Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
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"Kids love airplanes and astronauts and dinosaurs," said Kate Watson, Curriculum Integration Coordinator at University Avenue Aerospace Children's Engineering and Science, Anoka Hennepin School District. "Being an aerospace school, we get the airplanes and the astronauts." Watson manages the Science Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Aerospace program for the magnet school of 600 students. In her coordination activities, she has teamed the school up with a wide variety of entities and individu... Full story
Melissa Aho @melissaaho Did you know that the first "A" in NASA stands for Aeronautics? While most people associate NASA with space exploration, aviation (including General Aviation) is still important to NASA's mission. NASA is also on the forefront with social media and communicating its message in a variety of new and unique ways. In fact, it has taken its social media commitment a step further and has created NASA Social Media events. These events are arranged around a topic (such as a...
Stars of the North, the Minnesota chapter of Women in Aviation joined several other groups in Chanhassen one evening in January to pack 42 boxes of food, that will find their way to Haiti with the non-profit, Christian organization, Feed My Starving Children. "We learned it was the equivalent of feeding 25 kids for one year," said president of Stars of the North, Jenny Nietfeld. "We had a very good turnout. It was very rewarding." Stars of the North sometimes gather socially, just to have fun, l... Full story
In dual roles as a pilot of an CRJ 900 passenger aircraft, and as a Simulator Flight Instructor, both for Endeavor Air, Captain Lukas Eaton made a presentation to students at Chisago Lakes High School at its Career Day in January. Speaking from experience, he noted that, if a person is interested in a career in aviation, the best planning begins far before college. Eaton grew up right across the border in Ellsworth, Wisconsin where he used to watch Northwest aircraft take off and land in... Full story
FREDERICK, MD – Mark Baker, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), was awarded the ‘Harrison Ford Legacy in Aviation Award’ Friday during the 12th annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards celebration in Beverly Hills. Baker, a native of Minnesota, was recognized for achievement in aviation and as the head of the world’s largest aviation member organization. “It’s obviously a very proud moment to have this kind of recognition,” Baker said upon receiving the award named in honor of the actor who has served as a spokesma... Full story
Back in last June, we talked about new training options for learning about hypoxia and your own specific response to low blood oxygen. As an alternative to an extended cross-country flight to an altitude chamber, the FAA has introduced the so-called portable reduced oxygen training enclosure or PROTE. This can be transported to an FBO near you and provide a great real life experience of hypoxia under carefully controlled conditions. Responding to the article, one of our faithful readers pointed...
This is the fourth in a series of thumbnails of the ten most important Minnesota aviation pioneers, from the files of the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame. It would be hard to discover on a more important figure in the development of Minnesota aviation than Raymond Simeon Miller. Besides being the Father of the Minnesota Air Guard, Miller's career with the new Minnesota Aeronautics Commission brought him to the forefront of Minnesota's pioneer licensing and flying rules. Miller was born in Van... Full story
If you want to fly anything in a farmer's field, it is best to make the farmer aware of your plan. When Northland Aerospace, based at Northland Community & Technical College (NCTC) in Thief River Falls began devising a plan to fly Unmanned Aircraft Systems over the vast fields of Roseau, Minnesota to gather agricultural ground images, that is exactly what they did. Prior to anything becoming air born, Dave Grafstrom, NCTC's Farm Business Management representative from the Roseau satellite... Full story
There’s an old adage that states, “Behind every successful man is a good woman. In the case of Thunderbird Aviation, the statement could be read either way. Nancy Grazzini-Olson, current president of the thriving FBO, has inherited the ability to adapt and grow business with the same level of expertise as founder Albert Grazzini, her father. Grazzini established Thunderbird Aviation, Inc. in 1962, having applied his financial accounting and leadership skills to a struggling flying club at Fly... Full story
nesota Chapter of Ninety-Nines had a business meeting. Though they do like to socialize, they are also all about wanting to get things done. Ninety-Nines is an international organization of women pilots organized in 1929. The first president was Amelia Earhart. Today there are approximately 4,000 members. Patti Sandusky is the chairperson of the Minnesota Chapter, which covers the whole state and has 60 women members, all pilots. "Our chapter belongs to the North Central Section which includes... Full story
Cirrus Aircraft announced in late November the successful first flight of their second certification flight test aircraft, ‘C-One’ (C1), in their Vision SF50 personal jet program. This achievement marks the most recent significant milestone for the program as C1 joins C0 in FAA certification activities and continues to accelerate the Vision SF50 towards entry into service. C1’s first flight took place on Tuesday afternoon, 25 November at approximately 3:30 PM CST from Duluth International Airport. Upon completion of the forty-five minute fligh...
I checked the 300 mm on my Nikon for the third time and made sure the filter was clean. Arrival of the honored guest was only minutes away. She was an old friend. I'd first spotted her sitting among the clover on the east side of Flying Cloud Airport when I was finishing my private pilot license at Beech Aero. There was no mistaking her perfect lines. It was April 1983. Another photographer by the gas pumps pointed and we listened, then watched as Doug Rozendaal made an overhead approach,... Full story
Wipaire, Inc. is pleased to extend a warm invitation to pilots and aircraft owners to attend the grand opening celebration at Wipaire’s service center in Leesburg, Florida. The event will take place on Saturday, February 28th, and will feature a variety of activities for pilots. Based at the Leesburg International Airport (KLEE) since February 2013, Wipaire’s service center has expanded into a new, larger hangar. “Our new 10,000 square foot hangar more than doubles our facility footprint and provides us much-needed room to accommodate the e...
I’m beginning to think that not every pilot in the Midwest reads my column! Or if they do, they’re not taking Ol’ Doc’s admonitions to heart. In September the National Transportation Safety Board released a report, Drug Use Trends in Aviation: Assessing the Risk of Pilot Impairment NTSB SS 14/01. Disturbingly, they reported a sharp upward trend in the use of potentially impairing drugs by pilots who died in crashes. When a pilot does a digger the FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute... Full story
"They heard the sound of an airplane and then an explosion. Racing out of town the youngsters quickly came to the crash site in a wheat field a kilometer away." Minnesota produced three triple aces in World War II. All have been honored by induction into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame. Kenneth Dahlberg and Richard Peterson returned home to start families, build successful careers and to serve their communities. Fate treated Major Don M. Beerbower differently. On August 9, 1944, the Ninth... Full story
Sometimes people have to find the joy in Christmas even when circumstances are far from joyful. Not long ago, Minnesota Pilots Association President, Dr. Randle Corfman found himself in just such a position. Having built a very close friendship with fellow aviator, Ron Barrow, Corfman was highly impacted when Ron was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. More devastating news came when Kathy, Barrow's wife was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. When the grievous circumstances arose, the couple wanted... Full story
The Minnesota-Michigan game! The Battle for the Little Brown Jug is one of the great college football rivalries and we were flying to Ann Arbor to see it! The hand-off from Rochester to Minneapolis Center was uneventful. We settled into cruise configuration with the expectation of two hours of instrument monitoring until we hit Detroit airspace. Unfortunately the day we launched was last September 26th. You may recall that on that sunny morning, an ATC contract employee decided to burn down... Full story
How did December get here so fast? It must be all the fun we’ve been having at aviation events, and interesting people we’ve met this past year, that have made time fly by at warp speeds! This issue of the Flyer has been most enjoyable to put together! We think readers will be delighted with the Super Cub Santa story on our inside cover. Thank you Julie Sturek (that moment. frozen. Photography), for your captivating photos. A tip of our wings to Randy Corfman for inspiring us with yet ano... Full story
Sometimes people have to find the joy in Christmas even when circumstances are far from joyful. Minnesota Pilots Association President, Dr. Randle Corfman found himself in just such a position several years ago. Having built a very close friendship with fellow aviator, Ron Barrow, Corfman was highly impacted when Ron was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. More devastating news came when Kathy, Barrow's wife was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. When the grievous circumstances arose, the couple...
In a private hangar tucked away at Sky Harbor airport in Webster, Minnesota, 55 young girls were recently inspired to believe they could have a career in aviation. The event, Taking Girls To New Heights, was put together by Stars of the North, a local chapter of the international organization, Women In Aviation. Upon entering the hangar, the attendees were given gift bags complete with information about opportunities available in aviation from ACE Camp for youth, right up through a wide variety... Full story
When the Blaine Airport Promotions Group (BAPG) holds their monthly meetings, they don't talk about advertising. They discuss how to further their outreach into the community. It was during one of those conversations that Paul Perovich, General Manager of Twin Cities Aviation and Jennifer Birkmeier Blaine High School Curriculum Integration Coordinator developed a plan to bring high school students to KANE for some real life experience intended to reinforce student's interest in Science,... Full story
I snugged the crotch straps and aligned the shoulder harness - careful to keep the D-ring uncovered. CLIP. And CLIP again. Stage one done. Now for the four-point harness. Another set of shoulder straps - then the wide lap belt with the quick release, locked and set- almost. The plugs for my trusty David Clarks are behind my left elbow. I ease the straps and Wayne deftly reaches under my arm pit and plugs in and I'm good. Good and tight. My old Nomex zipped. Velcro cuffs tight. Flying gloves... Full story
On a bright, sunny August afternoon, with Thunderbird's President and CEO, Nancy Grazzini-Olson, at the controls, a bulldozer quickly erased from the landscape a building that was a fixture at Flying Cloud Airport for over 50 years. "We trained 1000's of pilots in that building and it survived tornados, snowstorms and every other type of Minnesota weather, so I thought it was only fitting to be the one to get the first swing of the bulldozer," commented Nancy Grazzini-Olson. With onlookers made... Full story
Can you help us put a smile on the face of a child this holiday season? Tree of Hope has been collecting toys for children in the hospital since 1990. In 2013, 32 hospitals across Minnesota received toys to help make a difficult time for both the children and their parents a little brighter. They are able to celebrate the holidays even though they are away from home. How can you help? Engage your family, friends, flying groups, etc. to help collect toys. Work with your local FBO to have a... Full story
Dale and Alan Klapmeier were inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame on October 4, 2014 at a ceremony in Dayton, Ohio. The brothers were honored for their contributions to the industry and join a prestigious group of aviation pioneers in the National Hall of Fame including Orville and Wilbur Wright, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and Chuck Yeager. “This is a great honor and I am humbled to be part of this group of pioneers,” remarked Dale Klapmeier, CEO of Cirrus Aircraft. “The real credit goes to the entire Cirrus family who has b...
