Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Sorted by date Results 15 - 39 of 196
One of the most positive aspects of community airport events is the family friendliness component. Always the Sunday before Father’s Day, this year’s Rush City Fly-In of June 10, gathered people of all ages to see aircraft as inspiring as the UH1-H “Huey” Helicopter famously flown in the Vietnam War, a 1941 Stinson L-5 from the Minnesota Commemorative Air Force, piloted by Jerry Kyser, president of honor Flight Twin Cities, several T-6s piloted by Chuck Datko, John Bormes, and Chris Koelzer... Full story
Buffalo Airport was the place to be June 10 for the sights and sounds of Mike Wiskus of West Metro Aviation and his Pitts S- 1-11B aerobatics aircraft. Wiskus flew right side up, upside down, tail down, nose down, vertical climb, extreme dive, and any other possible position in which man commands his aircraft to fly for the thrill of the crowd. In a surprise guest appearance, stunt pilot, Craig Gifford also gave the eyeballs of attendees something to fasten on with an air show performance of... Full story
Discover Aviation Days at Anoka County Blaine Airport held in June offered a great pancake breakfast, FAA Safety Seminars, a Warbird Fly Over, T-6 Squad Fly-Overs, a K-9 Demonstration, Huey Helicopter Reenactment, an Education and Veteran's tent, and a parade of antique automobiles. Golden Wings Museum was open for public tours of its vintage aircraft. Food vendors supplied hot and cold menu items. Natured provided rain the first day of the two-day event and a chill wind the second but those... Full story
Nothing cools off an extremely hot day like free ice cream and taking a turn at letting water escape from an official fire hose. Kids visiting the Crystal Airport Fly-In on an upper 90-degree day for their June 17 Fly-In, had the opportunity to do both. Though cloud cover graciously lent some relief from the sun's rays, high humidity pushed perceived temps up enough for the local Dairy Queen owner to offer several freezers full of free Dilly Bars to attendees of the event. Crystal Airport... Full story
Phil Fisher was drawn into the field of aviation through his certified welding skills and desire to help others. Over 27 years ago, a friend of Fisher's, who was also a member of the Planes of Fame aviation group asked if he would be willing to come to a hangar to help with some welding needs. The answer was yes, not only to do welding jobs, but eventually to become a member of the group. When Planes of Fame moved its aircraft to Palm Springs, Fisher remained in Minneapolis where he was born and... Full story
The Annual Ray Fagen Memorial Air Show in Granite Falls, Minnesota draws aviation fans in droves, provides an abundance of photo opportunities with wondrous air shows and static displays, pays respectful homage to the Greatest Generation, and plants seeds of aviation in attendees of all ages.... Full story
"Keep it nice and low to the ground. We're going to try it one more time. Ready? All right. You have control." These words spoken by Associate Dean of Aerospace at Northern Community and Technical College, Curtis Zoller sharpened the focus of Northern Star Council Boy Scouts as they stood in line in the BaseCamp concourse waiting their turn to pilot the unmanned aircraft. Prior to flying drones, attendees get a feel for the soft touch controls by practicing on a bank of computers simulating... Full story
If the idea of a three-digit income, variety in the workplace, and free airline tickets to anywhere in the world is appealing, becoming an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic for a major airline may be just the right fit for you. Understanding the diversity of opportunities afforded an A&P may also help you make your decision. "There are all kinds of aspects and different categories of this job," said Delta Airlines A&P Kevin Hill. "It's not limited to just working on airplanes." Having... Full story
Editor's note Grandpa Steve Young reported that grandson Phoenix was delightfully surprised with the cover and feature story in the April Issue of the Minnesota Flyer magazine. "Surprised" is the key word as Grandpa had not told the young aviation enthusiast he was going to appear in the magazine. The two have been supporting each other's love of aviation for several years. The Minnesota Flyer invites readers to share your stories of how you inspire youth with the joys of general aviation.... Full story
It was a celebratory afternoon and evening April 21 as the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Wings of the North Aviation Museum at Flying Cloud Airport to present the wall of inductee plaques. "I'm very proud that we have such a great home," said Chairman of the Board of Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, Noel Allard, who has been with the organization for 30 years, and is an inductee himself. "As we were hanging these plaques, we saw and handled 194 plaques,"... Full story
It may seem difficult to make a connection between pheasant hunting and a trip to Arkansas to retrieve a Learjet, but for Lake Area Technical Institute (LATI) in Watertown, South Dakota, the dots are there. Back in 2015, Eric Olson, a former student of LATI who went on to become involved in corporate aviation, was pheasant hunting in Castlewood, South Dakota with John Bucher, a corporate aircraft maintenance consultant. Together, they decided to tour Eric's alma mater. That tour ultimately... Full story
Pilots Michael Grzincich and Mike Miller, and ground crewman Scott Nelson, all with the EAA Young Eagle Program, stand with a group of students from the Moose Lake area who are await- ing their rst ride in a general aviation aircraft. Grzincich's 1964 Cessna 172F is in the background....
In the few hours before his official 18th birthday, Moose Lake, Minnesota resident Anakin Wilson did something he had never done before. He flew an airplane. "I'm the Young Eagles Coordinator from EAA Chapter 237 based out of Blaine Airport," said Michael Grzincich, private pilot and professor of IT at Cambridge Community College. "Scott Nelson, Michael Miller and I came to the Moose Lake Airport today to do an away game with two aircraft. "It's just a beautiful day, nice crisp air, minus 15... Full story
It didn't take long after Wilbur and Orville Wright made four brief flights at Kitty Hawk in 1903 for humankind to believe we could, indeed, fly. The rate at which aviation grew over the next 20 years, accompanied by related confusion and mishaps, made it painfully clear the industry required oversight to establish order and safety standards. President Calvin Coolidge stepped up to the plate in 1926 by signing the Air Commerce Act into law, thereby establishing the foundations of government... Full story
The Super Bowl hosted in Minneapolis brought air traffic from all over the world. Lynx FBO at Anoka County Blaine Airport had up to 85 jets parked on its runways. Many reliever airports provided parking for aircraft during the week leading to the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl Flyover consisted of the P-51 Mustang Sierra Sue which resides at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, and an F-16 Fighting Falcon. Renowned American aviator Steve Hinton flew Sierra Sue on behalf... Full story
Since its foundation in 1965, Lake Area Technical Institute (LATI) in Watertown, South Dakota has been training students for the workforce. That training is now recognized on a national level. In 2017 LATI received the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, recognizing its standing as "a benchmark for community college reform." For eight continuous years, LATI has been designated a Military Friendly school for going "over and above" in efforts to assist service members. LATI was also name... Full story
Lake Area Technical Institute aviation program students visit the ANG base in Lincoln, Nebraska....
It was one of those events you shouldn't have missed. January 20 presented a perfect day for the Second Annual TrickAir Ski Plane Fly-In at Paul Jackson's Sea Plane Base in McGregor, Minnesota. Over 50 aircraft flew in to the event, some from as far away as Kansas City, Missouri and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The crowd was wowed by Tony Phillippi's Noorduyn Norseman flown in from Anoka County Blaine Airport. "Tony Phillippi was nice enough to come up and show us his beautiful airplane," said event or... Full story
It was back in 1960 when LaVern Knoepke drove to the Pipestone Airport in southwestern Minnesota to check out a 1940 pre-war, stick controlled Aeronca Chief he heard was for sale. "The guy who owned it was 83-years old and wasn't flying anymore," said Knoepke. "So I went out there and yeah, it hadn't been flown for a long time. It had bird droppings on the wings about two inches thick. I thought, oh gosh. This is terrible." The airport manager confidently assured the potential buyer he could... Full story
It's so refreshing to hear good news. That is exactly what Dave Retka, Isle Flying Club President in Isle, Minnesota offers regarding activity at the private grass strip. In his annual report, Retka states the Isle Airport (private) symbol is now shown on aviation sectional charts. Membership in the club has grown from under 60 to 98 in the last year. Since the club is a public non-profit organization, dues are actually tax deductible. The club joined the Recreational Aviation Foundation to... Full story
Spring Grove resident Glenn Kinneberg taxis his 1947 Piper Cub PA-11, heading towards the runway of the Rushford Airport after a Fly-In this past summer. Kinneberg has flown the aircraft for over 70 years....
Spring Grove, Minnesota resident Glenn Kinneberg will be 91 in February. If weather permits, and if he can clear his packed schedule, there is a good chance he will take his 1947 PA-11 Piper Cub out for a celebratory spin. The flight will have another anniversary factor as the PA-11 is the same aircraft in which he received his private pilot license in February 1948...on skis. Having received his Master Pilot Award over 10 years ago, Kinneberg has over 70 years of flying in his log book. His mem... Full story
Twas the Season to be Jolly, and Super Cub Santa was certainly that! "Santa's Elves did a super job decorating the super cub again this year!" said Randy Corfman, President of the MN Pilots Association, who happens to know Santa quite well. "Santa is very Pro-Aviation, and there is no better way to promote Aviation than through these children!"... Full story
Jim Jacobson, owner of Accelerated Aviation Instruction in Albert Lea, Minnesota does a little holiday kidding around with his Christmas tree atop the Seminole used in multi-engine flight training....
In 2015, Jim Jacobson entered into an agreement with Albert Lea Municipal Airport FBO owner, Jim Hanson to provide flight instruction from a building on the airport grounds. Both understood plans for a new terminal at the airport were underway. Over 20 years of experience in aviation, as well as a lifetime of farming in the area had provided Jacobson with ample opportunity to learn how to calmly meet challenges as they arose. So, it was with confidence Jacobson established Accelerated Aviation... Full story
