Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
B-17 Yankee Lady has a busy weekend at AirExpo 2015
Seeing the layout of the grounds caused excitment even before attendees arrived at AirExpo 2015 at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. With welcoming weather, spectacuar aircraft, and an inviting array of events, people flocked to the event in droves.
A P-51D passes the crowd while a Beechcraft T-34 makes a fast pass with smoke. Paul Ehlen and John Sinclair were the P-51 pilots for the weekend.
Brad Deckert taxis his General Motors TBM-3E in after a series of low passes followed by the combat veteran Sierra Sue II. Behind them B-17G Yankee Lady departs on another history flight.
As the day begins, crew members give a pre-flight and oil check to the B-17, Yankee Lady, of the Yankee Air Museum based at Willow Run Airport near Detroit. Yankee Lady provided a multitude of passengers with a stimulating air experience at AirExpo 2015 at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie.
acque Black, (14), daughter of Gary Black and Celeste Curley-Black captivated a full house during the Evening with Eagles Banquet by her dignified reading of Americas White Table by author Margot Theis Raven.
Renee Martchinske readies herself for a ride in Brad Deckert's General Motors TBM-3E Avenger, registered N81865, a WWII carrier based torpedo and anti-submarine aircraft. The wings fold to save space aboard carriers.
Standing ready to board Yankee Lady for a nostelgic ride in the B-17 are WWII veterans Wayne Klopp, pilot, Ray Peterson, flight engineer, Jim Rasmussen, navagator, Dick Kaminski, gunner, Bob Clemens, navigator, and Simon Velasques, turrent gunner.
Passengers took their places for a ride, not only in today's skies, but for some, down memory lane. Here Wayne Klopp contemplates his days as a pilot in a B-17.
Wayne Johnson, Liz Strofus, Charles DeBellevue, and Curt Brown hold a panel presentation and discussion moderated by Stan Turner following the Evening with the Eagles Banquet.
July 11-12 offered two perfect weather days for AirExpo 2015 at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. Attendees watched and toured over 40 vintage airplanes including the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-25 Miss Mitchell, P-51 Mustang, and TBM Avenger.
A special treat was had when Paul Ehlen of Air Corps Aviation, owner and pilot of the P-51 Mustang aircraft, Sierra Sue II, and Joseph Aaron Hawkins, owner and driver of a 2002 Mustang GT automobile got together for an impromptu photo shoot arranged by Bruce Mattson of AirExpo 2015.
Photographer Andrew Chow captured the image featured on the Minnesota Flyer August cover. Chow, a Hugo resident, has been involved in photography for over 10 years. He holds freelance workshops and teaches photography classes for Anoka Hennepin Community Education.
Chow was quick to pick up on the opportunity for a rare photo shoot when the two Mustangs and their owners got together on the grounds of Flying Cloud Airport during the AirExpo.
Other activities over the weekend included an evening with living legends from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War and others. Jacque Black, 14-year-old daughter of Gary Black and Celeste Curley-Black captivated a full house during the Evening with Eagles Banquet by her dignified reading of America's White Table by Margot Theis Raven.
The Minnesota Flyer, one of the sponsors of AirExpo 2015 was present to cover the event. A particularly enjoyable happening was watching attendees draw their favorite aircraft on the Minnesota Flyer whiteboard at our outdoor tent. Thanks to all who offered their artistic renditions.
Reader Comments(0)