Overwhelming

     I was 10 when my Dad took me to the airport to see my first air show. I’ll never forget that day. People everywhere, the smell of hot dogs and popcorn mixed with a …new smell, different than a stock car race or a fair… a new smell I had never experienced before. It was the smell of burnt Jet fuel.

     The Blue Angeles were flying that day. They were flying their smartly painted Blue and Yellow F-4 Phantoms overwhelming this 10 year old with noise, speed and precision. I sat on my Dad’s shoulders to see the Pilots march to their aircraft, taxi out and take off causing the earth to actually rumble. I could feel it in my chest. If you’ve ever watched the Blues, you know that sometime during their performance, one of them is going to sneak up from behind when you least expect it and scream over the top scaring the crap out of you. He did. All a part of the show.

     The Blues were not the only performers that caught my eye. I watched Marion Cole take off and immediately roll up-side down and fly the length of the runway. The Red Devils trademark snaproll on takeoff and their beautiful three ship performance and then Art Scholl comes along tumbling his beautiful Chipmunk with its wingtip smoke.

     Parachutists were circled with planes trailing beautiful white smoke during the National Anthem, the Air National Guard’s static aircraft and helicopters were lined up on the tarmac and a crazy farmer stole a Piper Cub, even though he had never flown before. He drug that Cub’s wing on the ground, just missed the trees, climbed, dove and barley kept that plane flying, then managed to land again after clipping a few corn stocks and chasing several people on the ground.

      This was so much better than the Harlem Globe Trotters game I went to last fall, or any Iowa Hawkeye’s football game. Heck, it was even better than the fishing trip Dad took me on up North to Minnesota, although that was pretty cool.

     We underestimate the effect we have on Kids when we bring them to the airport. I took a neighbor boy Grant Sterns, age 12, up flying a few weeks ago. I strapped him in, headset and all, and explained everything to him as I went along. He didn’t say much, I didn’t think he seemed that excited. I even let him fly most of the flight. Little did I know that he was just simply, overwhelmed. I’ve talked to his Mom since, and she says he’s on the computer everyday looking up airplanes and talking about flying when he grows up. (see the inspirations tab for Grant’s thank you card). I promised him a job at the airport washing planes and cleaning hangars when he turns 15. You can bet I’ll do everything I can to help him get his Pilots License.

     I do some speaking occasionally at aviation conferences, safety seminars and EAA Chapter meetings. I will always bring up the topic of introducing Kids to aviation and mentoring. At one point during my presentation, I will ask the crowd to “look around” and estimate the average age of the attendee. It’s usually in the late forties and early fifties. Not good for the future of aviation at this rate.

As I had mentioned in one of my earlier blog’s, I flew in the St. Cloud Air Show this year, 2010 and I was amazed and excited to see so many kids attending the show. It had been almost 35 years since an actual Air Show had been this close to the Twin Cities and people were air show hungry.

     We need more events, more opportunities to get Kid out to the airport. We also need to make it easier and more inviting. TCA fences and unfriendly FBO’s turn can turn away so many opportunities.

      The Facilities and FBO’s listed on the home page of this Magazine have all agreed to be Kid friendly. This means that when a parent or guardian brings a Kid to the airport, they will actually take the time to show them an airplane, get them through the front door and plugged in. We have had busloads of kids visit the West Metro Aviation Facility in Buffalo. In fact, one winter, we were doing some extensive work on a 1943 TBM Avenger. We had more than 700 kid visit and climb all over that big O beast. That was an experience that both the kids and West Metro will never forget. Overwhelming!

     The Buffalo Airport (20 miles west of the Twin Cities) will be hosting another air show in the Spring of 2011 as a Grand Opening of the new airport runway and taxiways. This event also promises to be Kid friendly.

      It’s time to introduce, encourage and even overwhelm. Remember, it only takes one match to start that fire. When my Dad lit that match, he had no idea the firestorm he started in my life and let me tell you, it still rages.

Michael Wiskus

Lucas Oil Airshows and

West Metro Aviation Located in Buffalo, MN.

612-812-3873

Welcome

     This on-line Magazine and blog is for the aircraft owner. The student pilot. The person that has always wanted to take flying lesson, but has never found the time or the money. I've heard it over and over, time and time again. Where can I find a reliable place to work on your plane? Who gives flying lessons close to where I live? How can I get started in aviation? Where can I find out about aviation events or fly-in/drive-in breakfasts.

     This site is about General Aviation Today in Minnesota. Regardless where you live in Minnesota, there is a good shop, safe school or friendly airport that would love to have you bring your children to see airplanes and experience aviation.

     I want to share my passion of flying with anyone interested in experiencing the rush of landing a Piper Cub on a grass runway, or strapping themselves in an aerobatic aircraft and experiencing their first loop, roll and spin. It's about flying a corporate aircraft with company employees to Chicago, or loading the Cessna 185 Anfib with gear in hand heading North for the weekend.

     
     I experience this everyday, and you can too. Let me share an example with you.

Two weeks ago, I spent a couple of days with Wendell Setterberg.

     I drove out to his cabin on Lake Pulaski, MN. where I found him pumping water out of his floats on his Cessna 172 sea plane. Slight breeze from the West, the leaves were already falling and I was his last student for the season before his departure for Arizona for the Winter.

     There is something exhilarating walking up to a plane parked on a lake. The water lapping against the floats as the breeze causes the handling ropes from the tie down rings to circle in the air. It's like the best of everything, boating and flying all wrapped into one.

     
     I've been a boater my whole life, as well as a pilot. Why did I wait so long to bring these two loves together?

     "Hi Mike", Wendell hollered as I approached. Then he threw me the hand pump. "you finish pumping out the floats, I've got to go make a call".

     45 minutes and 400 pumps later, Wendell walked down the hill just as the last cell was emptied. 

     After a lengthily conversation ranging from step turns to glassy water landings, we untied the little 172 and climbed in. Not much time for the check list, get'er started before she drifts too far from the dock or bangs into something expensive. Once started, low idle pulls the craft slowly through the water.

     Rudders down, rudders up, sailing, power turns, step turns, parking, all tools and techniques that transfer quite easily from my old Amberjack.

     Finally, the moment of truth, the part of the training I've been waiting for. Rudders up, control wheel back, power in and up on plane. Just like a speed boat, gently adjusting the pitch with the trim and the control wheel eliminating as much drag as possible to allow the plane to pick up speed quicker.

     Off the water, the shoreline slowly drops below the nose and that beat up old 172 pulls Me, Wendell and the massive floats through a slow climb. 

     Flying has always been an adventure as well as my profession. I want to share my experiences as well as so many other stories from friends. Join us in this adventure.

Regardless of what you hear, Aviation in Minnesota is alive and well.

     If you have any questions or comments, please let us know. We don't know it all but we have lots of friend who do!

Michael Wiskus

Lucas Oil Airshow Pilot

West Metro Aviation-Buffalo, MN.