Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
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Many places have cold weather, but in International Falls it can be spectacular. Citizens of International Falls and Koochiching County embrace the climate, not just tolerate it. Winter gets cold, but summer is comfortably warm. Whatever the season, this area offers some of the best outdoor recreation in North America. Those who live there love it, and lots of people visit for a taste. The best way to get there is by flying to the "Falls International Airport," aka INL. The airport is a joint...
Another Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering (GMAG) has come and gone, the 7th annual event. We truly hope you enjoyed YOUR event again this year. One of the unique things about our event is that it serves not only as an example of how important aviation is to Minnesotans, but it also serves as a reminder that organizations, like the Minnesota Pilots Association, are alive and well despite the challenges facing all-volunteer associations. The GMAG was once again put together by all volunteers....
Pilots ask questions of other pilots. They ask, "Where have you been?" "What do you fly?" "What airplane do you like best?" "How many hours do you have?" "What ratings do you have?" "How long have you been flying?" Much like dogs sniffing each other, it is a way to communicate-to find common ground-to look for information that may be of benefit to the questioner. The answers to those questions are short and specific-in my case, it's easy to relay where I've flown lately as almost all flights...
The Seventh Annual Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering (GMAG) made a three-point landing with its May 21-22 return to Buffalo Municipal Airport (KCFE). More than 600 people attended the event, said Minnesota Pilots Association President Randy Corfman. A key attendance variable was weather. "We didn't have great conditions either morning, so a lot of planes could not fly in," Corfman added. "However, we did have a lot of people fly in on Saturday." The West Metro Aviation ramp quickly filled with...
More than 1.2 million Americans live with the loss or absence of a limb. Each year over 1,000 children are born with limb deficiencies. Over 130,000 amputations are performed annually as a result of trauma or disease, with 86 % of these amputations involving the legs. Of these, 93% are related to peripheral vascular disease — lousy circulation mostly due to diabetes, hardening of the arteries or cigarette-smoking. Modern prosthetic limbs allow many motivated amputees to achieve very active and productive lives. This sometimes involves f...
The Minnesota Pilots Association announced its Aviation Achievement Award winners at the 2021 Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering at Buffalo Municipal Airport. Tom Lymburn is an aviation historian, writer, and photographer who has been announcing air shows since 1991. He taught English in Princeton, Minnesota, for 34 years, serving three terms as department chair and being voted Teacher of the Year in 2003. Over three decades of announcing airshows, Tom has called over 200 different types of...
This year's version of the Breezy Point Aviation Days took place Saturday, May. 1. A sunny and unseasonably warm forecast produced lots of visiting aircraft. A quick count tallied almost 80 total aircraft, and those attending enjoyed a pig roast, static displays, emergency vehicles and a medivac helicopter, pilots and friends social time, and a well-attended classic car show. The first aircraft touched down on Runway 35, but a wind shift soon favored Runway 17. Before long, a steady stream of...
The Minnesota Pilots Association announced its aviation scholarship winners at the 2021 Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering at Buffalo Municipal Airport. The recipient of the 2021 Janette Strathy Aviation Scholarship is Alicia Cerney. She is studying Commercial Aviation at the University of North Dakota. Cerney appreciates the example set by other women aviators and hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams in aviation. The recipient of the 2020 Janette Strathy Aviation Scholarship is Chelse...
If we wish to navigate through space with a level of precision, it is necessary to determine numbers such as: Top of Descent, Required Rate of Descent, and other information we usually have to look up or plug into our EFB or E6B. For some situations a “That-Looks-About-Right” calculation will help to determine if our decision process is on the right track or needs further scrutiny for safety or regulatory compliance. For example, if you’re at the airport and would like to get an idea how strong the wind is, a wind of 8-10 knots will regis...
In August 1989, I attended the Abbotsford Airshow in British Columbia. It was my introduction to the use of the Grumman Tracker as a firebomber. Three Conair Trackers, each with a different color water, made a formation pass over the runway, followed by a DC-6. Conair later modified its Trackers with PT-6 turboprops to create the Firecat with 870 gallons of retardant. The state of California began its use of Cyclone engine Trackers in 1973, each with an 800 gallon capacity. These were designed...
The Minnesota Department of Transportation's Office of Aeronautics is developing an air mobility strategic plan to prepare for Minnesota's future as aviation technology evolves. The new Air Mobility Strategic Plan will lay out a framework for open decision making that provides and supports coordination, collaboration and innovation, as well as ensures efficient and effective use of state resources. As part of creating this new strategic plan, MnDOT is forming an Air Transportation Workgroup. The...
As pilots, we have a lot to think about when preparing for a flight. In fact, we're legally obligated. The Federal Regulation regarding Preflight Action (91.103), says, "Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight." Further, 14 CFR Part 91.3, Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command says, "The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to the operation of...
For pilots – whether seasoned or novice – receiving an Instrument Flight Rules clearance is not a new concept. The delivery never varies from the standard C.R.A.F.T. format we've all been taught to love since flight school. Yet, the method of receiving those clearances from Air Traffic Control can wildly vary depending on your current location on deck within the airspace system. At a towered field, it's relatively easy – contact the clearance delivery controller as listed in the publi...
MnDOT's Office of Aeronautics has been working on several programs to improve communication services at Minnesota's local general aviation airports. The first of these improvements – improved internet services – will be rolled out in the coming months. Currently, most internet connections at Minnesota's general aviation airports are served by conventional DSL lines with max speeds of 1.5 megabytes down/768k up. When you are used to home speeds of 150 meg down and 30 meg up and faster, it is har...
Please check if dates have been cancelled or changed. Send info to editor@mnflyer.com. We will publish in print as space is available. June 19: Blaine, MN: Burger Bash Fly-In, Anoka County-Blaine Airport (KANE) Lynx FBO, 9877 N. Airport Road N.E. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food sales support EAA Young Eagles. Contact: Kevin Sislo (763) 486-6575 president@eaa237.org or Ellen Quist (763) 222-4952 quist.ellen.e@gmail.com. June 20: Canby, MN: Canby Father's Day Free Airshow, Canby Municipal Airport – M...
