Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
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There were some great sights at the Wheels and Wings Fly-In/Drive-In in Osceola, Wisconsin this past September. On the agenda were Wissota Skydivers from the Indianhead Sport Parachute Club, individual air show performers Grant Nielson, Mike Weinfurter, and Erik Edgren. Also performing was the Vanguard Squadron, a precision flying team based in Tea, South Dakota. The formation aerobatic team consists of two F-16 pilots, a former Red Baron display team pilot, and an Education...
“No luggage?” It was oh-dark-thirty and we’d just left the VW at the Park-N-Fly. Sue had a small shoulder bag and I had my camera bag. “It went ahead on the semi.” “Semi?” “We’re part of an air racing team, heading to Reno for the races.” “They race airplanes?” For as long as the Reno races have existed, they are not as well known to the public as one might expect. In the Golden Age of Air Racing, from 1929 to 1939, speed in the air was a major attraction nationwide. Today, mention air raci...
What is Tree of Hope? Tree of Hope is an all volunteer program that collects and distributes toys to hospitals across Minnesota for children that are in the hospital over the holidays. Who is involved? Tree of Hope was started in 1991 by a group of aviation enthusiasts who saw a need to support these children and families through a difficult time. The program has grown over the years and last year supplied 38 hospitals across the state of Minnesota with toys. Tree of Hope is supported by EAA...
If you've attended an aviation event at Anoka County Blaine Airport over the course of the past 21 years, chances are high you've met Craig Schiller. You may have known him as the first volunteer at the former Polar Aviation Museum, or even during his term as director there. Perhaps you've bumped into him during his 17 years of service as manager at Golden Wings Museum. Nowadays, you can find Schiller three miles from the airport grounds, still immersed in the past, present, and future of...
Mark Nesheim has such a passion for cooking Classic American Café that he opened a restaurant serving the international jet set. Kimmy Fox, Nesheim's, business partner serves Nesheim's "amazing food" in Wings Airport Café at the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport. Both relish giving visitors that Minnesota experience as soon as they step off the plane. Real mashed potatoes, homemade bread, soup from scratch, wild rice, fresh Walleye, and a variety of hot dishes are all part of the Minnesota flair a...
D. Lee, SEH The airport serves as one of four international ports of entry into the United States and approximately 15,000 passengers arrive and depart from the airport daily. The airport is also one of nine in Minnesota that offers commercial airline service. The new 18,000-square-foot terminal opened on October 4 and the community celebrated with an official ribbon cutting hosted by International Falls Mayor Bob Anderson on October 10, 2017 at 1 p.m. Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith...
Mark Satnan's fond childhood memories of time spent with his father in South Dakota impacted the way he lives today. "He worked nights all the time," said Satnan. "He'd drag me out to the shop at night and have me start taking the interior of an airplane out. That's actually how I first got started, taking interiors out of airplanes so he could work on them." After high school Satnan got a job driving truck delivering parts but it didn't take him long to realize that wasn't the job for him. He...
This year's 75 Annual Fly-In Breakfast and Ping Pong Ball Drop at Hector Municipal Airport offered a close up view of some pretty impressive aircraft. Event organizer Ed Newberg issued an invitation to Afton, Wisconsin residents Barry Hammarback and Dave Schmitz to bring their 1962 UH1 "Huey" helicopter. The Huey has attended veteran's and other aviation related events to allow new generations to become more aware of the experiences of their father's and grandfather's. "We thought the Huey is...
The joys of flying typically bloom in the summer for most pilots. They finally open their hangar, get some light to shine on that bird and clean off that layer of dust that forms from months of hibernation. For me it's a little different. My Supercub stays on its floats all winter. It makes its way into the shop two or three times throughout the winter for minor maintenance and/or a new mod here or there. The Cub is a working airplane and winter is a time to get it tuned up and dialed in for...
Windom Municipal Airport’s August 27 Fly-In Breakfast provided an opportunity for 32 private aircraft beauties to line the field next to the taxiway like models on a spotlit runway. A hearty breakfast of pancakes and French Toast was served by the Lions Club. Jay B Kipfer brought his restored JD pulling tractors, more eye candy for Fly-In attendees. Local residents joined regional pilots who flew in for in the day’s events that not only drew the community together, but added to the growing int...
If there was a gathering place for hangar doors, the Waterloo Regional Airport may qualify. Schweiss Doors has been delivering bifold doors to the Waterloo, Iowa airport for the last 20 years, some doors up to 60 feet wide. The list of Schweiss hangar doors at this city-owned property numbers 13 in all. Six of the bifold liftstrap doors measure 60-feet wide by 21-feet, 6-inches high, with two more measuring 59-feet wide. The airport is also home to several smaller bifold doors, including four...
Wipaire, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has granted approval for Supplemental Type Certificate SA2CH for the installation of Wipline® 13000 floats on the Viking Series 400 Twin Otter. Approval for Wipaire's Amphibian Gear Advisory System (Supplemental Type Certificate SA39CH) was also expanded to the Cessna 172R and 172S. The system is also available in China on the Cessna 208 Caravan, 208B Grand Caravan, Quest Kodiak, Air Tractor AT-802/80...
Flight Line Gifts, a new aviation specialty shop in Blaine, officially opened its doors for business in June. Offerings include books, clothing, cool tech, models, aviation prints, pilot supplies, war relics, and fun toys. In addition, Flight Line Enterprises, LTD president Craig Schiller is also reaching beyond the doors of his own store to create a team atmosphere with neighboring retail outlets and community members by hosting seasonal flea markets in the parking lot at 1033 109th Avenue NE. “I’ve worked with businesses at the Anoka Cou...
This year’s Flying Cloud Air Tour took participants to Park Falls Airport, right next to the Country Club where the event’s activity was a friendly golf competition. Congratulations are in order for the golf winners: Scott Johnson (long drive), James Hennen (best wedge), and Aaron Becker (crosswind influenced ball placement). Folks then flew on to Phillips, Wisconsin Airport for lunch at the Harbor View Restaurant, next to the airport and seaplane base. Flying Cloud Air Tour organizer, Ben McQ...
It was an impressive lineup at the Anoka County Blaine Airport as efforts were coordinated to present attendees of the Minnesota State Fair with a visual treat beyond anything else they may have observed from the ground. Vintage aircraft participating included a T-28, T-34, P-51, Corsair, TBM Avenger, B-25, and a Huey Helicopter. The August 29 event was in honor of Military Appreciation Day. Seventeen military aircraft, specific to the World War II era participated, including Chuck Datko's T-6...
"You've been coming here a long time." It wasn't a question and I wasn't sure if it had implied age or I just looked like an Oshkosh veteran. "Over 30 years," I admitted. "This is our first time. We've had it on our bucket list for years. Now we're finally here." The wind ruffled the umbrella shade over the yellow picnic table by the Subway near the Vintage Red Barn. They were about our age, a couple from Arizona, much farther away from home than we were. "What do you recommend we see?" the...
AirVenture winners in 2017 include Pat Harker's Stinson L-5, which not only won best L-5, but a Silver Wrench. The impressive aircraft is based at Anoka County Airport in Blaine. Tom Lymburn's coverage of the popular annual event held in Oshkosh....
This year's MSPA's Annual Picnic saw a record number of attendees, in part due to the duo purpose of a much anticipated pig roast combined with the surprise awarding of a commemorative plaque to Bruce Hanson for 41 years of service managing the FBO at Surfside, the Seaplane Base in Lino Lakes. MSPA President Steve Guetter AOPA President Mark Baker awarded the plaque to Hanson at the August 13 event. When Hanson was congratulated, he differed credit to seaplane pilots for their support of the...
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...
With the soaring season well underway, upper Midwest pilots are working to improve their skills to safely fly their gliders longer and farther. As a long-time glider pilot, I often meet pilots who are surprised to learn gliders do more than glide. Pilots find and work thermals to climb thousands of feet (often to near cloud base), then depart on a 100 or 200 km out-and-back, or triangle flight, stopping at thermals along the way to "refuel." Not all glider pilots fly cross-country. Many are...
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...
You want to fly a more challenging (up or down) aircraft than the one you currently wear like an old pair of shoes, or you want to fly off to Salt Lake City next month when the highest terrain you have encountered in your flying career thus far is the Buffalo Ridge in western Minnesota. Where does transition training fit into this? How about on your first flight lesson? The good or bad habits we acquire during our first hours of primary training will carry forward throughout our career unless someone or some-thing intervenes to change our behav...
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...
