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Articles from the July 1, 2017 edition


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  • They just kept coming

    C.M. Swanson|Jul 1, 2017

    It was a day to fly, to be sure. The June Fly-In Breakfast at the Moose Lake Carlton County Airport brought people out in droves, not only to eat pancakes and see the wide variety of aircraft, but to pay homage to people who affect aviation. From Ted Philman's family who received a plaque on his behalf for his contribution to sustaining the Moose Lake Carlton County Airport. Cirrus Aircraft employees Alexey Belkin and Brendon Butkiewicz arrived in the Cirrus SR20 with the Breast Cancer Ribbon...

  • Honoring histories and forging futures

    A.R. Vander Vegt|Jul 1, 2017

    What connection does small town, tourist-stop Hinckley, Minnesota have with a landmark flight from Marathon, Florida to Havana, Cuba? The answer may come as a surprise, but it's a lot more than first meets the eye. Former Hinckley resident turned Tobies co-owner, turned pilot, turned CEO of an international aircraft supplier, Tom Schrade, participated in the historical flight from Marathon to Havana organized by the International Air Rally on May 19 to 22. The Cuba Air Rally marks the first...

  • Aitkin Airport Annual Fly-In Breakfast and Car Show

    C.M. Swanson|Jul 1, 2017

    Aircraft attracting attention at the Aitkin Airport's 23 Annual Fly-In Breakfast June 25 included the LifeLink III helicopter, Adventure North Flying Services's 1979 Grumman Tiger, and Platt Hubbell's 1946 Republic Seabee,a an Oshkosh Grand Champion (2005) and Sun and Fun Grand Champion (2006). The Seabee was wrecked and sunk in Lake Shasta, California in January 2010. Hubbell purchased it in 2012 and had it flying again by March 2014. He hangars the aircraft in Brainerd....

  • Giving honor where honor is due

    C.M. Swanson|Jul 1, 2017

    Saturday, June 24, Faribault Airport officially commemorated the Liz Wall Strohfus Field. Pat Rice and Kathy Larson of the American Association of University Women presided over the ceremony, which opened with the Posting of the Colors by the Color Guard and Honor Guard. Dignitaries who honored the well-loved WASP included U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Faribault Mayor Kevin Voracek, and American Aviation Heritage Foundation president Terry Baker, Major Stacey Meiser of the Minnesota Air National...

  • Scholarship opportunities abound in aviation

    C.M. Swanson|Jul 1, 2017

    With the acute shortage of people to fill currently vacant positions in the airline industry, companies are looking for ways to draw interest to their specialty fields. One proven, effective way to reach out is to offer financial support for schooling. Following is a partial list of scholarship opportunities ranging from $500 to $5,000. Academy College www.academycollege.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/academy-college-scholarships AOPA www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/learn-to...

  • Book Review: Aerial Toys-Adventures With Flying Machines

    C.M. Swanson|Jul 1, 2017

    When your first airplane is the one you made of clothespins right around the time you learned to walk; when your father is a commercial airline pilot; when your mother encourages you in your aviation adventures, you've got a better than fair chance of buying, building, and flying aircraft for the rest of your life. John F. Hanson has a comfortable way of mixing boyhood dreams and experiential realities with human emotions and practical technicalities as he weaves stories of 21 aircraft...

  • Surviving an airplane crash

    Jeff Jorgenson|Jul 1, 2017

    As a Flight Instructor, I have covered emergency procedures ad nauseam. Follow maintenance procedures; make sure everything is documented and up to date. Do a thorough walk-around; file a flight plan; do a safety briefing and know how to use your seatbelts; fly the airplane first, know your V speeds; use a mental emergency checklist; find the best place to land into the wind. Aviate, navigate, communicate. Use a written emergency checklist if time permits. Crack the door(s) open prior to...

  • Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame announces 2018 inductees

    Noel Allard|Jul 1, 2017

    The Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame board is proud to announce the names of the 2018 Inductees. Six persons will be inducted at a Spring 2018 Induction Banquet; they are: Darrell E. Bolduc, aircraft engine specialist and seaplane pilot. Bolduc represents half of the first Father-son inductee pair, as his father, Wilmer Bolduc was inducted in 2002; Roland J. “Ron” Fagen, aerobatic pilot, prominent ethanol production businessman, Vietnam veteran and aviation museum owner; Lt. Ralph D. Gracie, WWI fighter pilot and casualty, the first Min...

  • Duluth Air Expo draws full crowd

    James Bulgerin|Jul 1, 2017

    This year the Duluth airshow, June 3rd and 4th, featured the U.S. Navy Blue Angels & Canadian Forces Snowbirds. The USAF flew the newest, and one of the most venerated planes, the F-35 Lightening II, and the P-51 Mustang in formation. The great bounds of advancement in our warbirds is clearly shown by the diggerences in form, and angle of attack! The F-35 wowed the crowd demonstrating that it is both powerful and agile and can dominate and survive n today's aerial combat arenas. The US Navy's...

  • Request Flight Following

    Heather McNevin|Jul 1, 2017

    Many pilots are intimidated to ask for flight following, but it can be a great additional layer of safety for your flight! You'll get another set of eyes watching over you and helping you spot traffic and weather, and you'll already be talking to a professional should you have an emergency and need help. The benefits are numerous! So, how does one take advantage of this opportunity? All you have to do is ask. The biggest thing with flight following is communication. This leads into our first...

  • Rushford extends welcome

    C.M. Swanson|Jul 1, 2017

    Rushford Aviation, Inc. is putting out a warm welcome to avi-ators for several reasons this summer. During its July 15 fly-in a ceremony will be held announcing the airport's new name: Rushford Municipal Airport, Robert W. Bunke Field. "Rob Bunke is the gentleman primarily responsible for establishing the airport in the mid 1970's," said Rushford Aviation owner Mike Thern. The ceremony to honor Rob will begin at 10 a.m. Mark Baker, president of AOPA, and MnDOT Aeronautics officials will be...

  • Airport of the Month

    Tom Foster|Jul 1, 2017

    Cook County has only one City. It has three townships, eight "named communities," and a couple ghost towns, but only one incorporated City. If you only get one city, Grand Marais is the one to have. Once a commercial fishing port and logging center, Grand Marais is now the jumping off point for many wilderness adventures and a well know center for the arts. Getting to Grand Marais is an adventure by itself. One way to get there is to drive, following Highway 61 along Lake Superior to the extreme...

  • The FAA's New Approach to Sleep Apnea

    James D. Lakin, PhD, MD, FACP, CFI, CFII, MEI|Jul 1, 2017

    It's been almost five years since we talked about sleep apnea (September, 2011) and the FAA's approach to this problem has been updated. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is very common. .It affects anywhere from 9% to 28% of adults. It happens when the upper airway becomes obstructed during sleep causing disruption of normal sleep patterns. It is usually caused by overweight. Fat tissue in the neck can block the airway, causing an interruption of air flow. It seems to occur more commonly in men...

  • Current Events

    Check this column each month to see that dates have not been canceled or changed. Send notices of events at least six weeks in advance of publication to the Minnesota Flyer, P.O. Box 750. Sandstone. MN 55072-0750 or mnflyer@cpinternet.com or charlotte@mnflyer.com. July 8: Wething Detroit Lakes Regional Airport Fly-In/Drive-In (KDTL), 8 a.m.- noon, contact Heather Sorum, EAA 1498 heasorum@hotmail.com July 9: Lakeville Lions Club Fly-In Pancake Breakfast, 8 a.m.-noon, Airlake Airport (KLVN). PICs free. Warbirds including B-25 bomber. Rides availa...

  • The Mystery Airplane Contest

    Tom Lymburn|Jul 1, 2017

    Archibald Barkley began his career working with the Wright brothers and with pioneering companies Verville, Stout, Ford, and Curtiss. Teaming up with Harold Grow in 1936, they established the Barkley-Grow Aviation Corporation in Detroit. Their main product, with its patented multi-spar all metal wing, was the T8P-1, a twin engine, twin tailed airliner, which first flew in April 1937 piloted by Frank Cordova. Test flying was done by noted air racing pilot Lee Gehlbach. The T8P-1 was awarded Appro...