Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 196
Lots of eye catching air traffic, food to salivate over (graciously served by Grant County Lions), an FBO fast becoming famous far beyond its local borders, an energetic, savvy engineering firm presenting the airport’s 25-year Master Plan, Paul Brutlag’s flyby in his impressive 1950 T-6G Warbird, and airplane rides for all those interested made a highly successful Elbow Lake Municipal Airport Fly-In and Open House hosted by Lakes Area Pilots Association August 5. Angela Holm Joe Gimse and Ang...
Pope County Flyers member, Don Lilienthal submitted several photos of the July 1, Starbuck Airport Fortieth Annual Fly-In Breakfast which was held in conjunction with Starbuck Heritage Days. Eight planes loaded with tents, sleeping bags, and other gear arrived on Friday, June 30 for the festivities. According to Lilienthal, the hangar doors opened at 5 a.m. to allow Chris Cakes Catering, Pochahontas, Iowa to begin breakfast preparations. Lilienthal did a flyover at 5:30 in his 1972 Skyhawk as a...
Saturday morning, July 15, the skies around Rushford Municipal Airport looked a lot like MSP on a weekend. For at least two hours, planes were stacked up awaiting their turn to land. EAA Chapter 919 members displayed their expertise in directing 90 aircraft from the wild blue to parking spaces on the ground. The reason for all the hubbub? The official dedication of the Robert W. Bunke Field, complete with a Mustang, Corsair, and Avenger fly-by, courtesy of Wings of the North Museum at Flying...
Isle Airport hosted a most pleasant July 8 evening of under wing camping, a movie, bonfire, popcorn, and beverages in a two-day fly-in event that coincided with Isle City Days in northwestern Minnesota. "We had about 15 airplanes that came and camped," said Isle Airport Flying Club member Dave Retka. "We showed the Great Waldo Pepper movie. We had a nice evening." The grass strip displayed a nice grouping of vintage aircraft including a 1946 Stinson Voyager straight 108, Curtiss-Wright 1929...
The theme of this year's Wings of the North AirExpo held at Flying Cloud Airport July 15-16 was Heroes & Legends. An Evening with Eagles Dinner and Symposium was held at the Wings of the North Air Museum Hangar featuring guest speaker NASA Astronaut Franklin Musgrave who flew on six spaceflights. Among the variety of aircraft on display Saturday and Sunday at the airport grounds were military aircraft like Marine CH53 Phoenix helicopters and F-4 Phantoms. There were vintage aircraft owned by...
The 12th Annual Dennis Kirk Patriot Ride was held July 8 at the Anoka County Blaine Airport at the Lynx FBO. The Patriot Ride recognizes and remembers the 1,741 American personnel listed by the Defense Department’s POW/MIA Office as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, and pays tribute to veterans, law enforcement, and their families for their contribution to the safety and freedom of citizens of the United States. The day-long event includes a 50-mile ride, special recognition p...
It was a day to fly, to be sure. The June Fly-In Breakfast at the Moose Lake Carlton County Airport brought people out in droves, not only to eat pancakes and see the wide variety of aircraft, but to pay homage to people who affect aviation. From Ted Philman's family who received a plaque on his behalf for his contribution to sustaining the Moose Lake Carlton County Airport. Cirrus Aircraft employees Alexey Belkin and Brendon Butkiewicz arrived in the Cirrus SR20 with the Breast Cancer Ribbon...
Aircraft attracting attention at the Aitkin Airport's 23 Annual Fly-In Breakfast June 25 included the LifeLink III helicopter, Adventure North Flying Services's 1979 Grumman Tiger, and Platt Hubbell's 1946 Republic Seabee,a an Oshkosh Grand Champion (2005) and Sun and Fun Grand Champion (2006). The Seabee was wrecked and sunk in Lake Shasta, California in January 2010. Hubbell purchased it in 2012 and had it flying again by March 2014. He hangars the aircraft in Brainerd....
Saturday, June 24, Faribault Airport officially commemorated the Liz Wall Strohfus Field. Pat Rice and Kathy Larson of the American Association of University Women presided over the ceremony, which opened with the Posting of the Colors by the Color Guard and Honor Guard. Dignitaries who honored the well-loved WASP included U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Faribault Mayor Kevin Voracek, and American Aviation Heritage Foundation president Terry Baker, Major Stacey Meiser of the Minnesota Air National...
With the acute shortage of people to fill currently vacant positions in the airline industry, companies are looking for ways to draw interest to their specialty fields. One proven, effective way to reach out is to offer financial support for schooling. Following is a partial list of scholarship opportunities ranging from $500 to $5,000. Academy College www.academycollege.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/academy-college-scholarships AOPA www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/learn-to...
When your first airplane is the one you made of clothespins right around the time you learned to walk; when your father is a commercial airline pilot; when your mother encourages you in your aviation adventures, you've got a better than fair chance of buying, building, and flying aircraft for the rest of your life. John F. Hanson has a comfortable way of mixing boyhood dreams and experiential realities with human emotions and practical technicalities as he weaves stories of 21 aircraft...
Rushford Aviation, Inc. is putting out a warm welcome to avi-ators for several reasons this summer. During its July 15 fly-in a ceremony will be held announcing the airport's new name: Rushford Municipal Airport, Robert W. Bunke Field. "Rob Bunke is the gentleman primarily responsible for establishing the airport in the mid 1970's," said Rushford Aviation owner Mike Thern. The ceremony to honor Rob will begin at 10 a.m. Mark Baker, president of AOPA, and MnDOT Aeronautics officials will be...
From its well attended educational sessions to the EAA Leadership Summit Saturday night, the fourth annual Minnesota Pilots Association Great Minnesota at the Anoka county Blaine Airport was another rousing success. Nestled amongst the impressive collection of vintage aircraft in the Golden Wings Museum, vendors were set up in booths for attendees to visit throughout the April 29-30 event. The Museum's Ford Trimotor was backdrop to recognition ceremonies for the most Young Eagle flights given...
Inclement weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of those who gathered at Minnesota Sea Plane Association's Safety Seminar held May 19-21 at Madden's Resort in Gull Lake. The beach was full of float planes. The land air strip had a fair number of aircraft, some with tents for an under wing camping adventure. Minnesota Sea Plane Association's president Steve Guetter gave a warm welcome to attendees and vendors, keeping well attended presentations on schedule with a humorously stated comment...
Though there were no burning issues, Executive Director of the Minnesota Business Aviation Association (MBAA) Gordon Hoff knows the wisdom of aviation enthusiasts establishing relationships with legislators. "It's important that we talk about the importance of aviation every year to our members so if we ever do have some kind of emergency, they know who we are and how to reach out to us," said Hoff. "We can be their resource." Hoff noted the importance of stressing to legislators that taxes...
The 28th Annual Induction Ceremony of the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame began, as usual, with a social hour and banquet at the Hyatt Regency Bloomington on April 22. What was most unusual was the passing of the torch for banquet management to a gracious Cheri Rohlfing who noted this year it took a 23-member planning committee to do what Noel and Mary Allard have been undertaking for 27 years. This year's Master of Ceremonies was radio host, Al Malmberg; keynote speakers were Dale Klapmeier...
COVER PHOTO: When Chuck Cook, pilot and owner of the T-28B he hangars at Anoka County Blaine Airport offered a ride to fellow pilot Mike Swiridow during the Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering, Mike graciously suggested the ride be a gift to Bonnie, his wife. Bonnie was smiling before the aircraft even left the ground. Well done, gentlemen!...
Back in the 1950s and 60s, sod airstrips dotted farmlands all over the country. One such entity, Isle Airport on Mille Lacs Lake in Isle, Minnesota was activated in July 1956. While hangars and a Pilot Shack have been added, much of Isle Airport remains its quaint, nostalgic self. It was just that ambiance South St. Paul resident Dave Retka was looking for when seeking a place to hangar his 1939 Taylorcraft. "It's fun being up here," said Retka. "It reminds me of when I was a very young kid. My...
After accumulating aircraft and historically relevant aviation items for over 33 years, the Minnesota Air National Guard Museum finds itself in a tight spot, figuratively and literally. "Since we've had a change in the security posture in the United States, it makes it ever more challenging to stay open to allow the public to come out and visit the museum," said Museum Executive Director Jim Atwell. "Visitors must call seven days in advance and have a military ID or valid driver's license and a...
Anoka County Blaine Airport continues to grow its reputation as a community friendly facility. EAA Chapter 237, Twin Cities Aviation, R.C. Avionics, the American Wings Museum, and Golden Wings Museum once again opened their doors for an educational tour and hands-on adventures for over 40 youth ranging in age from infant to ninth grade, and 20 adults. The tour was arranged by EAA Chapter members Roger Hansen and Harvey Karth. While the younger members of the group visited aviation related...
For years, Michael J. Grzincich kept a photograph his mother gave him of his four-year-old self sitting in the cockpit of his grandfather's 1964 Cessna 172F. "I remember seeing that plane," said Grzincich. "I remember the flight when I thought the wheel pants were pontoons. When Grandpa flew over Lake Superior, I asked him if we could land on the water. He said no." Now all grown up, the boy who was raised in Hibbing, Minnesota also remembers his grandmother's affinity to that specific...
When people take their places at the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame Banquet on April 22 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bloomington, regular attendees will notice a marked change. Since its inception in 1988, Noel Allard and Mary, his wife have managed and arranged the annual event. This year the Allard's are transitioning banquet management to Delta Air Lines First Officer, Cheri Rohlfing. "By the sound of it Cheri has everything under control," said Allard. "Things are looking good. We're going...
Look for a few changes in the Fourth Annual Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering (GMAG) coming April 29-30 to the Anoka County Blaine Airport (KANE). "Something new this year is, we are holding it on a Saturday and Sunday instead of a Friday/Saturday format," said President of the Minnesota Pilots Association Randy Corfman. "Everyone is looking forward to that." While the event has grown from 600 to 900 visitors on the strength of the educational presentations, networking opportunities, and...
Minnesota Sea Plane Pilots Association's Spring Sea Plane Safety Seminar will be splashing down on May 19-21 at Madden's Resort at Gull Lake...especially Saturday afternoon during the accuracy landing contest. "Any of the pilots that fly up and are registered participants in the conference are welcome to participate in that contest," said MSPA president Steve Guetter. "It's usually a fairly tight competition. "The past few years we've had airplanes ranging from Piper Cubs all the way up to...
Warroad Lions Club held their 39th Annual Fly-In Breakfast in February, bringing in a wide variety of aircraft from around the regions. Landings were on the Warroad River. God weather, fantastic aircraft, and a delicious breakfast made for a great Fly-In! Rick Mercil of Rick's Aviation Adventures was all smiles, as were many attendees in their picturesque surroundings. Mercil, a Certified Flight Instructor for almost 40 years, with 10,000 flight hours, flew his 1956 Cessna 180 from Sunset Lodge...
