Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 196
Apparently Paul Jackson just can't get enough of aviation. He is a Captain at Southwest Airlines based at Chicago Midway, the proud owner of a Cessna 180H awaiting a ferry flight from Olympia, Washington to Minnesota, is co-host and pilot for The Flightline, an aviation magazine T.V. show, and recently held his Second Annual Ski Plane Fly-In at his private sea plane base on Horseshoe Lake in McGregor, Minnesota. Among those attending was Steve Schwister, owner of TrickAir who not only sponsored...
In the early 1940s, high school buddies Orv Amundson and Harold Fjoslien were awed by the sight of an adventurous barnstormer flying over Elbow Lake farms, landing in and taking off from the fields. As the now 91-year-old Amundson recalls, someone put up the money so the boys could take their first airplane ride. The experience that impacted them for life. They, in turn, impacted their community. After graduation, Amundson, Fjoslien, and several other area residents, including Ronny Nelson...
Having a 2017 Cirrus SR22T G6 aircraft in the banquet room is a sure-fire way to let people know this event is all about general aviation. The Southeast Minnesota Flying Club, EAA Chapter 100, the Rochester Airport, and Cirrus Aircraft combined efforts to bring people together January 28 at the Rochester International Event Center to generate conversations about flying. Cirrus Regional Sales Director, Gary Black presented a brief and entertaining history of the development of Cirrus aircraft...
In a day and age where some rural airports struggle to keep the doors open, Longville, Minnesota, with a population of just 156, has a municipal airport that thrives. Longville Municipal Airport was established in the 1950s by a group of pilots who owned summer homes in the area surrounded by lakes where boating, fishing, water skiing, snowmobiling, ATV use, and hiking are the recreational activities. At that time, the airport was perceived by the city and local residents as a wealthy person's p...
C.M. Swanson Controlled excitement just oozes out of EAA Chapter 237 members, based at Anoka County Blaine Airport. Reasons are many and varied. For some, it's Super Saturdays. The second Saturday of every month, all year long, the EAA Chapter is serving breakfast, offering Young Eagle Flights, and in engaging IMC Club gatherings. IMC Clubs are based on the premise that pilots can benefit by sharing experiential knowledge. "I call it organized hangar talk," said EAA Chapter 237 IMC Coordinator...
It is not surprising to hear Santa Claus worked overtime during this season of gift giving, joy sharing, and celebrating the birth of baby Jesus. Flying about in his Super Cub, even before Christmas the jolly man in red and white visited Lino Lakes Airpark where he saw 40 children, and Park Rapids, where he saw over 100 chil- dren! This publication went to press prior to Santa's scheduled visit at Key Air at Anoka County Blaine Airport, however, a peek at his schedule indi- cated his visit was...
It's more important than pride to which the Northland Aerospace program at Northland Community & Technical College (NCTC) in Thief River Falls, Minnesota may righteously lay claim. It's about creating an educational foundation for emerging technology with such high impact, its full effect will only be known with passage of time. Marking a specific point in time where evolving technology and industry meet is where Northland Aerospace draws a line in the sand. The One-Two-Three Punch Northland... 
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Elbow Lake, Minnesota has earned the right to inscribe Pride of the Prairie on a sign at its municipal airport. Their modest population of 1,165 put together a thriving municipal airport that richly enhances their community. "People from Elbow Lake and the surrounding area have been involved in aviation since WWII," said Paul Brutlag, President of the current Airport Board of Directors. "In the early years, we used to have a grass strip and hangars with open fronts. Back in the 1970s we started...
C.M. Swanson When he was not flying, the late John Benson sat in a barber's chair next to a wood stove at his airport on his farm, sharing stories about aviation. One of the familiar stories is how, in the 1930s, his brother Roger plowed an airstrip on the farm just east of Bald Eagle Lake in White Bear Township. "John actually got his pilot's license when he was 15 years old," said EAA Chapter 745 president, Jerry Fleischhacker at the October 8 Fly-In Breakfast. The old barber chairs still sit...
It didn't take long for Minnesota EAA Chapter 237 to rally once they got the call for assistance from Grantsburg Municipal Airport requesting Young Eagle rides for community members in Wisconsin. "Twenty-four airplanes flew in," said EAA Chapter 237 president Kirk Fjetand. "Forty Young Eagles fights were given to children during the event. For many of them, it was their first flight." The local media was also on hand to record the event. "It's good to see so much support for the airport in...
C.M. Swanson Positive societal change doesn't happen by chance. It takes drive, dedication, and determination. Judging by those standards, the Minnesota STEM workforce call to action held by AirSpace Minnesota and Aerospace Industries Association at the Minnesota Department of Education Conference Center on October 6 was a rousing success. From the morning visit from Senator Amy Klobuchar, to keynote speakers Dr. John Olson, Vice President and General Manager of Polaris Defense and Dale...
Animals and airplanes drew an interested crowd to the Commemorative Air Force hangar at Fleming Field Airport October 15 for the second annual Planes and Paws Pet Expo. Event activities included a pet costume contest complete with prizes, vendors of animal rescue services and related fields, and, of course, aircraft on display for up close public viewing. Kathy Fox, Quality Assurance Manager at Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc. based at the South St. Paul Airport said the response from the event they put...
C.M. Swanson On a warm Sunday evening in late August, one of Key Air's hangars at Anoka County Airport looked like a movie set. In actuality, it was more exciting than that. Folks gathered from all around to see, feel, and touch the SF50, a personal jet recently unveiled by Cirrus. Ryan and Jennifer Lake from Blaine were among those gathered. The couple currently rents an SR22 but they were curious about the new aircraft. "We're here just checking out the Vision Jet and the newer SR22 Cirrus...
C.M. Swanson When just the right team is matched with compatible, effective management; when business is set in a harmonious, symbiotic location; when benefits extend to the community, brilliance happens at an airport. Brainerd Lakes Area Regional Airport captures this exact configuration of elements in the community it serves. This spring, Steven A. Wright assumed the Airport Director position, and Joe Birkemeyer became manager of Northpoint Aviation, the airport's FBO. Both men have similar...
C.M. Swanson All through the morning of 18 September aircraft arrived at Hector Municipal Airport with such regularity it began to take on the look of MSP on a Saturday. "We have one of the biggest, if not the biggest fly-in breakfasts in Minnesota right out here in Hector," said airport manager Ed Newberg. In a town with a population of 1,100, it is an impressive statistic that the Hector Annual Fly-In Breakfast has served up to 1,600 breakfasts. This year, with near perfect weather numbers...
C.M. Swanson A bit of cloud cover did not dampen the spirits of attendees of September's annual Fly-In at Mora Municipal Airport. Smiles were had at every turn, due a combination of a good breakfast prepared by the Lions Club, good organization from the Airport Board, and plenty of interesting aircraft. Fagen Fighters WWII Museum graciously displayed their Erco Ercoupe with Pilot Ray Fagen proudly emblazoned under the cockpit window. The eye-catching aircraft drew many visitors including Master...
Girls in Aviation 2016 at the St. Paul Airport, organized by Stars of the North, the Minnesota Chapter of Women in Aviation, was even more successful this year than last. Along with the many aircraft on the field, the Learning Jet, and aviation related businesses in informational booths in the hangar, two inspirational speakers addressed attendees. Belinda Jensen KARE 11 television meteorologist, assisted by daughter Tory, gave a brief presentation about the weather, teaching how to measure the...
Minnesota Aviation Trades Association (MATA) members and guests gathered at Thunderbird Aviation in August for its annual meeting. After attendees enjoyed a pleasant picnic in an open hangar, long time MATA member Darrell Bolduc was awarded the Meritorious Service Award for 37 years of service to the aviation community. Andre Schmidt received a MATA scholarship for $2,000 towards aviation education. A wild-land fire fighter with the U.S. Forest Service, Schmidt obtained his private pilot's...
Photographer Ray Pittman attended the Burnett County Airport Gandy Dancer Fly-In/Drive-In in July to enjoy the day and get a few shots of the days activities. For the hungry, a wild rice pancake breakfast served by the Ag Club of Burnett County. For those on the ground there were static aircraft displays, local emergency vehicle displays, inflatable bounce houses for the kids, classic cars to view. A variety of aerobatic performances kept eyes of attendees skyward for much of the day. While many...
Attitudes were positive and expectations high at the Chairman's Gala, hosted by the Consulate General of Canada, held at the Greysolon Ballroom in Duluth the night before the Duluth Air and Aviation Expo, all with good reason. The show was attended by over 45,000 spectators. According to Expo president, Ryan Kern, the event provided a local economic impact of nearly 9 million dollars as well as educational opportunities to the public in aviation and aerospace careers. Spectators were pleased wit...
In an air show masterfully emceed by aviation historian, photographer, author, and pilot Tom Lymburn, Wings of the North presented a fantastic AirExpo 2016 at Flying Cloud Airport. The huge, white, big top tent was filled with aviation dignitaries of past and present fame. One of the stars was a spry 100-year old Dick Cole, last of the Doolittle Raiders who took time to autograph books and provide photo opportunities with youth and seniors who stood in line for the privilege. Aerobatic air show...
EAA Chapter 1498 at Detroit Lakes Airport packs a lot of fun into a one-day adventure. July's event included a fly-in complete with breakfast and lunch, a car show offering a few vehicles not seen at most exhibitions, and a skydiving experience from that went well beyond the usual demonstration. Skydive Fargo offered tandem jumps to attendees the day before, during, and after the days events. Much of the success of the airport's activity level is owed to three and four generations of aviation fa...
The Aitkin Flyers Club and Country Road Classic Car Club sponsored the June Fly-In/Drive-In at Aitkin Aviation. In addition to a wide variety of aircraft stopping by, a silent auction, live music, and car show with prizes filled out the activities of the day. Gyrocopter pilot Bill Holzgrove provided a visual treat to attendees in the afternoon when he danced about the skies in his popular little yellow bird, a Vortex M912 Sport Copter. Later he fielded questions about his experiences in the...
When Brian Weidendorf was young, he was torn between two careers, one in aviation, the other in land development. He decided to do both. He obtained his private pilot's license at age 17, after which he steadily gained additional ratings. Airlines weren't hiring in 1981 so he did a two-year stint flying for a company out of Grand Forks, during which time real estate tugged him in that direction as well.. "Real estate turned out to be a better deal," said Weidendorf. "I ended up making enough...
Northland Community and Technical College (NCTC) can see the skywriting on the horizon. Unmanned aircraft is not the wave of the future. It is the tsunami of right now. To that effect, they are arming willing students of all ages with the power of information and education. "We will be hosting our first National Science Foundation summer workshop for educators as well as a summer camp for high school students in August at Northland's Aerospace Campus in Thief River Falls," said...
