Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
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The Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Induction Ceremony and Banquet honored seven Minnesota Aviation personalities Saturday, April 23, at the InterContinental Minneapolis – St. Paul Airport Hotel. The gala was the 32nd annual induction ceremony for the non-profit. Each year, the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame selection panel meets to consider new candidates for induction. Selections are made from public nominations. Candidates are determined by panel research. In addition to t...
The time for the 2022 Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering (GMAG) is upon us, at long last, and we feel that this year's event will be a most memorable one for each of us. The Good Lord knows that we have had a long, hard winter and we are hoping that we will be blessed with clear skies and nice, warm temperatures! While we have assembled what we feel is an outstanding group of speakers, and an outstanding number of exhibitors and sponsors, we feel we are gathering each and every one who loves...
Over the last 15 years, Willmar-based Bollig Engineering's expertise has focused on airport projects that are crucial to the financial well-being of rural Minnesota. Smaller GA airports need both technical support and funding advocacy. Their communities often have a good grasp of infrastructure needs, but struggle to understand the myriad funding programs available and their ever-changing rules and regulations. "We help our clients understand and access the multitude of funding sources," said...
Brooten Municipal Airport/John O. Bohmer Field's recently added fuel system, completed in 2021, includes a 5,000-gallon tank for 100LL. It was provided and installed by O'Day Tank and Steel LLC, based in Fargo, North Dakota. The project was funded by MnDOT via 70%/30% split, with a private donor contributing to the project. Paul Jurek, PE, is a senior engineer with Bollig Engineering. He was involved with design and construction of the new aviation fuel system. "They didn't have fuel on the airp...
The 2022 Minnesota Airports Conference visited the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester April 6 to April 8, focusing on airport management, operations, and maintenance. The event was open to anyone interested in general aviation and marked a return to an in-person format. The annual conference was sponsored by the MnDOT Office of Aeronautics and Minnesota Council of Airports and facilitated by the Airport Technical Assistance Program (AirTAP). Highlights from the event included an attendee welcome gat...
People used to call all facial tissue "Kleenex" because the product invented by Kimberly-Clark was so ubiquitous that the name became generic. Pilots did the same thing with flight simulators calling the devices "Links" even if they were made by another manufacturer. In 1929 Edwin Link invented his first device for training pilots on the ground. He used pumps, valves and bellows from his father's organ manufacturing company to build a "full motion" simulator. The thing "pitched and rolled" in...
It’s warming up out there and I bet you’re thinking about some cross-country flying! There’s nothing greater than watching the landscape change from checkerboard farmland to rolling plains to majestic mountains as the hours roll by. With that throttle leaned back, you can easily spend four or five hours in the cockpit, enjoying the ride. Problem is you can’t very well get up and walk around in most GA aircraft, and prolonged immobility can pose some serious health problems. The biggest worry is developing deep vein thrombosis or DVT, which o...
"Now Lieutenant," Randy often said. "You know you've been in aviation a long time, when the list of people you knew, is longer than the list of people you know." When he first said that to me over three decades ago, I didn't fully appreciate what he meant. Now, after announcing aviation events since 1991, I understand his message. Randy Sohn, and many others, all part of my aviation experience and life, have "Gone West." It was Al Pike at Planes of Fame-East, who first handed me a mic. As show...
Much of the wisdom imparted by the Federal Aviation Administration is contained in publications called "Advisory Circulars" or ACs. Both thorough and interesting, they cover a variety of subjects including how to build just about everything on an airport. The "Airport Series" start with 150 and the one that addresses airport lighting is 150/5340-30. Using the term "advisory" is not really accurate. Just try building something on a public airport that doesn't conform to the appropriate AC and...
Not all aircraft owners have had anyone teach them about owning an airplane. I always tried to pass on some of that knowledge as I instructed, but many pilots lack a mentor in that area. One of the bigger issues I see is how people treat their aircraft after maintenance. It doesn't matter if it was in the shop for engine work or avionics, the return to service should be methodical and thorough. So many folks show up, grab the logbooks, and off they go into the wild blue without a second...
Developed by Aerospatiale as a replacement for the 1950's vintage Alouette II, the Ecureuil was designed for civilian and military use. First flying on 27 June 1974 with a Lycoming LTS turboshaft engine at Marignane, France, the AS 350 has evolved into what some sources say is Europe's most successful helicopter. A second prototype with a Turbomeca Arriel followed on 14 February 1975, and with French and later American certification, deliveries to customers began in March 1978. Production has...
By any measure 1947 was an auspicious year. Yes, that was 75 years ago and included some very interesting and historic events. The Brooklyn Dodgers acquired Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play major league baseball, from their AAA farm team the Montreal Royals. In Minnesota the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) purchased its first airplanes. Back then it was called the Department of Conservation and the legislature provided funding for two aircraft. One was a variant on the...
For the last five decades, the General Aviation Awards program and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized professionals for general aviation contributions in flight instruction, aviation maintenance/avionics, and safety. These awards highlight the important leadership roles these individuals play in promoting safety, education, and professionalism throughout the aviation industry. Laura Herrmann of St. Bonifacius has been named the 2022 FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year. She will receive national recognition in July...
The Minnesota Navy League Council has filed a special flight plan to celebrate the soon-to-be-released sequel to a military aviation cinematic classic. "Top Gun: Behind the Curtain" lands Wednesday, June 1, at the U.S Air Force Joint Base Fort Snelling, 760 Military Highway, Minneapolis. The event starts at 4:30 p.m. Veteran U.S. Navy pilots, active-duty Navy F/A-18 and F-35 fighter pilots, and Top Gun graduates will share their stories prior to a close-up jet viewing and social hour that will s...
Please check with contacts to see if dates have been cancelled or changed. We publish events as print space is available. For a full calendar listing, visit www.mnflyer.com. Click on "Events" tab. Send information to editor@mnflyer.com. Include the following details: Date, City, Two-Letter State Abbreviation, Event Name, ICAO Airport Identifier, Time, EAA Young Eagles If Applicable, Contact Person Name, Phone, Email. If you want to include full menu details and pricing or additional...
