Wing Life

DDAC Instructor • October 6, 2020

Living Large

Over the last few years there seems to have been a sudden uprise in alternate living; be it tiny houses, sailing a yacht around the world or meandering along the east coast in a converted van. But have you ever considered camping under your aeroplane’s wing?


Before the notion of a suitable rest area, pilots had been quite creative at strategically parking the plane at just the right angle to allow the wing to act as a sunshade, or adjusting their seat settings to allow a more relaxing rest whilst waiting for departure.

To seasoned air show attendees or travellers to the Birdsville races, this notion of pitching a tent next to the plane is nothing new. Pictured below are some examples of aeroplane campers featured in a 1997 ‘Private Pilots’ article from the famous Oshkosh Air Show.


The camping arrangements vary in complexity. At one end of the spectrum are well-equipped tents featuring the post modernism design of maximalism, complete with everything but the kitchen sink. On the other side of the coin, for those whose tastes favour minimalism, camping next to your aircraft can be achieved with just a simple yet aesthetically pleasing tarp and sleeping bag. Once the world opens up again and air shows are once again up and flying, be sure to call the operators and confirm if this option is available to make a good weekend great.

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