Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Sorted by date Results 1 - 15 of 15
A 1974 Piper PA-32-300 heads down the ramp July 12 during EAA Chapter 1174's fly-in at Fergus Falls Municipal Airport-Einar Mickelson Field. The aircraft is registered to Thomas Long of Benedict, Maryland, and flies out of Harry Stern Airport in Wahpeton, North Dakota....
When I open a certain social media application, I look at a screen which asks "What is on your mind?" I am going to use that inspiration today to share a few thoughts regarding what is on all of our minds...the price of fuel. I'm not just talking about avgas. Nope. I'm talking about gas for my car, which takes me from home to the office, and also gas for the airplane. I know that I'm am not to talk about politics, on behalf of the Minnesota Pilots Association, a "501(c)3" non-profit organization...
Internet shopping is the way to go in the 21st century. Point, click and buy means you never have to leave home to spend your money. The ancestor of "online" stores may have started in 1884 when the railroad station agent in North Redwood Falls found he was stuck with a shipment of watches the local jeweler claimed to have never ordered. Seeing an opportunity, the agent used the U.S. Mail to offer them for sale then shipped them the same way. The "North" city and Redwood Falls merged in 1996,...
An FAA Registry and N-Number inquiry provides the basic information about Jay Schrankler's recently acquired 1965 Beechcraft Bonanza Debonair 35-C33. There a whole lot more to the story, however. The aircraft has been a Minnesota aviation fixture its entire operating life. That's one reason why Schrankler has a refined strategy for improving the aircraft's 1980's era avionics. Lake Elmo EAA Chapter 54 members learned about Schrankler's plans for the Debonair last November. The Beacon newsletter...
The Minnesota Navy League Council acted early when filing a special flight plan to celebrate the long-awaited sequel to a military aviation cinematic classic. "Top Gun: Behind the Curtain" landed Wednesday, June 1, at the U.S Air Force Joint Base Fort Snelling, 760 Military Highway, Minneapolis. Veteran U.S. Navy pilots, active-duty Navy F/A-18 and F-35 fighter pilots, and Top Gun graduates shared stories prior to a close-up viewing showcasing both aircraft. The paid admission event also include...
Stuff happens. You never think it could happen to you, but sometimes it does. Engines quit, sometimes even when you have avgas. Wings ice up and suddenly you're in a stall. Trees or powerlines get in the way of a takeoff or landing in a remote strip. There are all kinds of ways to be out in the middle of nowhere with a banged up airplane and increasingly limited chances of survival. Obviously, filing a flight plan is a good way to increase your chances of being found when you don't show up...
his year's Ray Fagen Memorial Airshow at Lenzen-Roe-Fagen Memorial Airport in Granite Falls was action-packed, spectacular, and filled with U.S. Navy aviation blue. "Pride of the Pacific" featured more than 40 vintage and period-specific warbirds on the ramp, said Diane Fagen, director of the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum. "We are not sure of total numbers yet, but attendance was in the thousands," Fagen reported in a day-later event recap. "The weather certainly was hot, but we do not feel it...
Fergus Falls EAA Chapter 1174 took a hands-on approach to solving a perplexing problem. When Dad's Belgian Waffles wasn't available to provide the main fare for a June 12 fly-in, members purchased waffle irons and organized their own breakfast. "We served 1,061 meals," said Chapter Vice President Dave Jennen, who has been a Young Eagles coordinator for 22 years and flown 1,279 prospective aviators. A group from a local gymnastic club the Fergus Falls Flippers bussed tables and helped in the...
Often, as pilots, we hear that upon earning our Private Pilot License (PPL) we now have a license to “learn.” We are, hopefully, always learning. Every experience teaches us something. There’s an excellent website https://www.boldmethod.com/ which has numerous six question quizzes to test your knowledge on various subjects related to aviation. One idea might be to set a goal to access the website on the first day of every month and get your training hat on. Just like doing “Wordle” everyday...
The Hunting Jet Provost series was designed to replace the 550 hp Alvis Leonides radial engine Provost basic trainer for the RAF. The BAC 167 Strikemaster evolved from the Jet Provost as a light strike/close support aircraft, mostly for export. The prototype Jet Provost first flew on 26 June 1954 powered by a 1750 pound thrust Viper turbojet. The RAF's all jet training syllabus began with the Jet Provost Mk. 1, when it served with RAF Flying Training Command, starting in August 1955. Subsequent...
Established in 2016 to celebrate Academy College in Bloomington's 80th anniversary, the Sherm Booen Legacy Scholarship provides two, $5,000 awards to two aviation degree seeking students pursuing a professional pilot career. This year's recipients are Robert Ezike and McKenna Gordon. Ezike is pursuing the Bachelor of Science Degree in Commercial Aviation at Academy College. He is passionate about introducing the aviation industry to younger individuals, particularly women and minorities,...
Canby Municipal Airport - Myers Field hosts a free regional airshow each Father's Day weekend. The entertainment ranges from off-the-wall aerobatics to high performance aircraft racing and trick shows from a core group of aviators. Airport Manager Matt Wagner reported a great Sunday show despite extremely difficult weather conditions that provided an all-around planning challenge. Free Man Airshows' Bob Freeman offered this summary on his Facebook page: "Made it to Canby with a 60-knot...
Wrapping up another Crystal Airport Open House provided a bittersweet moment for Luke Gustafson. This year's record-setting event was his last as lead organizer. "I'm only 48 years old, but I started with this event when I was 18," Gustafson said, adding he's been at Crystal Airport 30 years and involved with the event 28 years. Maxwell Aircraft Service (Prop Shop) saved the day by providing last-minute hangar space for the event, Gustafson said. "Davey Heskin got things ready, all for free."...
Back in the 1930s, the primary radio aid for navigating in airplanes was the "Four Course Range." The way it worked is the station sent out two signals which divided the world into four quadrants. You could tell which of the quadrants you were in by Morse Code for the letters A or N which merged into a solid tone on each of the four courses. Pilots navigated by listening, there were no instruments involved. Sometimes "fan markers" provided information on distance from the station. The system...
Please check with contacts in this column to see if dates have been cancelled or changed. Send your event information to editor@mnflyer.com. We will publish as we have space available. For a full calendar listing, visit www.mnflyer.com and click on the"Events" tab. July 17: Benson, MN: Benson Kid Day Flight Breakfast, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Benson Municipal Airport Breakfast hosted by Girls Gymnastics. PIC free. Contact: Kurt Flegel, (320) 760-0458. Aug. 4: Nary, MN: Burgers at Nary, 5 to 7 p.m. Nary...
