Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
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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... Full story
If you have heard the name Charles Lindbergh, you already know why he is so well known. His May 20-21, 1927 solo flight, ninety years ago this May, from New York to Paris is perhaps the single most significant flight ever made. There is little more that needs be told that isn't readily available in a thousand books and newspapers. What may be interesting to note is exactly how he is related to Minnesota, other than having been raised in Little Falls. Lindbergh was actually born in Michigan... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
We all enjoy aviation whether it be a few laps in the pattern, a trip with friends for lunch or visiting family out of state. But, many pilots reach a point in their aviation career when they begin to wonder if there is something more. And, that's where charitable, humanitarian or compassionate flying can bring a new depth to your aviation adventures! There are many types of compassionate flights, including taking patients to medical treatments, fish and wildlife monitoring and support of disaster areas. Today we are going to discuss some... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
Eight years ago in January, my life changed forever when Rosa and I adopted our son Hayden. Our adult girls had left the nest and this little guy came into our lives out of our desire to provide him a home. Fast forward eight years and I not only have a son, but I have a co-pilot too. This was never more evident than on January 16 this year. It being Martin Luther King Day, both Hayden and I had the day off. It was a beautiful bluebird day so we decided to fly up to the North West Angle to... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
Third Class Medical Reform has had an intense, long journey from its introduction to Congress in 2011 to its final passage and signing into law in 2016. Introduced as the Pilot’s Bill of Rights by Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), the bill was subsequently revised to the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (PBR2), attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), became part of an FAA funding extension bill in the House and Senate, then ultimately signed into law by President Obama July 15, 2016. The FAA then adopted the Third Class Medical Ref... Full story
Duluth In January Cirrus Aircraft announced the launch of the all new 2017 G6 – the smartest, safest and most advanced models ever of the best-selling SR22T, SR22 and SR20 piston airplanes. The benchmark for high-performance, single engine aircraft has been uniquely raised once again by Cirrus to include the just unveiled, ultra-high speed Cirrus Perspective+™ by Garmin® flight deck, luxury automotive-inspired Cirrus Spectra™ wingtip lighting, premium cockpit connectivity solutions and m... Full story
The Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame will proudly hold its 28th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota on April 22, 2017. The awards ceremony will be emceed by popular radio personality, Al Malmberg, host of WCCO Radio’s World of Aviation. Awards will be presented to six inductees, including James H. Brodie, inventor of a system of utilizing small private aircraft for sub and search patrols in the Pacific during WWII; Edward J. Chapman, Vietnam fighter pilot, United Captain, balloonist; A... Full story
When passion and drive give birth to an idea, it rarely dies. It does, however, transform. Such is the case with the Blaine Airport Promotions Group (BAPG), beginning in 2010 out of the minds (and pockets) of Harvey Karth and Roger Hansen. In the beginning, one of the motivational prompts for the duo was the security fence around the Anoka County Blaine Airport. While it served its purpose for safety, Karth and Hansen wondered aloud if it didn't also send a message to the community to keep out.... Full story
Recently I hitched a ride to Rochester International from Stanton Airfield to retrieve an aircraft. When my ride arrived, we watched his landing and commented that his white strobe lights weren't on. At half a mile from our viewpoint we finally saw them blinking. A cold overcast blanketed the Earth at 6000 AGL. The flight to RST was noneventful as we enjoyed the dense air and added performance in the Cessna 172. We received instruction to report the field in sight at 10 miles out. GPS says 12... Full story
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... Full story
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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School days in the 1950s were sometimes punctuated by "Air Raid Drills". The Cold War was on. The Soviet Union had built a nuclear bomb. It was probably false hope, but we practiced taking shelter in the school basement. Some wealthy people even had bomb shelters in their back yards. Military experts figured Soviet bombers would reach the United States by flying over the North Pole. To get us enough warning to take shelter, a series of radar stations was built to detect the incoming aircraft.... Full story
Tree of Hope Once again the Tree of Hope toy collection was held on the first Saturday of December at Maple Lake Airport. The aviation community came through to help support children and their families that are hospitalized over the holidays. The airport was kept busy with over 35 planes ( a record number) flying in to drop off toys. Even Santa took time to fly in with some toys! There was lots of activity inside also with over 65 volunteers helping to get toys ready to go to hospitals.... Full story
Since attending his first air show at two-and-a-half years old, our grandson Cash has been fascinated with airplanes and flying. To satisfy his curiosity, and possibly plant the seed for a lifetime of discovery and excitement, Carla, my wife and I arranged for Cash, now four years old, to take his first "flight lesson." On November 6, 2016 Cash, Jordan (his mother, who is also my daughter) and I went to Twin Cities Aviation based at Anoka County Blaine Airport. When we arrived, we were escorted... Full story
Heather McNevin, CFI, Air Traffic Controller, NAFI Master Aviation Educator Have you ever landed at the wrong airport? Don’t worry, you are not alone. You may think this an impossible mistake given today’s technology but I assure you, people do it every year. Culprits range from student pilots to ATPs. In fact, a highly experienced flight crew for a major carrier just had this issue. In some locations, it happens, or nearly happens, several times a month! Often, these high occurrence areas will broadcast an advisory on the ATIS to warn pil... Full story
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...
