheaper.
KOSH - Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 100LL $5.49
http://www.airnav.com/airport/OSH
C47 - Portage Municipal Airport, Portage, Wisconsin, Mogas $3.91
http://www.airnav.com/airport/C47
KSFY - Tri-Township AirportSavanna, Illinois, Mogas $4.62
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSFY

I guess I'm starting my Flight Plan today so I don't forget about Portage!

[Paul Z]

Looking at the flight plan it trims a significant distance off of the last stop, and it puts you in a straight line for lining up for the ducks in a row to Ripon. The far south waypoint is KSFY - Tri-Township Airport, the way point south west of Oshkosh is C47 - Portage Municipal. Just a short hop to Oshkosh spend the week and no need for their expensive fuel!

[Av8r3400]

To get fuel on the field is easy, but only 100LL is available.

You can fuel autogas down at the ultralight area, but you need a can. We camp down there every year, so if you need a can, I can help. However, you need to land on the UL field to take advantage of their fuel shed.

[jtpitkin06]

You can fuel up just before take off on departure day. Fuel trucks are parked near the departure runways when the field is open.

Getting avgas at OSH Is never a problem. As mentioned, it is a bit pricey. Portage is a good stop for cheap fuel in and outbound and they have mogas.

We stopped in Madison when one of the flight had a bad mag and we got great service along with a good lunch. Sometimes the extra 10 to 15 bucks is worth it for the service and amenities.

John

[Esser]

Coming from Canada, I thought the fuel was cheap enough. $6.81 I think I paid for a gallon at Oshkosh. I cleared in Duluth and theirs was $6.50 something but I found Mo east of Duluth at $3.90.

Either way for getting fuel at Oshkosh you grab a tag that hangs off your prop and you put on how much of what you want. You get an invoice in the mail or you can take the receipt part of the tag after they fuel you and pay on the field for a discount...or something like that. It is a little fuzzy. If you need fuel Thursday, put the tag on Wednesday morning.

[Paul Z]

Yes it was around $6.80. I didn't know about hanging a tag to get fuel.

[jrevens]

You always have to fill out a tag, but I have always gotten one from the fuel truck driver, filled it out then, and then filled my own tanks. I just keep my eyes open for the truck when I'm around the airplane, and then flag him down. It's usually very easy during the couple of days before the show actually starts. I then go over to one of their booths & pay sometime during the week. I'm pretty fussy and have always filled my own tanks... I've NEVER had a line boy or fuel truck driver do it in 25 years of flying my first homebuilt. There are just too many careless &/or incompetent people nowadays, even to accomplish such a simple task, and it's too important & critical to me.

[Paul Z]

I filled out a tag after I called the FBO, I got a tag from the truck driver. Where do you get them prior to the truck driving by?

[jrevens]

I filled out a tag after I called the FBO, I got a tag from the truck driver. Where do you get them prior to the truck driving by?

I don't know, Paul. I've always gotten them from the truck driver. I suppose they are also available at the fuel supplier booths.

[Av8r3400]

I filled out a tag after I called the FBO, I got a tag from the truck driver. Where do you get them prior to the truck driving by?

There are a couple fuel "tents" where you can arrange fueling. I think there is one in the north 40 not far from the warbirds and another by the classic parking area. There may be more. When you go to the departure booth to arrange your departure you can get info there, too.

[N981MS]

There are also golf carts roaming around with the tags, I think. I also like to fill my own, however.

[kitfoxnick]

You always have to fill out a tag, but I have always gotten one from the fuel truck driver, filled it out then, and then filled my own tanks. I just keep my eyes open for the truck when I'm around the airplane, and then flag him down. It's usually very easy during the couple of days before the show actually starts. I then go over to one of their booths & pay sometime during the week. I'm pretty fussy and have always filled my own tanks... I've NEVER had a line boy or fuel truck driver do it in 25 years of flying my first homebuilt. There are just too many careless &/or incompetent people nowadays, even to accomplish such a simple task, and it's too important & critical to me.
I have a rule always be the last one to touch your fuel caps. Had a line guy put my caps on backwards once. That simple rule saved my bacon that day.

[Dave S]

Jrevens & Kitfoxnick,

Regarding fuel filling & fuel cap checking....You guys have my vote......I am another person who won't let anyone else mess with the fuel caps or fill the airplane....And I am the last one to check the cap in case anyone riding with me wants to do their own fuel check before we takeoff.

I have seen so many line persons hang the fill hose on the wing tank with out regard for the possible damage they could do.....have a line person put the cap on backwards???.....you mean they actually PUT IT ON rather than leaving it on the truck/pump/ground...don't even get me started on proper grounding.

I am sure there are competent line staff out there somewhere...its just not possible to know if they are the ones filling your plane if you don't know them well.

Sincerely,

Dave S

[Paul Z]

The last time I allowed someone to put fuel in the cap was only hooked on the front tab, the tab at the back of the cap was resting on top of the flange. I'm sure glad I do a through Pre-Flight.

[Micro Mong Bldr]

Was with a friend once in his Cessna - the line boy left one tab out - 13 gallons in about 2 minutes of flight - looked like heavy fog running off the wing - I'd suggested checking it & he didn't.