The Aero Experience Mid-West Tour 2016: Salina and Fort Riley, Kansas

By The Aero Experience Team

Day 7 was the last day of our trip but we could not leave Kansas without a few more aviation stops as we headed East.  Our first stop was the Salina Regional Airport, which during World War II was known as Smoky Hill Army Airfield and was used to train B-29 crews throughout the war.  After the war, the field became a Strategic Air Command base, initially equipped with B-29s and later two Bombardment Wings of B-47 Stratojets.  Renamed Schilling Air Force Base in honor of Col. David Schilling, the field remained in use until its closing in 1965.  Today, the airport is home to the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus with its large flight training facility and an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) program, complete with a large, netted area to fly various drones on the airport grounds. 

On the north end of the ramp stood the primary purpose of our visit, a Lockheed L-749 Constellation.  Originally acquired by the U.S. Navy as a PO-1/WV-1, the Connie was later surplused and taken up by the FAA before ending its government career and being flown to Salina in 1967 where it has resided (or been stuck!) ever since. Maybe one of these days she'll fly again. The Aero Experience thanks David Surrell for granting us ramp access to photograph the Connie.

Eastbound for home, our last aviation stop was Fort Riley, home to the 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" and the 1st Army Aviation Brigade.  We had the opportunity to visit with the C/2-1 Air Ambulance who fly the UH-60M Blackhawk.  Fred Harl met members of the unit when they were swapping their previous L model Blackhawks with a unit at Fort Campbell and making stops at Farmington, MO for fuel, food and a pit stop.  The C/2-1 is famous for its time in Vietnam, and as you can see from their unit logo, working with the Aussies.  Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Novosel earned the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 2, 1969 flying a UH-1 medevac, saving 29 South Vietnamese soldiers while under heavy fire from the North Vietnamese units in the area.  He was also wounded during the extractions.  Novosel later wrote the book, Dustoff - The Memoir of an Army Aviator.

The Aero Experience thanks the members of the C/2-1 for allowing us to visit the unit and to take these photographs.

Midwest Aviation Excellence in 2015: Air Associates Plays Important Role In Pilot Training and Promotion of Midwest Aviation

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience celebrates the coming of a new year with a look back at the great feature stories we posted while working with our friends at Air Associates.  The Aero Experience has featured Air Associates in our Midwest Aviation stories for over four years, and we are fortunate to have Air Associates as the sponsor for our unique year-round coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2013-2015 thus far.  With facilities in St. Louis, MO and Olathe, KS, Air Associates provides leading edge flight training, aircraft maintenance, aircraft rental, and other aviation services.  We invite our audience to enjoy another look at these great stories highlighted here, and look forward to another year of working with Air Associates to promote Midwest Aviation!

Young Pilot Turns Inspiration Into Reality, Sets Lofty Goals for Aviation Career
 

Adrianne Weber

The Midwest Aviation community has a long legacy of great achievers, and more are joining the aviator ranks every day.  One of those bright new faces of aviation is the St. Louis area's Adrianne Weber, who received her Private Pilot Certificate at Air Associates of Missouri at Spirit of St. Louis Airport on February 19.  The achievement was the culmination of much hard work, and the beginning of another round of training for additional pilot ratings.  The Aero Experience visited with Adrianne Weber recently, and found her story to be one that will inspire the rest of us to keep working until we achieve no less than the goals we set in life.

 Air Associates of Kansas Teams With Local Colleges to Develop Next Generation of Aviators

A new program to develop the next generation of aviators was announced Saturday during the annual Cessna Demo Day at Air Associates of Kansas.  Air Associates of Kansas, the premier Midwest flight training facility and full-service fixed-base operator at Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe, KS, has teamed up with Kansas State University-Salina and Johnson County Community College to offer a comprehensive opportunity for students to obtain a Bachelor of Aeronautical Technology Degree, flight training and professional flight experience.  All three partners were on hand at the Air Associates of Kansas hangar to introduce the program to prospective students and guests among a backdrop of aircraft provided by Textron, the parent company of Cessna and Beechcraft, among other aircraft brands. 
 

Cessna TTX and Beechcraft Bonanza Are Attractions at Air Associates of Missouri Cessna Demo Day

Air Associates of Missouri hosted the annual Cessna Demo Day Saturday at their Spirit of St. Louis Airport flight school facility.  Members of the local St. Louis area community - pilots, future pilots, friends and families alike - gathered to see the newest Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft (both are Textron companies) while getting the latest deals on pilot training packages.  Cessna Demo Day is one of several outreach events hosted by Air Associates of Missouri to acquaint the community with the flight training, aircraft rental and maintenance services offered in a fun, family-friendly environment.  
 

St. Louis Area Groups Provide Forum to Address Pilot Shortage, Provide Opportunities for Aviation Careers

(GSLFIA graphic)

Local St. Louis area aviation industry organizations held a public forum Thursday evening to provide information on employment opportunities available to pilots flying for the commercial airlines.  Titled "From Student to Aviation Career," the event was sponsored by the Greater St. Louis Flight Instructors Association (GSLFIA) and was conducted in the Air Associates of Missouri flight simulation facility at Spirit of St. Louis Airport.  Representatives from GSLFIA, Air Associates of Missouri, Trans States Airlines, GoJet Airlines, Southwestern Illinois College and Ideal Aviation gave presentations on their programs and services, ranging from initial flight training to employment by a commercial airline, and discussed practical career path options with individual attendees.  The first in a series of aviation industry forums planned for the remainder of the year, this event focused on the current and future shortage of air transport pilots (ATPs) that, if not addressed soon, will cause serious strains on commercial airline service providers.

Liberty University Offers "Jump-Start Your Aviation Career" Opportunity for High School Students

CFI Jonny Hewitt with the Liberty

University Cessna Top Hawk aircraft

Liberty University of Lynchburg, VA offers realistic opportunities for today's youth to train for careers in aviation.  In a recent feature story, The Aero Experience introduced Liberty University to our readers during their Cessna Top Hawk tour visit to Air Associates of Missouri in July.   

Liberty University is a partner school for the Cessna Top Hawk Flight Training Affiliate program, offering online aeronautical degree programs and flight training opportunities at Cessna Pilot Training Centers, including Air Associates of Missouri.  Liberty University also encourages high school students to participate in the Flight Training Affiliate Program and earn credits toward their aeronautics degree through the EDGE Dual Enrollment Program.

 

High school students can conceivably earn their private pilot certificate and an associate degree (or half-way to a bachelor degree) before entering college.  Progress toward the aeronautical degree and higher-level pilot ratings can continue through the remaining undergraduate education courses, resulting in early entry into a career with regional airlines that actively recruit Liberty University graduates.  The student does not have to attend the physical campus to participate in these programs.  Liberty University also encourages military veterans to enroll using their GI Bill benefits and

 

Airport Fun Day Attracts Local Community to Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe, Kansas

The local Olathe, Kansas community filled the apron at Johnson County Executive Airport for Airport Fun Day 2015 Saturday.  The event, sponsored and produced by Air Associates of Kansas and KC Copters, was a creative way to acquaint the local community with the aviation services they provide at the airport in a family-friendly atmosphere.  The weather was perfect, the food was tasty and there were plenty of fun activities available involving the aircraft and helicopters on display and flying throughout the day.   The action began on the Air Associates apron where visitors arrived at the main entrance.  Tickets were made available for lunch, raffle prizes and Discovery Flights in the Cessna 172 aircraft.  Nearby, a Beechcraft King Air and Cessna TTx were on display.  Kansas State University-Salina brought their Cessna 172 and hosted an activity station with a quad-copter, children's activities and giveaways.  Younger children had fun in the bounce house and were entertained by a clown making balloon characters and face painting.  Later, the apron would be a great location to see the aircraft as they flew over the nearby runway and parked for lunch. 

These and other feature stories were provided through the hospitality and assistance of Air Associates at both the St. Louis, MO and Olathe, KS locations.  The Aero Experience thanks Air Associates for their continued support of our promotion of Midwest Aviation throughout the year and look forward to a great 2016.

SAFECON Region VI Competition in St. Louis: Reflections on a Great Aero Experience

By Carmelo Turdo

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) SAFECON Region VI competition recently held in St. Louis is now part of Midwest Aviation history, and the students have settled into their fall semester academic and aviation activities at their home campuses.  The event, hosted by St. Louis University's Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology on October 19-23 mainly at St. Louis Downtown Airport, met its objective of providing a forum for college-age aviators to demonstrate their flight skills in a safe, fair and yes, competitive environment.  The Aero Experience was privileged to receive access to document the week's activities for NIFA, the host St. Louis University Flying Billikens, and our growing readership. 

The recent series of feature stories reported the highlights of each day's official activities.  This final installment will include a look at what we saw up close, behind the scenes and around the corner from the hustle and bustle of the competition.  We now share some views of the participants and the surrounding environs that are more candid than the previously published photos.   

Beginning the day with sunrise on the apron and landing at dusk:

The teams prepared for the day's activities in various places inside and outside:

Candid views of participants and staff during the week's activities:

St. Louis University Flying Billikens Team Coach Jack Schwarz demonstrates the proper technique for the precision landing:

 

      



The Aero Experience thanks NIFA, the St. Louis University Flying Billikens, Ideal Aviation FBO, the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, the visiting teams and all who contributed to making this a great Midwest Aviation event!