Learn about Caravan to Oshkosh

The annual Mooney Caravan mass formation flight to Oshkosh is our most important event! This is the flight we practice and prepare for all year. Participating in the Oshkosh flight is not required to take place in other Caravan activities during the year, but pilots who fly as part of the mass formation and camp at Oshkosh with other Mooney pilots make lifelong friends and memories. If you've never been to EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh, or if you've got single-ship, consider joining the Caravan mass formation!

What to expect

If this is your first Oshkosh, or your first Caravan, congratulations - you're embarking on an amazing journey!

We want to make sure everyone has a great experience, especially first-timers, and so we organize the Caravan into elements of three airplanes. Each element has a Mooney Caravan Lead, who is experienced in both formation flying and in prior Caravans. Your Lead will get in contact with you prior to Oshkosh and is your guide and resource for Madison and Oshkosh. They'll get to know you and can answer your questions so you can participate like an expert.

You'll find that the Caravan community is friendly, supportive, and welcoming. Aviation is a small world and we're all grateful to have a group of Mooney pilots to fly with! From the moment you arrive in Madison, you'll be greeted with smiles and will immediately be part of our growing family of Caravaners.

The Caravan publishes a schedule of events at Madison and Oshkosh (more details below). Some events, like the pilot briefing, are mandatory to fly in the mass formation. The remainder, such as our meals and forums, are optional but encouraged. If you find you have free time while staging in Madison, you can spend it decompressing from your flight in or meeting with other Caravan pilots.

The day of the Caravan is an exciting one! It can take a lot of time to move 60 airplanes (an hour between engine start and takeoff) so preparation usually happens quickly. Your element lead will be nearby and you'll have great situational awareness if you become familiar with which airplanes are in adjacent elements. Once takeoff commences, the flight is short - usually around 30 minutes - but immensely memorable as you're on your way to Oshkosh!

Mass formations are substantially more efficient than flying the Fisk arrival. In 2021, we landed just under 50 airplanes in 8 minutes. This is 7.5 times faster than EAA's estimate of 116 airplanes per hour. Once landed, the entire Caravan is marshalled across the Oshkosh grounds to our designated parking and shut down. As the planes are pushed into their spaces, there's a moment of celebration and gathering at the tent (set up by Caravan volunteers ahead of time) before setting up tents and getting settled in.

We typically have a gasoline generator at the tent for 110V power, nearby potable water, and showers within walking distance. The North 40 has access to small shops on the airfield, and big-box stores outside the fence and a ten-minute walk away. Our camping guide contains a ton of tips to be fully self-sufficient but it's always good to have shops nearby in case something is left forgotten or broken. EAA AirVenture has endless aviation events: airshows, exhibitors, events, presentations, and more. You may find like-minded Caravan pilots who you can team up with to visit the main event grounds, or you may find you want to explore alone. There's no way to go wrong in this gathering of aviation enthusiasts.

We want AirVenture attendees and organizers to know the Mooney community for our courteousness, respect, and contribution. Be sure to keep our camping area clean and positive. Camping/tie-down fees are inexpensive and are paid on arrival; make sure to get your camping pass and display it on your airplane as directed. Have a great time and help show the world that Mooneys aren't just about speed and efficiency; they're about community too.

Schedule

By this point, you've found your local squadron, participated in a practice clinic (and demonstrated proficiency required for the Caravan), and are fully registered for the Caravan and EAA AirVenture. You're almost there!

The authoritative schedule for Mooney Caravan to Oshkosh activities is published on our website. Refer to that page for specifics for this year, and read on for an overview.

AirVenture and Caravan dates are known well in advance, so you'll be able to plan your flight to Madison with margin for weather and delays. Upon arriving at Madison, you'll need to check in with the Caravan and your hotel, and attend the mandatory pilot briefing. The date and time of the Caravan mass formation is planned in advance with the FAA to deconflict with other AirVenture arrivals, but weather and airfield conditions can introduce delays in the time that the Caravan is allowed to fly to Oshkosh. Caravan organizers are in touch with ATC and will communicate any schedule changes to Caravan participants, either in person or via SMS.

From engine start at Madison to engine shutdown at Oshkosh, assuming no delays, can take between two and three hours.

Once at Oshkosh, there are three schedules to pay attention to:

• Meals and events hosted by the Mooney Caravan (and affiliated organizations, such as MooneySpace.com) at the Mooney Caravan tent
• Mooney-related presentations at EAA AirVenture
• All other events at Oshkosh!

Departure from Oshkosh is at your discretion. Most pilots stay for several days to experience everything there is on offer at AirVenture. If this is your first Oshkosh, give yourself latitude on your departure date so you can stay long enough to see what you want, and can depart when you're ready. Packing your plane and departing can happen single-ship or in conjunction with other Caravaners. Leave time in your schedule to fully pack for the flight home, and to push out of your camping spot and toward the taxiway before starting up. Departure times vary considerably based on other traffic, but anticipate a long taxi and wait before getting out of Oshkosh airspace.

Once home, it's not unusual to find that you're already anticipating and planning for the Caravan next year! Stay in touch with your local squadron and other Caravaners via our website and mailing list. Stay tuned for post-Oshkosh practice clinics, and other opportunities to connect before the activities get underway next year.

Preparation

Now that you understand what to expect and when it happens, you can begin your journey to join the Mooney Caravan to Oshkosh. Preparation usually begins early in the year, when our regional squadrons each hold their practice clinics. These clinics are a necessary step in participating in the mass formation, and give you a chance to connect with other formation aviators in your area! Attending a clinic will give you the context, relationships, and proficiency required to make your EAA AirVenture a great experience.

Once you've completed at least one clinic, you can begin preparation for Oshkosh. You'll need to register for the mass formation, book your hotels, and other tasks. We have a checklist you can use to guide your steps in advanced of the event.

If you haven't been to Oshkosh (and even if you have!), our packing and camping guide is filled with tips and suggestions you'll find useful.

Getting organized, getting connected with other Caravaners, and getting in the air are the steps you'll need to take to participate in the greatest aviation event in the world - and the best way to arrive. We hope to see you on the way!