The annual fly-in event is a homecoming for Zenith Aircraft customers from across the U.S., with many of the company’s customers flying into central Missouri in their completed Zenith kit aircraft, whose parts and components were all made at the factory in Mexico, Missouri.

The open hangar days and fly-in event includes two full days of activities, with educational seminars and workshops, an aircraft show, contests, social activities, as well as a Zenith banquet on Friday evening.

This year, the company is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the low-wing Zenith CH600 series designs by aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz, as well as showcasing its newly expanded Zenith Aircraft kit factory and hangar showroom. Factory tours (of the modern kit aircraft factory), aircraft building and flying demonstrations, and other activities also are planned for all visitors.

On Friday, September 20, educational seminars begin in the morning and take place throughout the day featuring various airframe (aircraft fuselage, wings, and tail), engine, avionics seminars, with suppliers such as Dynon and Garmin avionics, Corvair and Viking auto engine conversions, and more participating.

The knowledge gained from these educational seminars gives the individual aircraft kitbuilders an opportunity to learn more about the choices they have in building and finishing their own aircraft.

Charlie Becker, director of chapters and homebuilt community manager for the Experimental Aircraft Association, will speak about government topics affecting sport aircraft owners and builders, including Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC), task-based phase 1 flight testing, letters of deviation authority (LODAs), BasicMed, and fuel issues. There will be additional seminars and panel discussions on topics of interest to Zenith builders and flyers, including flight safety (transition training and first flight preparedness).

Friday’s activities conclude with the popular Zenith Aircraft banquet (catered BBQ) to be held outdoors in front of the Zenith Aircraft factory with the planes (weather permitting) with special guest speakers and entertainment.

Saturday’s schedule is also packed with activities, including:

• Ribbon-cutting ceremony (noon) of the Zenith Aircraft factory expansion
• Tours of the newly expanded Zenith Aircraft kit production facilities,
• Zenith aircraft “show” with many categories and prizes,
• Seminars on Zenith aircraft kit construction and maintenance,
• STOL and other flying demonstrations at the airport
• Dinner (fried chicken) and awards ceremony starting at 4:30 p.m.
• Great camaraderie throughout the day with lots of hangar talk and food

Hands-on building projects in the Zenith factory are being planned, including a women-only introduction to aircraft building workshop class. There will be Zenith Aircraft presentations on aircraft kit construction, as well as representation from more than a dozen vendors of products and services for Zenith customers (avionics, engines, insurance, etc.).

Area hotels sell out well in advance of the event, but there will also be free camping available at the Mexico airport.

Further details are available on the Zenith Aircraft website, with a detailed seminar and events schedule to be published closer to the event date.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on Kitplanes.

The post Zenith Aircraft ‘Homecoming’ to Feature Open Hangar Days, Fly-In appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The airport is named for a World War II fighter pilot who later became a community leader. The airport has both paved and grass runways and is home to one of most impressive antique aviation and automobile museums in the country.

The event runs September 7-8 and usually attracts hundreds of people who want to view and sometimes fly in antique aircraft or get up close to vintage machines. Admission is $20.

Camping is encouraged, and local and semilocal antique aircraft owners often set up a tent under the wing of their machines, not unlike the barnstormers of the 1920s and ’30s.

Getting there by air requires some planning, as visual flight rules are required. Pilots are encouraged to download the VFR reporting points information and to double-check the NOTAMs along their route because of smoke and TFRs due to ongoing wildfires.

The post Hood River Fly-In Set for This Weekend appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The 32-page document of official procedures, known as the Oshkosh 2024 Notice, is now available online and required reading for pilots intending to fly themselves to the Wisconsin event. 

According to the EAA, there are a few changes this year that are the result of “pilot feedback and FAA review of arrival procedure recommendations.”

The EAA said the notice is in effect from noon CDT on July 18 until noon CDT on July 29. The document outlines procedures for the many types of aircraft that fly to Oshkosh for the event, as well as aircraft that land at nearby airports.

New Procedures for 2024

This year there are TFRs in the Milwaukee area that have nothing to do with AirVenture.

• On July 15-18, the Republican National Convention will be held in the region, prompting a closure of airspace. On July 25-28, the Milwaukee Air & Water Show will be conducted with a TFR of its own.
• There is a new Fisk holding procedure. There are several pages on it in the notice that include drawings of landmarks and approved routes in addition to textual descriptions called out in boldface and boxes.
• No Fisk arrivals will be permitted before 8 a.m. CDT on Thursday, July 25.

In addition, the ATC assignable transition points located west of Oshkosh will be in effect again. They are designed to reduce holding time and air traffic congestion. The points are at Endeavor Bridge, Puckaway Lake, and Green Lake. According to the notice, they will be announced on the arrival ATIS when ATC activates during times of highest traffic flow.

This year’s AirVenture marks its 71st anniversary, and safety, as always, is paramount.

“The most essential information for any pilot flying to Oshkosh involves reading and thoroughly understanding the 2024 AirVenture Notice to ensure safe operations on arrival and departure,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety. “This FAA notice document states the official requirements and expectations for pilots. We also urge all pilots to log appropriate cross-country time prior to their trip to Oshkosh so they have the proficiency and confidence to fly safely.”

Pilots are advised to study the notice in advance and plan their flights carefully. 

Pro Tips:

• Add an additional 30 minutes to your estimated time en route, and be prepared to divert to another airport if weather, traffic, or an accident creates a delay.
• In addition to having the notice in digital form on your iPad or tablet, print it out and have a hard copy with you in the cockpit as a backup.

Good luck, and we’ll see you at the show.

The complete Oshkosh 2024 Notice is below. For a free, printed copy, call EAA at 1-800-564-6322.

The post Oshkosh 2024 Notice Outlines Changes for Pilots Flying to AirVenture appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Answer: Not at all. An airshow involves aerial acts that require an aerobatics box, oft-paid performers and announcers, the designation of a show line (to keep the viewing public out of harm’s way from performers), along with procedures and staff for emergencies, just to mention a few things. The FAA needs to approve the event, and a NOTAM is issued. Airshows usually charge a fee for entry.

The airport sponsor needs to approve the airshow before it happens, along with the FAA, which has guidance here.

An airshow usually takes about a year to plan. For example, the airshow in Grant County, Washington, is held on Father’s Day weekend, and by August 1, they have started planning for the next year.

Fly-ins do not typically have paid performers, although they may have fly-bys of aircraft in the pattern, or Young Eagles rides taking place. Fly-ins require permission from the airport sponsor, such as the county, city, or port, making arrangements not to disrupt regular activities at the airport—like flight school operations. Usually, you do not need FAA permission—or have to issue a NOTAM about the fly-in.

A fly-in is more like a car show with aircraft on static display—and often the two are paired, classic cars and classic airplanes. Usually there isn’t a fee to enter the fly-in, although they are often cast as fundraisers for aviation or civic organizations and donations are appreciated. Many aviation fly-ins have a pancake breakfast for a price, and that money is considered a donation.

Both an airshow and fly-in require the organization putting on the event to obtain an appropriate level of insurance, often determined by the airport sponsor. Sometimes, this can be the killer of the event, as the amount of insurance required by the airport sponsor risk management team is beyond the capability of the organization that wants to put on the event. This is particularly true if the fly-in is a fundraiser for a non-profit. Both events also require attention to infrastructure, such as getting an adequate number of porta-potties, parking assistance, first aid stations, etc.

In both cases, approaching the airport sponsor well in advance (at least a year to six months out) with a plan on when the event will take place, what activities and exhibits to be at the event, how many staff and volunteers you will have working the event, the footprint of the event on the airport, how you will address the issue of not interrupting regular airport operations, and how many people you anticipate having will go a long way to making your event a success.

The post What Is the Difference Between a Fly-In and an Airshow? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

I’ve since learned that a quick screen capture of Midwestern real estate listings can effectively shut him up for the season. But this year some of the beautiful summertime scenes I’ve enjoyed from aloft may prove even more effective. This is what I was thinking about on a recent picture-perfect Saturday filled with antique aircraft, good friends, and sweeping rural vistas in the waning, golden sunlight.

Having been without an airworthy airplane for several months this year, I’m just now getting back into the swing of things. I’m beginning to rediscover how a perfect weekend can be made even more so as an airplane owner. With muddy winters, lengthy annual inspections, and massive panel upgrades behind me, the airplane is running great, and I’m finally free to actually use it to seize the day.

The most recent Saturday adventure began with a generous invitation from my friend Luke. Luke is a very active volunteer with the EAA Vintage Aircraft Association, and it was with his invite that I was able to attend their annual fly-in at Brodhead, Wisconsin. Conveniently, Brodhead is only about 20 miles south of me, and while I frequently pop down there for pattern work on the three beautifully maintained grass runways, this was the first time I’d flown into one of its organized events.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. In terms of fly-ins, I’ve only ever flown into EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. This frame of reference is a bit nonstandard, not unlike someone who has only ever attended the Super Bowl and is wondering how local high school games must compare. It would be a new experience, and I was looking forward to it.

As it turns out, smaller countryside fly-ins—even the more sizable ones—have a wonderful vibe and are a true pleasure to attend, especially in your own airplane. Like sampling a fine wine, one can slowly mosey around the airport, have relaxed conversations, take in the vintage airplanes, and lazily discuss plans for the on-site barbecue and evening campfire. This is a stark contrast to trying to take in AirVenture, which I’ve found to be less like sampling fine wine and perhaps more like shotgunning several dozen consecutive cans of Miller Lite in one frenzied sitting.

The staccato bark of 1920s- and 1930s-era radial engines above punctuated the relaxed countryside ambiance as various achingly beautiful antique aircraft took people for rides and regularly passed overhead. An attendee showed off his 1950s-era BMW motorcycle alongside an old biplane, the stately rumble of the opposed twin blending in nicely with the vintage aircraft engines surrounding us. There was an idyllic balance of laziness and activity that allowed conversations to flow and prevented boredom from ever materializing. 

Hang out at your own airplane, and the conversations are similarly relaxed and enjoyable. Nobody is in a hurry, trying to scurry off to a forum, press briefing, or airshow display like at Oshkosh. Topics of conversation meander like lazy creeks, with aviation newcomers presenting fun, elementary questions about your machine and fellow owners swapping tips and lore learned from ownership. 

As the sun sank lower and the shadows grew long, I preflighted my plane and took off behind a beautiful Stinson Gullwing. Happy to have a full complement of LED lighting to help me stand out, I carefully negotiated the radio-free antique biplanes in the pattern and set off for the 20-minute flight home. Along the way, golden sunlight illuminated the cabin and brought the hayfields below to life in a way the midday sun never can. The atmosphere was as warm as the filtered light, and my leisurely 90 mph cruise speed became more of a luxury than a hindrance.

Evenings like this bring out the paramotor training at my home airfield, and I’m fortunate the instructors and students monitor the frequency with vigilance. Upon hearing me report my position inbound, they requested a few minutes to clear the runway for my arrival. I was happy to orbit the picturesque fields for a bit and comply. 

Still a relative newcomer to the world of tailwheels, I’d just assume not have a live audience lining the runway edges while I land. While I was confident I could land safely and without placing the crowd in danger, I also knew chances were good that I’d resemble an injured wildebeest staggering across the runway while doing so. Fortunately, the tailwheel gods smiled upon me. With the help of my squishy Alaskan Bushwheels and the 8 psi of pressure within, I believe I fooled my audience into thinking I possess something resembling proficiency and skill.

It was a perfect end to a perfect day of airplane ownership, and I’ve come to learn how important it is to deposit these kinds of memories into the vault for safekeeping. Snow, ice, and future setbacks are certain to arrive, after all…and like a big stack of nicely seasoned firewood, reflections upon days like this help to ensure you stay warm and happy in the inevitably challenging times ahead.

The post Golden-Hued Memories of a Late Summer Fly-In appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The expanding FLYING Media Group team has been on site at EAA AirVenture for the past couple of days putting together our new outdoor media hub (display sites 439/440 between the control tower and the flightline) and gearing up to report on the big stories for the week.

You’ll hear from the breaking news masters at AVweb.com as well as detailed analysis on FLYING’s digital site, while Plane & Pilot and ByDanJohnson report on affordable aviation. The investigative team at Aviation Consumer will be on the lookout for new products to test, and folks at KITPLANES, Aviation Safety, and IFR Magazine will seek out enterprise stories for future issues.

Stop by FLYING’s on-site HQ to say hello to the team delivering FLYING’s aviation marketplace, Aircraft For Sale and BusinessAIR, too.

In the meantime, here are the top five things we’re looking forward to seeing at the show.

First Look at the Beechcraft Denali

Textron Aviation normally brings eight or nine aircraft to display—and in the past several years, it has counted amongst those the mockup intended to represent its latest bid into the single-engine turboprop market, the Denali. Well, this year, instead of a very nice simulation, we get to see one of the test articles in real life.

Several other OEMs will debut “first looks” at the latest models, including the HondaJet Elite II, which will fly to the event utilizing the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Book and Claim (SAFC) program to offset the emissions from the ferry flight to get it to the show. We expect other operators to announce similar SAF use—either directly or through the SAFC.

EAGLE Update

Unleaded avgas continues to take center stage as we move toward greater distribution of the current lower-octane products as well as the development of the eventual replacement(s) for 100LL. 

In an update forum on at noon CDT Monday at the Theater in the Woods, the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative will host participants from the cadre of manufacturers in the process of creating those new fuels. Afton/Phillips, GAMI, Lyondell/VP Racing and Swift plan to give progress reports. We’re all ears.

Follow-Up on MOSAIC

Speaking of big, important initiatives, the FAA’s preview last week of the Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) notice of proposed rulemaking is set to publish on Monday as well, in the Federal Register. That makes official a broad sweep of changes allowing light sport aircraft acceptance and certification to transition to a performance-based methodology. 

The aviation community thus far has responded with broad praise for both the content of the NPRM and its timely release—before Oshkosh, so we can all get together and talk about it. We’ll report on the FAA’s in-person comment on the subject, as well as other reactions from key industry leaders and the pilots directly affected by the ruling—which is just about all of us.

Advanced Air Mobility on Display

While a couple of the big players in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and advanced air mobility (Joby for one) won’t have their actual flying machines at AirVenture, we can look forward to several who will. Boeing-backed Wisk Aero is one of those, though it has yet to receive clearance to enter flight test with its 6th generation prototype.

We’re also excited to catch up on the latest from Lilium, Volocopter, Archer, Ampaire, and the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX.

Warbirds Soar Again

Perennially the most popular of aircraft types at Oshkosh, the warbird area looks like it will be hopping again this year, with a couple of notable returns of beloved aircraft. The B-17 “Yankee Lady,” from the Yankee Air Museum in Ypsilanti, Michigan, unfortunately won’t be one of those, as it blew a jug and won’t make it to the show in time.

Warbirds in Review will feature a string of classic and historically important aircraft, including a North American B-25 and the P-51C Mustang Tuskegee Airmen.

The post Top 5 Things We Look Forward to at Oshkosh appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Judy Reynolds has enjoyed breaking bread with guests to her airport in Shell Knob, Missouri. Reynolds said she looks forward to these summer events, notably the fly-ins that feature a distinct menu and have been a staple of the local flying scene since they began. 

“The airport itself was really built in 1970 by the four guys that did Turkey Mountain Estates,” Reynolds said. “…I want to say there are 700 lots, and I would say that of those there are 40 full-time homes and several lake houses with many empty lots around. My husband and I got involved with the airport in 1992, when we moved down here. At the time, there was a runway, a nine-hole golf course, a clubhouse, and a swimming pool. It was my understanding that as they were selling lots that you automatically got use of all of that. Well, that didn’t bring a lot of money in, so then they began to sell things off.”

This uncertainty became an opportunity for neighborhood members to consider the airport’s future and step in to keep it going. 

“I can remember my husband [Marshall] coming home and saying that the guy that bought the airport and the rest of the property can’t keep up with the mowing,” Reynolds said. “The airstrip, which is 3,950 foot long by 80 foot wide, takes quite a bit of time to mow and trim by itself, let alone a golf course. So, he wanted to sell. The first thing that my husband did was talk to the other members of the airstrip to see if they would be interested in buying this together. At first, everyone was really excited about it, and then the next thing I know, it’s down to four guys then three guys and finally two guys. In 1994, another couple and us bought it.”. 

Reynolds added that they ran the airport without incident for several years. But then in 1996, her husband had a stroke, and she had to take over their portion of the upkeep responsibilities. In 1998, he died, and five years later the other couple moved away, leaving her solely in charge.

“Before that, I debated about selling out my portion of the airport to that couple,” the energetic octogenarian said. “Because I’m not a pilot and he was. But the pilots came to me and said that it would be helpful if I stay on and run the airport, so I didn’t sell and instead took the rest of the share. So, since 2003, I’ve pretty much run the airport on my own, with help from a lot of people. I mean a lot of people—neighbors, pilots, and family. …I started having fly-ins at that time. We have six fly-ins, starting in May and ending in October.”

She added that when they purchased the airport, it was to promote and preserve aviation. It was never meant to be a money-making operation, and she can honestly say, with a laugh, that the goal has been met year over year.

“My hobby is the airstrip, but as I got older, I thought again about selling the airstrip,” Reynolds said. “Our only child, my son, is not a pilot either. He suddenly said he would come down from the Kansas City area and help us mow. I didn’t mind mowing because you can solve all of the world’s problems when you are mowing, but I didn’t know how to take care of equipment. I’ve been fortunate for those that help us out with everything. I’m just kind of a woman of leisure…”

Her favorite activities now include mingling with the dozens of folks who arrive from as far away as Texas and Minnesota for the highly anticipated fly-ins.

“You just never know how many people are going to come,” she said. “One time…we had 64 airplanes! It usually averages 15, 20, or 25 planes, and I’ve been really pleased seeing young guys who join us. I know that flying is an expensive hobby, so many times it cuts out the younger generation. But I am really pleased to see that there are lots of young guys that seem to be coming in, along with the older ones.”

All pilots know that one of the best parts about flying is the food. The crew at Turkey Mountain is well aware, knowing its grub is one of the reasons pilots come and join them time and again. 

“My favorite fly-in is the one where we have the ‘omelet in a bag,’ which I’ve always done in June, July, and August,” Reynolds said. “I do it simply because most fly-ins have pancakes, which we are doing in July. This is unique. It’s different and people get a kick out of it because they’ve never ever done it before. They want the recipe and, of course, I [joke with] them I’ll have to kill them if I give it to them because that’s a signature meal. 

“In the past, I always advertised hamburgers as ‘MO00 burgers’ and [hotdogs as] ‘MO00 dogs,’ and made them all beef. You see, when we took over the airport, the call sign was ‘40M.’ Then the FAA called me and said that they were changing the identifier to ‘MO00.’ And I said to the person that called, ‘Wait, that is moo. That sounds like a cow, and this is Turkey Mountain Airport!’ I don’t think he saw the humor.”

The well-kept grass strip isn’t just used for those coming in who laugh about the disconnect in naming convention and served fare or those looking to crack the recipe of Reynolds’ world-famous omelet recipe. It’s also heavily utilized by pilots who frequent the area for other reasons.

“I have a membership for the airstrip, No. 1,” she said. “There are a number of people that have lake homes in the Shell Knob area that fly in on a regular basis. These folks come in from all over. There are no homes on the airport property here, just hangars. I just own the airport and things on the west side of it. On the east side, it is owned by another gentleman who is putting hangars up over there. I understand that he is changing the covenants, maybe, and will include houses. They weren’t set up that way initially, but I think that he is planning to have it where people could put [in] a home if they want to.”

One could go on forever about memories from fly-ins past, and the future of the long-standing grass strip. But really the best way to learn all of this and more is directly from Reynolds, one of the country’s most beloved fly-in hosts. 

Here is Turkey Mountain Airport’s 2023 event schedule, with updates available for viewing on its Facebook page.

The post Turkey Mountain Airport Welcomes Pilots to Its Community appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

PilotEdge has been proudly hosting SimVenture Oshkosh for four years now, and each time it only gets better. It’s a unique opportunity to emulate the flight procedures associated with the famous EAA AirVenture event. You’ll have the chance to fly into the virtual Oshkosh, guided by the actual Oshkosh air traffic controllers, using your very own flight simulator. Pretty neat, right?

Each year, the real-life Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, becomes a buzzing hub of more than 10,000 aircraft arriving for AirVenture. To handle this incredible influx of air traffic, the Experimental Aircraft Association collaborates with the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association to develop specific VFR arrival and departure procedures.

• READ MORE: Three Tips for New Owners Flying to EAA AirVenture

If you’re a real-world pilot, SimVenture represents a golden opportunity to brush up on your nonstandard VFR skills. Whether you’re a seasoned AirVenture attendee or new to the game, these procedures can be quite unique, and SimVenture offers a platform to practice and familiarize yourself with them, building confidence and contributing to safer real-world flights.

For flight simulator enthusiasts, SimVenture can make your dreams of flying into AirVenture come true, even if it’s in a virtual setting. This is your chance to experience the thrill of one of the most realistic flight simulations you’ve ever experienced.

The first SimVenture in 2020 was created as a response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, offering aviation lovers an exciting activity they could safely enjoy from home. It quickly became a massive success, with more than 1,000 virtual arrivals into Oshkosh.

• READ MORE: Pilots Can Fly PilotEdge’s SimVenture Before Oshkosh

By 2021, the event transitioned to a more training-focused approach, allowing pilots to use SimVenture as a rehearsal for the actual AirVenture event happening just a week later. This strategy continued into 2022, recording well more than 2,000 arrivals throughout the event.

And now, here we are, gearing up for SimVenture 2023. We at FLYING are thrilled to be a part of this grand event with a virtual booth, joining you in exploring the virtual skies at SimVenture. So, mark the dates—July 13-16. Let’s celebrate our shared passion for aviation, learn, engage and, above all, have a great time. Can’t wait to see you there! Happy flying!

The post SimVenture 2023: Real Controllers, Real Procedures, Virtual Skies appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Pioneer Field is tucked away in the heavily glaciated Chugach Mountains near the head of a deep fjord in the Prince William Sound, just across from the Port of Valdez, and the Valdez Glacier that sits to the east of the runway. Despite how awe-inspiring this landscape may be, it owns a reputation for creating fast-changing and inclement weather conditions, but it seems the weather gods were smiling down upon the 19th Annual Fly-In & STOL Competition with blue skies and  an abundance of sunshine. The conditions could not have been more beautiful for this legendary event.  Regular Valdez competitor Dan Reynolds said, “Overall this year’s weather was some of the best I have seen.” 

The ramp was full of airplanes belonging to competitors and spectators who traveled from hundreds, even thousands of miles to participate, coming from as far north as Fairbanks and North Pole, Alaska, to Juneau, just 450 miles to the south of Valdez. Boaz Schwarts of Tel Aviv, Israel, flew his Carbon Cub FX3 from Bend, Oregon, to join CubCrafters at the event to give demo rides, and another person traveled 4,348 miles from Tampa, Florida, to volunteer for the event.

Of the 2,000 spectators in attendance were 200-plus passengers from the HMS Nieuw Amsterdam, a Holland America Line cruise ship that was docked at the port just a few miles up the road. The city of Valdez offered the ship’s aviation enthusiast a free shuttle ride to the fly-in.

Light Sport

Even a few Canadians made it over the border to compete, including Valdez Light Sport Class winner Reynolds, who made his event debut in 2016 in his 1984 Chinook Valdez Special. This was Reynolds’ sixth year competing at Valdez, having only missed 2020 due the Canadian border being closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Reynolds is one of the fan favorites, having set a new short landing record in 2018 with a distance of 9 feet, 6 inches, beating the previous record of Valdez STOL legend Frank Knapp in his “lil’ Cub” set the previous year at 10 feet, 5 inches.  

Reynolds has reached the podium every year since he started competing at Valdez, and 2023 was no different. He took home another first place win in the light sport category with a take off distance of 28 feet and landing distance of 38 feet for a combined 66 feet that also earned him the overall best score. Because of the unusually mild weather, the stronger headwinds that bring the super-short, record-breaking distances were lacking, leaving Reynolds’ 2018 mark standing for another year. 

You can watch Reynolds compete at the Wayne America Fly-In in the National STOL Series against some of the most talented pilots in the lower U.S., including Steve Henry, Austin Clemons, and Hal Stockman.

This year, Knapp and his wife, Kris, were spotted on the spectator side of the fence. Knapp said, “We enjoyed the show from the spectator viewpoint this year! For us, one of the most exciting moments was watching Dan (Lawn Dart) Reynolds with his Chinook! It was a great group of pilots and machines!”

Alternate Bush

Nathan Rehack took the win in the Alternate Bush Class in his 2022 Experimental CAW12 Super Cruiser, with a combined score of 171 feet, an impressive 49 feet shorter than second place.

Bush Class

The Bush Class was the most stacked class of the event with nine aircraft, including Piper PA18s, ranging from the early 1950s to the late 1970s, a PA22 Tri Pacer, a 1943 Interstate S1B1, and a 1946 Aeronca Champ! Joe Prax, the Valdez fly-in president, said he found the Bush Class scores to be the most impressive, and although the Aeronca Champ didn’t win the class, pilot Kyle Sobeck did a great job with a lower-powered plane without flaps. The crowd appreciates any airplane flown well.

It was newcomer George Pine who won the Bush Class in his 1959 Piper PA18. This was Pine’s first time competing at an STOL event. 

Light Touring 

The 170 Mafia enjoyed a strong showing in the Light Touring Class. However, the strength-in-numbers axiom didn’t apply this weekend as it was Steven Spence in his 1958 Cessna 172 who took the win for the third consecutive year with the combined shortest distance of 170 feet.

Heavy Touring

The Heavy Touring Class was also stacked with a strong presence of Cessnas— 206, 185, and 180s—but it was a 1978 Helio Courier that won by a whopping 113 feet over second place with a combined distance of 177 feet flown by Lukas Stutzer. It was Stutzer’s second career victory at Valdez. 

Second- and third-place finishers James Sparks and Keving Doyle have competed for many years. Doyle especially sports a long family history in Alaska STOL, as his uncle was part of the first known competition held on the beach on Kenai in the early 1970s.

Prax was pleased with the turnout this year: “We had a good mix of new and veteran pilots who all performed well. The wind at the event was only 7-8 knots but (was) extremely steady. Another factor in great performance is the low density altitude from cooler temperatures and the event (being) at sea level.” 

The day ended with a delicious dinner and awards banquet at the Valdez Convention & Civic Center that overlooks Port Valdez. With the Sugarloaf, Benzene, and Mummy mountains serving as a breathtaking backdrop, it was the perfect setting for a  celebratory formation flyby—performed by aerobatic pilots Scott Sexton of Barnstormers Aviation in his Citabria and extreme sports athlete Melissa Dawn Burns in her Edge 540—to celebrate the competing pilots, volunteers, staff, and 350 of their closest friends, family, and fans.

Richard McSpadden of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association said, “Valdez is hallowed ground for STOL. It is like (the) Fenway Park and Lambeau Field of bush flying.”

Valdez STOL is known for bringing this type of competition to the forefront of general aviation and has made  a direct impact on the creation and growth of popular events in the lower 48 states. The staff is already planning and preparing to celebrate the event’s 20th anniversary in 2024.

All in all, the 19th Annual Valdez STOL Competition was truly a sight to behold, made even more memorable by the gorgeous weather. 

The post Annual Valdez STOL Event Brings New Competitors, Former Winners appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

I immediately fell in love with the place, its warm summer temperatures, sunny blue skies, and—the best—its people. Friendly, welcoming, happy people! I made many new friends and kept returning every summer, always mentioning to those I visited that I wanted to move here someday. And my friends—being good friends, kept telling me—”you better visit in winter first.” Temperatures in Minnesota range from the 80s (Fahrenheit) in summer to the low 10s during the winter, and in the north can go even lower.

During the winter, the land of 10,000 lakes becomes the land of 10,000 frozen lakes.

I finally moved to Minnesota this year, just as winter started. As the temperatures started to go down, I was already wearing a sweater while the thermometer showed 50 degrees F. While wearing my best warm clothes, I could observe some strange behavior among the locals: they were still in shorts, t-shirts, and flip-flops. What is wrong with you people? It is cold! 

Without knowing it, Minnesotans were showing me how resilient and adaptable they can be and, at the same time, how they squeeze the fun out of any sunny day. And that is how flying is approached by the locals in love with it.

In summer, you will see a lot of wheels left at the hangar, and airplanes become taller in their floats. As soon as those lakes start to freeze, the floats are removed, and straight skis are installed. Any day over 32 degrees F feels like summer, and people will run to the airport with shovels to remove the snow in front of the hangars, and fly in t-shirts.

One of those adaptable Minnesotans is Paul Jackson, owner of the Jackson Seaplane Base in northern Minnesota (MN61), a small seaplane base with a hangar, dock, and cabin. It’s an excellent place to take a break or escape from bad weather—or make an emergency bathroom stop—last time to pee before Canada! So what do you do when your “runway” freezes during the winter? Easy, you start a ski fly-in.

Jackson, a retired airline pilot, started his Ski Fly-In eight years ago. Pilots will do anything for free food, so he began by offering those who flew in a bowl of chili. Eight brave pilots showed up to that first meeting, which quickly snowballed to up to 70 airplanes in the following years.

This year’s weather couldn’t be better: a gorgeous sunny day, temperatures in the 30s, and a packed-solid snow runway. For those without skis but at least 850-series tires, there was an option to land at the snowmobile trail that was rock solid, at least until I left the trail to taxi back and got stuck in the snow with my Cessna 170. Good thing I had a crew onboard that quickly jumped to the rescue, pushing the 170 to better footing.

All kinds of taildraggers (and a brave Cessna 172) showed up to enjoy a warm meal provided by Steve, Kathi Schwister, and TrickAir Skis. Cubs, Luscombes, Huskies, Cessnas, and Andy Brown’s spectacular Beaver, complete with a crew of six—all landing on the frozen Horseshoe Lake with around 17 inches of solid, thick ice.

This was my first landing on the snow and with big wheels (850s). I talked with Paul several times to confirm that this was safe, and he told me, “go for the snowmobile trail, and you will be fine.” Ski flying is not for the faint of heart. Based on a recent fly ice-fishing trip with three other airplanes, I can tell you it is 90 percent hard work and 10 percent fun. The 10 percent fun is celebrating with your friends when you finally manage to start the engine or unstick the airplane from the frozen slush. While it is hard work, it is also definitely rewarding and one of those bucket list items that every adventurous pilot should try.

My day ended in a spectacular way doing an air-to-air photo session with Andy’s Beaver, and as he tells me, “the key to Minnesota winter is to find happiness in the suffering!” And they know how to do that.

You know that you will be with people who love flying when their airplanes are on skis, and this fly-in is proof of that. Until next year!

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