Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Sorted by date Results 626 - 650 of 672
OK, let’s get one thing straight. Marijuana use is incompatible with flight safety. If you’re stoned, find yourself a bag of munchies and watch some Big Bang Theory reruns. Don’t even think of getting near anything with an operable airfoil! That being said, the reality of general aviation is that not all pilots are Eagle Scouts. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit (in some states) drug. In a recent survey, more than 16 million Americans admitted to using marijuana in the previous month...
We’re getting pretty excited about hanging up our Mukluks for the few months as we welcome warm air and melting snow. Looks like it’s time to ponder seaplane activity. Now there’s a subject Aero Minnesota has at the top of their list, having recently taken over management of KBDE, an international airport and seaplane base in Baudette, right across the river from Canada. Read more about that adventure on page 13. As proud platinum sponsors of the Minnesota Pilots Association’s first annual Great...
It's been said that like attracts like. In the case of Aero Minnesota, that adage is proof positive regarding president, Adam Forsberg and restoration aficionado, Dan Dolliff. Curiously enough, the two were brought together by an urgent need, a sense of service, a measure of respect, and a penchant for vintage aircraft. The story begins with an urgent need. In 2010 Dolliff was sitting in a closing for a land purchase when, much to his dismay, it dawned on him that he wasn't carrying any...
Every summer for the past 22 years in Minnesota, students from around the State have had an opportunity to attend a fabulous summer program called ACE (Aviation Career Education) Camp. This unique camp held each June and July, opens doors to students that many people, even people in the industry have not walked through. It is nearly seven very full days of total immersion in all-things aviation! The ACE camps for 2014 will be held June 22-28 and July 20-26. Each camp will accommodate a maximum...
Cirrus Aircraft in early February announced that its SR-series Engineering and Design Team has been recognized as the recipient of the prestigious 2013 Joseph T. Nall Safety Award, for pioneering a wide array of safety features designed for single-engine aircraft. The award is presented annually by the International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association (IATSBA) to honor industry leaders who have made noteworthy contributions to aviation and transportation safety. Prior recipients include Al Haynes, captain of the ill-fated United Flight...
James D Lakin, PhD, MD, FACP CFI, CFII, MEI Airline Transport Pilot FAA Senior Aviation Medical Examiner Late winter in Minnesota can be a bleak time. How much more bleak it is learning that you have a cancer. Malignancies are increasingly common especially with advancing age, although they can occur at any time of life. Also, they are bewilderingly varied and complex. Each tumor is unique. Each one carries a unique prognosis and a unique approach to therapy. So if you think something is not...
Wipaire, Inc. has named new leaders to its engineering and manufacturing management. Tim Hendrickson has been appointed as Wipaire’s new Director of Manufacturing and brings over 15 years of manufacturing expertise to Wipaire. Tim is skilled in manufacturing management, analysis, and planning, and has a background in manufacturing engineering. “Tim brings knowledge and experience from working at large corporations, both publicly and privately owned,” states Chuck Wiplinger, president and COO. “We’re sure he will be an excellent asset for Wipai...
In mid-February, award-winning engineering/architecture companies Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH®) and Yaggy Colby Associates (Yaggy) announce their intent to merge. The pending merger agreement will leverage the strengths of both companies resulting in greater value for clients and employees. SEH serves provides aviation-related planning and engineering services for general and commercial airports. The merger provides the firms’ public and private clients access to more resources and technical capabilities. While the talent-rich co...
This has been one long winter. While I have lived and flown in Minnesota for 25 years, I don’t remember a winter that has been more challenging from a flying standpoint. It might be related to the fact that I am now over 60 years young, and with maturity comes a lesser appreciation of “meeting the challenge” of opening the hangar, scooping or blowing snow to clear a path for the airplane, navigating snowdrifts on the taxiway, dealing with snow-covered or icy runways, putting on the engine cover, plugging the engine heater in, cleaning snow...
We all know education is key to furthering all forms of aviation. With that in mind, the Minnesota Flyer visited Thief River Falls recently for a tour of Northern Community & Technical College where we most definitely witnessed education in action. See results of our time with this most impressive educational team in a cover article by C.M. Swanson. Jim Hanson has the second part of his series on "I recall." Great historical piece on how aviation has changed with some great examples. It is...
A nice crowd showed up for the first day of the Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering at KANE on Friday morning....
Friday, March 21 Time Location Speaker Title 10:00 - 10:45 EAA Mike Vivion Thirty Years in the Frozen North-Bush Airplanes & Pilots I've Known Classroom Mark Korin Demystifying Angle of Attack 11:00 - 11:45 EAA Steve Weinzierl Development of a Diesel Engine for General Aviation Aircraft Classroom Steve Johnson Fire Your Flight Instructor 12:00 - 1:30 Museum Visit Exhibits & Lunch 1:30 - 2:15 EAA Neil Otey Tower Operations: We're Here To Help Classroom Twin Cities Aviation Learn to Fly 2:30 - 3:15 EAA Randy Corfman Successful Navigation of your...
Noel Allard This is the first in a series of thumbnails of the important Minnesota aviation pioneers. It is my intention to profile the persons who had the greatest impact on bringing aviation to the public in our state from the files of the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame. Other profiles will follow in future issues. Part I - Clarence Hinck Minnesota owes much of its aviation heritage to an elite group of pioneers who put aviation on the front page, some even before Charles Lindbergh, and...
The Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering starts on Friday, March 21. Last night, sponsors started getting ready for the show....
The Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame has set the date of April 12th, 2014 for their 25th annual Aviation Hall of Fame induction banquet. Six prominent Minnesota pioneers and entrepreneurs will be inducted along with scholarships and awards for best writing and best artwork for 2014. The six inductees are; Marty Coddington, flight instructor, air traffic controller, FAA official and ALPA consultant; Colonel Craig Duehring, highly decorated Air Force pilot and advisor to the military for post-911 preparedness; Greg Herrick, antique airplane...
Despite the grueling winter folks, you’ll be glad to hear there is hot news in this month’s Minnesota Flyer and sizzling events on the horizon! As always, the list of events begins on page 3 and continues until we run out of items submitted by our readers. We encourage readers to support each event listed. However, in keeping with our focus on foundation and future, we do want to a spotlight on the 25th Annual Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame Induction Banquet April 12, see mna...
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Safe Skies Act, which would ensure that America’s cargo plane pilots are sufficiently rested and alert before they fly. "Whether flying a passenger or a cargo plane, pilot fatigue can have tragic consequences," said Klobuchar. "That’s why we need consistent rules throughout the aviation system to help prevent any tragedies. This bill will extend current FAA pilot fatigue regulations to cargo pilots so they have the rest they need to stay saf...
I believe Minnesota possesses a rich heritage in aviation, being blessed with bountiful options in terms of both commercial and general aviation. Minnesota has a very active Aviation Division in the Department of Transportation. There is an active Minnesota Council of Airports, and a very active, effective FAAST program. All are effective though governmental in nature. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has many members in the state, not the least of which is Mark Baker,...
Peter Dunn, co-founder of Aero Minnesota and A&P Mechanic said it best during a recent interview in the second story, glass-enclosed office of Aitkin Aviation's president (and Dunn's nephew), Adam Forsberg. "Honestly, it's kind of surreal," said Dunn. "I'm not kidding. The last few years have been kind of interesting." "Interesting" is the very least that could be said about the chain of events that brought a team of like-minded men together to form six aircraft related businesses in Aitkin,...
The annual Twin Cities Airline Collectible Show was held October 12th at the Best Western Plus in Bloomington, Minnesota. For those of you who like to go and look at old airline photos and artifacts from days gone by, and listen to stories from mostly retired crew members, this is the place to go. There is always a treasure trove of photos, aircraft models, uniforms, old tickets, flight schedules, and all sorts of memorabilia from different airlines, many of which were based here at...
James D Lakin, PhD, MD, FACP CFI, CFII, MEI Airline Transport Pilot FAA Senior Aviation Medical Examiner It's winter in Minnesota and tis the season to be sneezing! The common cold as its name implies, is one of the most frequent causes of disability for otherwise healthy folks. For those of you with children around the house, you know why they call them snotty-nosed kids. Young children usually have at least six colds a year. Mercifully as they get older and their immune systems get more...
Kathy Vesely has accepted the Assistant Office Director position in MnDOT’s Office of Aeronautics effective Wednesday, November 6. In addition to a passion for aviation, Kathy brings with her 35 years of transportation knowledge and experience including a background in surveying, engineering and planning. Kathy has worked in the Office of Aeronautics since 2000. She has been serving as the Aviation Planning Director for Aeronautics the past five years....
Approximately 25 %* of all fatal General Aviation accidents are caused by non-instrument qualified pilots who make the decision to continue flying by Visual Flight Rules (VFR), into adverse weather,. When the visual horizon is lost, a pilot’s senses can be distorted and deceptive to the point that they can lose their sense of direction and become unable to determine the difference in up or down. Minimum values of ceiling and visibility determine Visual Flight Rules. Visibility is how far the pilot can see, while ceiling refers to the maximum he...
For those that fly, the beauty and pleasure that can be found in flying is often so great that it is easy to overlook or even forget the basics. But every good pilot knows it is very important to remember and review the basics regularly. Too often in accident and incident investigations, it is found that the error made by the pilot was a very basic one. Dynamic stall is a phenomenon that occurs when excessively steep banks are entered. It can also occur when very rapid maneuvers or sudden gusts...
This year's outstanding group of 25 airplanes from all over the Twin Cities descended like a small air force upon the ramp of Modern Avionics and Inflight Pilot Training on Saturday, September 14th. The flight marked a decade of the best attended fly-out event in Minnesota which has only gotten better with age. The Flying Cloud Air Tour started in 2004 with one thing in mind; fun. We look for great places within a short flight of the Minneapolis area to fly into and enjoy the company. It's a...
