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Flying Airventure 2023

So, you want to fly in the L/O Warbird show at OSH.  We all do!  It is the most prestigious stage that most of us will ever have the opportunity to participate on.  There are some things we want you to know prior to showing up at Airventure so we all fly home safely after putting on a great demonstration for the crowd.

Our objective is SAFETY!  If you can’t demonstrate safety you can’t participate in the show.

If you are a FAST card holder to participate in a formation you will need to have a current FAST card, and meet the currency requirements of having flown the profile in the proceeding 45 days (FAA order 8900).  You can only participate in a formation to the level of your FAST card.  2-ship cards only fly in a 2-ship formation.  You have to have a lead card to fly lead in the waivered airspace.  

If you are wanting to participate as a single ship in the show and have not flown with us before you will need to have been checked out by one of the JLFC Safety / Check pilots.  All Airventure First Time pilots, single-ship or formation, are required to the attend the First Timers Briefing.  Details will be on the board at the briefing building.

A sure-fire way to make sure you meet the currency requirements and have been approved by the JLFC safety pilots is to attend the JLFC formation clinic prior to Airventure.  The “Casa” clinic is in Dekalb IL, a short 123 nm flight to OSH.  Details at Home - Joint Liaison Formation Committee (flyjlfc.org).

Most of the organizations have made their Airventure preclinic attendance mandatory to fly in the show.  We are certainly being pushed in that direction.  I would also suggest working on getting a Formation card through JLFC.  There are more opportunities to fly during the shows at OSH if you have a card than there are for single ships.

Make sure you have all the paperwork required by the EAA / FAA to participate.  It wastes a lot of pilot and office time trying to get these items pulled together at the show.  EAA Warbirds of America (warbirds-eaa.org) will have links to submit your aircraft registration and paperwork (not active as of 4-13-23).

It makes it easier on the WB office crew if you submit your documents online well in advance of the show.

If you have any paperwork issues submitting early allows the office to get with you and get those issues corrected in time for you to fly the show.  If you wait until the last minute to turn in your paperwork you will not get to fly if there is an unresolved issue.

You will be required to sign a waiver.  If you do not meet the requirements listed on the waiver you don’t fly.

We have historically been given grace on the required parachutes and helmets.

Tuesday has been a stand down for safety day for as long as I can remember.  If you want to participate in the L/O show you should also participate in our safety forum.  The participation of our pilots has been EXTREMELY poor over the last several years.  In light of the recent incidents in formations and demonstrations we need to make sure we are focused on training and prevention.  If you are not committed to safety you shouldn’t plan to be a flying participant.  If you don’t participate in the L/O safety forum we will take that as an indicator of your interest in JLFC participation.