Who or What is Cessnas 2 Oshkosh?

As has been the case with other events in aviation history, the origin of the Cessna mass arrival can be traced back to a group of pilots searching for a way to fly and spend time together. In the summer of 2005 a small group of Cessna owners led by Fred Johnson met on the grounds of the North 40 during the celebration of EAA AirVenture to figure out how to fly into Oshkosh and camp together under the wing of their airplanes. The ultimate goal was to share the passion for aviation and have a good time together for a whole week.

These friends, all experienced pilots, concluded that the only sure way to accomplish these goals was to organize a mass arrival as it is done by other groups like the Bonanzas to Oshkosh and the Mooney Caravan.

The word went out initially through the Cessna Pilots Association website and later through a website created for this purpose by Fred Johnson and maintained by webmaster Dennis Angelo. Rodney Swanson, an experienced ATP, former military pilot, and current Director of Training and Operations for Cessnas 2 Oshkosh, developed the training program. This carefully designed program was distributed in a package to many experienced pilots and instructors who organized clinics around the nation. Enthusiastic pilots without previous experience in formation flight took part in these clinics and prepared to fly the arrival using this training program.

Safety, first in the minds of the founders, is still our main concern. We have established two strict requirements that must be met to fly the arrival. Pilots must complete training in at least one formation clinic and be present at the final briefing on the day of the arrival at 12:00 Noon CDT in Juneau, Wisconsin. Cessnas 2 Oshkosh conducts formation flight training clinics in many locations around the United States to assist pilots in meeting the first of these requirements.

Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2006

The first time this event took place in 2006, the year of the 50th anniversary of the Cessna 172, Cessnas 2 Oshkosh accomplished the feat of flying 50 aircraft in formation into Oshkosh. The landing sequence from the time the first aircraft in the formation touched down to the time the last airplane was off the runway taxiing on its way to the North 40 took 11 minutes. It was an exceptionally well planned and executed operation. The events that followed at Cessna Base Camp in the North 40 were really unforgettable for all the participants. More than 500 Cessna owners and pilots joined in the celebration.

Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2008

On July 26^th 2008, the first year of our partnership with the Cessna Pilots Association, Cessnas 2 Oshkosh successfully conducted the third mass arrival into EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. In spite of poor weather condition affecting most of the country, thirty-three (33) aircraft made it to Juneau and participated in the mass arrival. Pilots, relatives and friends enjoyed life at Cessna Base Camp and made the event a success.

Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2012 Mass Arrival Flight on its way to the North 40. Photo Credit: Craig VenderKolk - EAA

EAA President and AirVenture Chairman Tom Poberezny greets Suzie and Richard Bowden (l) and Gil Velez (r) upon their arrival with the Cessnas to Oshkosh group.  Photo Credit: Dan Luft - EAA

Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2009

On July 25^th 2009, the second year of our partnership with the Cessna Pilots Association, Cessnas 2 Oshkosh successfully conducted our fourth mass arrival into Oshkosh. Thirty-nine (39) aircraft participated in the 2009 mass arrival. A numerous group of companions, relatives and friends made the event a success.

Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2010

In 2010 we had all the pieces in place for a banner arrival, but Mother Nature had other plans. Torrential rains over Wisconsin for weeks on end prior to the date of the arrival saturated and flooded the ground at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. For safety reasons EAA cancelled all the arrivals. We didn't give up. Instead, we quickly reached out to the EAA and the FAA to coordinate a formation flyby over Wittman Regional Airport. The flyover was not only succesful, it was very exciting to all of us flying it, to those on the ground at Oshkosh watching it and even to the many FAA ATC controllers at OSH tower. We really thrilled everyone. But it was not enough, We still had a mission to accomplish, make it to the North 40 in Oshkosh as a group. We again reached out to the EAA and obtained their full support and logistic assistance. At the risk of finding ourselves with a mutiny in our hands, we asked our participants to leave all the airplanes at Dodge County Airport with the good people of Wisconsin Aviation in Juneau and organized a convoy into Oshkosh. We did make it to the North 40 as a group and set our Cessna Base Camp. The week that followed was a testament to what drives us, the camaraderie among our pilots, relatives and friends. We had a blast!

Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2011

On July 24^th 2011, the fourth year of our partnership with the Cessna Pilots Association, Cessnas 2 Oshkosh successfully conducted the sixth mass arrival into Oshkosh. Forty-four (44) aircraft participated in the 2011 mass arrival. A numerous group of companions, relatives and friends made the event a success.

Cessnas 2 Oshkosh 2012

We did it again in 2012. On July 21st, the Saturday before the start of EAA AirVenture 2012, Cessnas 2 Oshkosh conducted its seventh annual mass arrival into the Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This mass arrival was the fifth in partnership with the Cessna Pilots Association.

The 2012 Mass Arrival Flight consisted of forty-one (41) aircraft. Eight (8) models were represented. The Skyhawk (C172) led the way with twelve (12) aircraft, followed by the Cardinal (C177) and the Centurion with eight (8) aircraft each, the Skylane (C182) with seven (7), the Skywagon (C185) and the C310 with two (2) each and the Stationair (C206) and the Skymaster (C337) with one (1) each.

Twenty (20) states and three (3) Canadian provinces were represented. Texas led the way with five (5) pilots, followed by Connecticut, Florida and Ontario with three (3), Arkansas, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Washington with two (2), Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Tennessee, Alberta and British Columbia with one (1) pilot each.

The forty-one (41) aircraft in the 2012 Mass Arrival Flight were arranged in fifteen (15) elements. The Skyhawks (C172) led the flight with twelve (12) aircraft arranged in four (4) elements, followed by eight (8) Cardinals (C177) arranged in three (3) elements, a mixed element of two (2) Skywagons (C185) and one (1) Skylane (C182), another mixed element of two (2) Skylanes and one (1) Stationair (C206), four (4) more Skylanes (C182) arranged in two (2) elements, eight (8) Centurions (C210) arranged in three (3) elements and a mixed element of one (1) Skymaster (C337) and two (2) Cessna 310 closed the flight.

Click here to download the 2012 Cessnas 2 Oshkosh Mass Arrival Flight Composition.

The timetable of the mass arrival flight was the following:
Revised 08/01/2012 10:00 EDT¹

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