Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
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EAA's local chapters are about people, bringing together individuals interested in learning more about aviation as well as sharing their own knowledge. The national organization considers Minnesota Chapter 237 a "go-to" group when it comes to getting things done. The chapter is based at Anoka County-Blaine Airport (Janes Field). Chapter members are involved in a variety of social and educational activities, including Young Eagles rallies, fly-ins, building seminars, and more, to build awareness...
Three large Minnesota events commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with flyovers featuring F-16 fighter aircraft. Planes from the Minnesota Air National Guard's 148th Fighter Wing made aerial appearances over St. Paul, Duluth, and Minneapolis on Saturday, Sept. 11. Four F-16s completed a Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs 9/11 morning flyover of the state capitol, said Lt. Col. (Ret.) Audra Flanagan, who served as a second lieutenant with the Wing 20 ye...
A 1978 Bellanca Citabria 150S registered to Alan Kupferschmidt of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, prepares to touchdown at the Moose Lake Annual Fly-In Pancake Breakfast Saturday, Aug. 21....
Fly-in organizers around the state encountered two interesting challenges during the month of August. One was breakfast condiment-related and the other involved weather conditions. The hot, sultry days of late summer produced scattered storms and low ceilings that forced many pilots to make go/no-go VFR decisions the day of an event. Several events with high attendance had to send volunteers scrambling to the store when the pancake syrup ran out. The Flyer's most recent calendar listings...
Please check with contacts in this column to see if dates have been cancelled or changed. Send event information to editor@mnflyer.com. We will publish as we have space available. For full calendar listing, visit www.mnflyer.com and click on the "Events" tab. Sept. 18: Brainerd, MN: Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (KBRD) 75th Anniversary Open House Carnival 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact: Jennifer Knopik (218) 454-5632 or info@brainerdairport.com with questions. Sept. 18: Mora, MN: Pancake breakfast...
A 1946 Aeronca 11AC registered to Lowell Einerson of Alexandria pulls into the parking area during the 38th Annual Fly-In & Dine-In Breakfast, Saturday, July 17, in Henning, Minnesota....
AirExpo 2021 at Eden Prairie's Flying Cloud Airport (KFCM) had a different field layout when compared with previous years. Featured aircraft were parked between the new Jet Linx Hangar and the East-West Runway. Attendance was a record-setting 7,500 both days of the July 24-25 event, reported Wings of the North Treasurer Gary Kreig. "Back to the Skies" was this year's AirExpo theme. Last year's AirExpo was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many changes to the summer aviation...
EAA Chapter 1065 welcomed almost 60 aircraft and served nearly 300 meals during the 38th Annual Fly-In and Dine-In Breakfast, Saturday, July 17. About half of the aircraft visiting F.R Steuart Field at Henning Municipal Airport represented first-time attendees, said EAA Chapter 1065 President Grant Smith. "It was a very busy morning as planes started to arrive," Smith added. "I try to meet each pilot as they park, and give them a quick idea of what to do and where to go." Smith said one fly-in...
The Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing recently celebrated its 50-year anniversary. Approximately 300 attendees helped wing members celebrate July 10 during an open house that featured history flights, a food truck, aircraft tours, a silent auction, and plenty of cake. The Minnesota Wing formed at Fleming Field in South St. Paul as the first charter unit of the national headquarters wing, operating as a maintenance support arm. "Miss Mitchell," the Wing's B-25J, left the anniversary party ea...
The first Saturday in September the community of Battle Lake will welcome the return of an popular aviation event that will honor two special people. Pat Kostelecky, a driving force behind the Battle Lake Area Community Fund (BLACF) and the "Annual Tribute to Gerry Beck - Gathering of Airplanes," died unexpectedly in November 2019. "We are going forward," said Kathy Deal, a good friend of Kostelecky's and BLACF member. "This year will feature a tribute to Pat, and the annual tribute to Gerry....
Please check if dates have been cancelled or changed. Send info to editor@mnflyer.com. We will publish in print as space is available. Sept. 4: Glencoe, MN: EAA Chapter 1658 Annual Sweet Corn & Bratwurst Fly-In, Drive-In, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Glencoe Municipal Airport (GYL) PIC eats free. Drawing for free airplane rides. Free Young Eagle rides 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contacts: Stuart Selchow (320) 583-8367, Jim Benson (320) 310-8522, Ray Dann (320) 864-5805. Sept. 4: Battle Lake, MN: 14th Annual...
Minnesota's commitment to aviation history was well represented when the National WASP WWII Museum in Sweetwater, Texas, reopened in early May after completion of a significant renovation and expansion project. Two Vultee BT-13s with state connections were among 12 aircraft present for a fly-in and homecoming event, which honored the first women in American history to fly military aircraft, paving the way for women to serve equally in the U.S. Air Force. The Vultee was the basic trainer flown by...
Summer 2021 in the Northern Hemisphere officially began June 20. Before that date became history, a dozen or more aviation events, namely fly-ins and pancake breakfasts, returned to fill the calendar after pandemic-forced absences. The roll call of airports was impressive, as was the pent-up interest in general aviation's return to communities around the state. The Minnesota Flyer's June press time listings included events in LeSueur, Eden Prairie, Alexandria, Grand Rapids, Superior, Wisconsin,...
Please check for date cancellation or change. Send info to editor@mnflyer.com. We will publish when space is available. July 25: Olivia, MN: Olivia Regional Airport (KOVL), Olivia Lions Fly-In Breakfast, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. PICs eat free. pancakes, eggs, sausage. Contact Rich Haugen (320) 522-2115 or email richard.haugen@yahoo.com. Aug. 1: Springfield Municipal Airport (D42) Fly-In with classic cars and bike drive-in. Serving from 8 a.m. to noon. Free to PIC. Contact John Ryan (507) 920-7816....
The Seventh Annual Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering (GMAG) made a three-point landing with its May 21-22 return to Buffalo Municipal Airport (KCFE). More than 600 people attended the event, said Minnesota Pilots Association President Randy Corfman. A key attendance variable was weather. "We didn't have great conditions either morning, so a lot of planes could not fly in," Corfman added. "However, we did have a lot of people fly in on Saturday." The West Metro Aviation ramp quickly filled with...
Please check if dates have been cancelled or changed. Send info to editor@mnflyer.com. We will publish in print as space is available. June 19: Blaine, MN: Burger Bash Fly-In, Anoka County-Blaine Airport (KANE) Lynx FBO, 9877 N. Airport Road N.E. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food sales support EAA Young Eagles. Contact: Kevin Sislo (763) 486-6575 president@eaa237.org or Ellen Quist (763) 222-4952 quist.ellen.e@gmail.com. June 20: Canby, MN: Canby Father's Day Free Airshow, Canby Municipal Airport – M...
A recent milestone amphibious float delivery by South St. Paul-based Wipaire, Inc. brought back fond memories for the company's CEO and president. Chuck Wiplinger recalls when his father, Ben, and members of Wipaire's engineering department began developing the 2100A line of Wipline floats. "I was still in high school," Wiplinger said. "Dad wasn't sure how many he would build or how many people would want them, but here we are, 500 sets later." Wipaire delivered the company's 500th set of...
Please check with contacts to see if dates have been cancelled or changed. Send information to editor@mnflyer.com. We will publish when space is available. June 4-6: LeSueur, MN: Marginal Aviation "First Ditch" Fly-in, LeSueur Municipal Airport (12Y). Antique airplanes, reduced price fuel, self-service credit card pump. Contact: Jennifer Hanson, (952) 217-1366; Linda Lovley, (612) 799-3881; Debra Wilbright, (507) 461-0992 or email marginalaviation@yahoo.com for more information. June 5:...
The Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team's popular Saturday morning webinar series serving Flying Cloud Airport (KCFM) recently reached a new audience online. Laura Herrmann, FAASTeam representative from St. Bonifacius, hosted a mid-March webinar that featured the participation of approximately 20 to 25 pilots based at the Crystal Airport. The goal was having a town hall similar to others conducted for the KCFM aviation community. Herrmann was joined by Airport Manager Mike Wilson and...
Hangar 3 at Fleming Field in South St. Paul was a busy place Saturday, April 17. Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing volunteers completed a photo session featuring Miss Mitchell, the Wing's B-25J while others were hard at work getting another North American product ready for a return to service after winter maintenance. Volunteers did brake work on the SNJ-6 Texan before Operations Officer Trevor Henson took off in the WWII-era trainer and flew a test flight. The CAF Minnesota Wing was the...
Minnesota Pilots Association President Randy Corfman received a resounding early indicator scheduling should continue for the Seventh Annual Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering (GMAG) May 21-22 at Buffalo Municipal Airport (KCFE). This winter, MPA completed a survey of its 700-plus members to gauge interest after last year's COVID-19 related cancellation was announced in mid-March. Ninety-two percent of those surveyed said the association should hold the event even with the likelihood of a...
The six general aviation airports operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) collectively grew operations in 2020 by two% to total 326,044, or 6,381 more takeoffs and landings than in 2019. The general aviation airports are often referred to as reliever airports because they relieve congestion that would otherwise occur at the MAC's major airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP). More than half of all registered aircraft in Minnesota are based at the MAC's reliever...
Discover Aviation Days organizers have received many inquiries about the popular event at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport (Janes Field) and its eventual return. According to Craig Schiller, DAD Planning Team member, the non-profit organization is still intact and is financially sound, but like most events, DAD was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. The event will continue to be on hold until state mandates allow such large gatherings again. “At this time, we hope to hold DAD again in June 2...
If you have information you would like us to share please send it to editor@mnflyer.com. We will publish as we have space available. May 21-22: The Seventh Annual Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering (GMAG) is scheduled for May 21-22 at Buffalo Municipal Airport (KCFE). This year’s event will be COVID-19 safe and will feature educational sessions and a variety of aviation product vendors. Visit the Minnesota Pilots Association website www.mnpilots.org and click on the page links for pilot, a...
