Flying With The Aero Experience: Over Southwest IL in an Aeronca Chief

By Carmelo Turdo

This edition of Flying With The Aero Experience looks back at the spring of 2015 during the production of Fly Now! The Movie. First, the Midwest Aviation community participated in an aerial salute to fallen veterans during the annual Memorial Day ceremony held in Hecker, IL. Over 15 aircraft from St. Louis and Metro-East Illinois gathered after short flights from nearby airfields to Sparta Community Airport (Hunter Field) for the 9am briefing. The Aero Experience and Fly Now! The Movie teamed up to participate and report on the aviation portion of the ceremony, with movie crew members Bill and Amber Aanstad in a Piper Cub, Brian Kissinger in Piety the Pietenpol, and Jeff Wilson and Carmelo Turdo in Jeff's 1941 Aeronca Chief. 

The Aero Experience: Carmelo Turdo

Pilot: Jeff Wilson

Aircraft: 1941 Aeronca 65-CA Super Chief

 

Next, the Fly Now! The Movie crew continued work on this Reality Aviation Documentary (RAD), gathering some footage of local pilots flying out of the home airport, Sackman Field, in Columbia, IL. The filming included an air-to-air session with local pilots flying a variety of home-built, vintage and modern general aviation aircraft. The Aero Experience flew with Director Jeff Wilson in his Aeronca Chief, capturing video of the aircraft as they made passes near our camera ship. Here are some views of the day’s flying, featuring Bill Aanstad in the Piper Cub and Brian Kissinger in Piety the Pietenpol.

The Aero Experience: Carmelo Turdo

Pilot: Jeff Wilson

Aircraft: 1941 Aeronca 65-CA Super Chief 

Flying With The Aero Experience: Piper Cubs Over the Midwest

By Carmelo Turdo

This edition of the Flying With The Aero Experience series looks back to March of 2015 during the filming of Fly Now! The Movie. The Fly Now! The Movie crew took advantage of a Midwest late winter warm spell by taking a Piper Cub flight over southwest Illinois.  The Aero Experience Founder Carmelo Turdo flew with Executive Producer Brian Kissinger, accompanied by pilot Bill Aanstad in his Cub.  The Cubs took off from Sackman Field in Columbia, IL and landed at Sparta Community Airport (Hunter Field) in time for lunch before returning to Columbia.  Along the way to Sparta, IL and back, we gathered photos and video for use in the reality aviation documentary, Fly Now! The Movie.

The Aero Experience: Carmelo Turdo

Pilots: Brian Kissinger, Bill Aanstad
Aircraft: 1945 Piper J3C-65 Cub