Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
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Though there were no burning issues, Executive Director of the Minnesota Business Aviation Association (MBAA) Gordon Hoff knows the wisdom of aviation enthusiasts establishing relationships with legislators. "It's important that we talk about the importance of aviation every year to our members so if we ever do have some kind of emergency, they know who we are and how to reach out to us," said Hoff. "We can be their resource." Hoff noted the importance of stressing to legislators that taxes... Full story
The 28th Annual Induction Ceremony of the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame began, as usual, with a social hour and banquet at the Hyatt Regency Bloomington on April 22. What was most unusual was the passing of the torch for banquet management to a gracious Cheri Rohlfing who noted this year it took a 23-member planning committee to do what Noel and Mary Allard have been undertaking for 27 years. This year's Master of Ceremonies was radio host, Al Malmberg; keynote speakers were Dale Klapmeier... Full story
COVER PHOTO: When Chuck Cook, pilot and owner of the T-28B he hangars at Anoka County Blaine Airport offered a ride to fellow pilot Mike Swiridow during the Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering, Mike graciously suggested the ride be a gift to Bonnie, his wife. Bonnie was smiling before the aircraft even left the ground. Well done, gentlemen!... Full story
Back in the 1950s and 60s, sod airstrips dotted farmlands all over the country. One such entity, Isle Airport on Mille Lacs Lake in Isle, Minnesota was activated in July 1956. While hangars and a Pilot Shack have been added, much of Isle Airport remains its quaint, nostalgic self. It was just that ambiance South St. Paul resident Dave Retka was looking for when seeking a place to hangar his 1939 Taylorcraft. "It's fun being up here," said Retka. "It reminds me of when I was a very young kid. My... Full story
After accumulating aircraft and historically relevant aviation items for over 33 years, the Minnesota Air National Guard Museum finds itself in a tight spot, figuratively and literally. "Since we've had a change in the security posture in the United States, it makes it ever more challenging to stay open to allow the public to come out and visit the museum," said Museum Executive Director Jim Atwell. "Visitors must call seven days in advance and have a military ID or valid driver's license and a... Full story
Anoka County Blaine Airport continues to grow its reputation as a community friendly facility. EAA Chapter 237, Twin Cities Aviation, R.C. Avionics, the American Wings Museum, and Golden Wings Museum once again opened their doors for an educational tour and hands-on adventures for over 40 youth ranging in age from infant to ninth grade, and 20 adults. The tour was arranged by EAA Chapter members Roger Hansen and Harvey Karth. While the younger members of the group visited aviation related... Full story
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
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
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
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
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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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...
C.M. Swanson When he was not flying, the late John Benson sat in a barber's chair next to a wood stove at his airport on his farm, sharing stories about aviation. One of the familiar stories is how, in the 1930s, his brother Roger plowed an airstrip on the farm just east of Bald Eagle Lake in White Bear Township. "John actually got his pilot's license when he was 15 years old," said EAA Chapter 745 president, Jerry Fleischhacker at the October 8 Fly-In Breakfast. The old barber chairs still sit... Full story
It didn't take long for Minnesota EAA Chapter 237 to rally once they got the call for assistance from Grantsburg Municipal Airport requesting Young Eagle rides for community members in Wisconsin. "Twenty-four airplanes flew in," said EAA Chapter 237 president Kirk Fjetand. "Forty Young Eagles fights were given to children during the event. For many of them, it was their first flight." The local media was also on hand to record the event. "It's good to see so much support for the airport in... Full story
C.M. Swanson Positive societal change doesn't happen by chance. It takes drive, dedication, and determination. Judging by those standards, the Minnesota STEM workforce call to action held by AirSpace Minnesota and Aerospace Industries Association at the Minnesota Department of Education Conference Center on October 6 was a rousing success. From the morning visit from Senator Amy Klobuchar, to keynote speakers Dr. John Olson, Vice President and General Manager of Polaris Defense and Dale... Full story
Animals and airplanes drew an interested crowd to the Commemorative Air Force hangar at Fleming Field Airport October 15 for the second annual Planes and Paws Pet Expo. Event activities included a pet costume contest complete with prizes, vendors of animal rescue services and related fields, and, of course, aircraft on display for up close public viewing. Kathy Fox, Quality Assurance Manager at Sierra Hotel Aero, Inc. based at the South St. Paul Airport said the response from the event they put... Full story
C.M. Swanson On a warm Sunday evening in late August, one of Key Air's hangars at Anoka County Airport looked like a movie set. In actuality, it was more exciting than that. Folks gathered from all around to see, feel, and touch the SF50, a personal jet recently unveiled by Cirrus. Ryan and Jennifer Lake from Blaine were among those gathered. The couple currently rents an SR22 but they were curious about the new aircraft. "We're here just checking out the Vision Jet and the newer SR22 Cirrus... Full story
C.M. Swanson When just the right team is matched with compatible, effective management; when business is set in a harmonious, symbiotic location; when benefits extend to the community, brilliance happens at an airport. Brainerd Lakes Area Regional Airport captures this exact configuration of elements in the community it serves. This spring, Steven A. Wright assumed the Airport Director position, and Joe Birkemeyer became manager of Northpoint Aviation, the airport's FBO. Both men have similar... Full story
