Flying With The Aero Experience: Over St. Louis In a Piper Tri-Pacer

By Carmelo Turdo

Our Flying With The Aero Experience series continues with a look way back to March of 2012 when we flew a quick tour over the St. Louis riverfront in a 1955 Piper Tri-Pacer following the EAA 64 Young Eagles rally at St. Louis Downtown Airport.  Some lucky Boy Scouts took flights in the aircraft during the day, and pilot Bill Florich invited The Aero Experience up for one more flight over the St. Louis area before calling it a day.  EAA 64 is a very active chapter, giving Young Eagle flights throughout the year, and stages their flying activity at the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum.  Here are some scenes from the flight, including construction of what is now called the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge. 

The Aero Experience: Carmelo Turdo

Pilot: William Florich

Aircraft: 1955 Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer

Air to Air with Historic Bell 47 Over St. Louis

By Carmelo Turdo

The Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum was host to a special visitor Saturday on what can be named as the best weather day of the year so far.  From out of the distance, not unlike a "MASH" episode, arrived a Bell 47 that landed next to the museum's historic Curtiss Wright Hangar 2 at St. Louis Downtown Airport.  But this was not any Bell 47 - it was Michael Sequeira's Bell 47B (now 47G), first production model and serial number 5.  The aircraft, along with a group of helicopter crews and enthusiasts, were visiting the museum and soon there were arrangements for an air-to-air photo shoot along the Mississippi River on the St. Louis riverfront.  The Aero Experience flew in the Robinson R44 photo ship and brought back some great views of the flight and the local scenery.  Special thanks to all involved, and we hope to do this again in the future.