Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
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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...
"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...
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...
The 2022 Minnesota Aviation Maintenance Technician and IA Renewal Conference returned March 28-29 to the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. The two-day, in-person conference attracted almost 200 aviation maintenance professionals for continuing education, networking, and IA renewal. Industry exhibits featured the latest and best in aviation products, technology, and services. The event continues to be a premier opportunity for aviation maintenance professionals to reconnect with...
Less than three months after getting his pilot's license, Carter Ricard took off from Sauk Centre Municipal Airport to undertake one of his highest-stakes flights so far: asking his girlfriend, Olivia Kompelien, to prom. Ricard is a junior at Albany Area Secondary School and lives in Albany. Flying is a big part of his family. His father, John Ricard, is a crop duster, and his mother, Cindy Ricard, is a commercial pilot for Endeavor Air, an American regional airline that operates for Delta Air...
Forty some years ago an aviation revolution was occurring, one of the biggest changes since Jimmy Doolittle flew without seeing outside the airplane. Point-to-point navigation using VORs and NDBs was being replaced by "area navigation." It more or less began with Long Range Radio Navigation or "LORAN." Use of LORAN by aircraft goes back to World War II, but the hardware was two large "black boxes" and it was mostly used on big transports for over water flights. A couple of avionics manufactures...
Guadalcanal is not a waterway like "Panama Canal." In Arabic the name means "Valley of Stalls," or "Markets." It's also the name of a city in the Spanish region of Andalusia, and thanks to a homesick Spanish sailor who went to the South Pacific in 1568 the largest of the Solomon Islands has the same name. Andalusia is a bucolic place. The Solomon Islands are hot, wet, and populated with poisonous critters. One member of the U.S. Marine Corps once said, "Guadalcanal only looks good from the poop...
General Aviation aircraft are not only fun to fly, but (dare I say it?) PRACTICAL for personal and business travel. Yes, they are comparatively fast-enabling not only cross-country trips, but a GA aircraft can enable travel to a destination several hundreds of miles away for a weekend-a trip not practical by car. Inevitably, getting the LAST few miles to your destination can be a problem. Having a friend or relative pick you up is one solution (and also gives you "bragging rights" about your...
MnDOT Aeronautics added a new feature to the Minnesota Airport Directory and Travel Guide three years ago. We developed a Foreflight Content Pack and made it available for anyone to download and add to their Foreflight app. The Minnesota Airport Directory Content Pack takes everything great about the directory and travel guide and makes it accessible on your iPad via Foreflight. This year, we separated the seaplane bases from the main content pack, to create a new Minnesota Seaplane Base...
Cirrus Aircraft has selected Eden-Prairie based Wings Insurance as its dedicated insurance broker to provide modern aviation insurance options for customers. "We are thrilled to enter into this new partnership with Cirrus Aircraft," said Wings Insurance President Steve Bruss. "Our team is positioned to deliver an exceptional insurance buying experience to Cirrus Aircraft owners." Director of Business Development Ryan Konrath said Wings Insurance will provide Cirrus owners with an excellent solut...
Late last fall, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association released the results of a survey of pilots and aircraft owners across the country, confirming what the non-profit political organization has been hearing from many members for several years. Older pilots who are just as safe, current, and proficient as any others continue to find their insurance policies unceremoniously dropped or canceled, or much more expensive-just for being a day older than 70. The survey, sent to more than 30,000...
Six general aviation airports operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) grew operations in 2021 by 8% collectively-an increase to 352,195, or 26,151 more takeoffs and landings when compared with 2020. The strong demand for the general aviation system did not wane over the past year, stated Brian Ryks, CEO of the MAC. "Our general aviation airport system overall has seen double-digit growth in operations from 2019 to 2021. The total number of aircraft based at our six relievers has h...
Each year, the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame (MAHOF) inductee selection committee meets in June to review nomination submissions and to select the following year’s inductees. Selection includes evaluation of a candidate’s significant aviation contributions to Minnesota, the area of the state the individual represents, and other criteria involving career and professional contributions. Next month’s banquet will honor the MAHOF 2022 inductees and return the organization to its regular banqu...
In the 1960s having a "draft card" was a mixed blessing for human males in the United States. The Vietnam War was escalating to a crescendo meaning you were likely to be conscripted by the so-called Selective Service. On the plus side, it was absolute proof of being 18 years old and in the State of New York entitled to legally purchase alcoholic beverages, hence the phrase "being carded." I spent my teenage years in a New York town called Binghamton. After turning 18 my favorite watering hole...
The Federal Aviation Administration recently approved a new governance structure involving the St. Cloud Regional Airport, effective Dec. 31, 2021. Governance was transferred from the city to the St. Cloud Regional Airport Authority, which was formed through a joint resolution with Benton County, Sherburne County, and Stearns County, with each entity appointing volunteer commissioners to the authority. The newly established St. Cloud Regional Airport Authority was created as a fiscally...
Piper Aircraft, Inc. announced in earlier this year it would expand its brand ambassador program to include Minnesota State University, Mankato. Piper Brand Ambassadors leverage their social media channels to promote their individual pilot training journey and act as advocates for the aviation industry. The program is designed to increase awareness of the aviation degree paths offered by Minnesota State University as well as showcase the Piper training product line in use at a collegiate flight...
EAA Chapter 54 member Dennis Hoffman passed away Nov. 1, 2021. Hoffman, age 75, of Stillwater, was a longtime member of Chapter 54 who flew many Young Eagle flights with the chapter in his lovingly maintained and polished 1953 Cessna 170B. He also built a polished aluminum Midget Mustang and beautifully restored a Piper L4 warbird, and was a talented, well equipped, and generous fixture on the field. A recent chapter newsletter recalled how many home builders benefited from Hoffman's knowledge,...
"Of all the famous people you've interviewed in your three decades of airshow announcing, who was your favorite?" She was a serious high school senior working on a paper about World War II flyers. One had been her grandfather. We were sitting at the picnic table in Golden Wings hangar surrounded by Greg Herrick's fabulous collection of vintage airplanes. It was true. I'd interviewed many "names" in aviation and aerospace. The one that stood out the most I met for the first time at the Minnesota...
Regular readers may recall my quest to fly as many unique aircraft types as possible. Enroute to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh last year, I was able to add another to my list-the Porterfield. A friend, Bob Lynn, knew an owner, and put me in touch with Charles "Charlie" Slinger of Randolph, Wisconsin. I called Charlie, and asked if I might fly the aircraft "on my way to Oshkosh" with our motor home-though south of our usual route, it wouldn't add more than 100 miles to our trip. He never even hesitated...
Editor's Note: This new Minnesota Flyer series memorializes the state's current or past aviation museums and collections. For some of the long-gone museums and collections, it should be a nostalgia trip. Contributing writers have identified as many as 20 museums and collections and will present each in a separate article. Founded by Bob Pond (1924-2007), a Minnesota industrialist who used aircraft in his business, Planes of Fame – East rose in the early 1990s to become one of the premier c...
Kruse Aviation has been an FBO fixture at Princeton Municipal Airport (KPNM) since 2001. Owner Duane Kruse reports he's busy with interior projects. "We have three airplanes in the hangar right now," he said. "We have a Maule that's getting its fabric, final paint and interior and is getting ready to fly." Kruse said he's also completing paint and interior work on a Cessna 140. "We've got enough work to get us through the winter months and into spring," he added. In 2017, Kruse Aviation...
Most aircraft interior design customers have an idea of what they want to achieve. Premier Jet Center provides boutique service and helps steer clients in a direction that works well together. Premier's interior technicians have more than 40 years of experience refurbishing aircraft, focusing on one customer, one aircraft at a time, ensuring the highest quality workmanship. The full-service general aviation company located at Eden Prairie's Flying Cloud Airport (KFCM) started providing aircraft...
A beautifully transformed Piper Cherokee Six-300 continues to shape aviation memories for Trent Palm, his wife, Cynthia and the couple's five children. When the time came for a restoration, Hannah, age 9, Tristen, age 7, Amelia, age 5, Flynn age 3 and Quintin, age 1 ½, all played a key role in the effort. "They helped with the interior when I brought home the color palettes," Palm recalled. "They were part of the design team for our family traveler." It's no surprise aviation remains the...
