EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2013: FedEx Airbus A300 and Grand Caravan

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

FedEx Corporation had a significant presence again at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2013.  Shipping services were available during the event, and several aircraft were also available on display.  A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan feeder aircraft was on exhibit near the Rockwell Collins Exhibit Hangar C, and its big brother, an Airbus A300F4-605R arrived early in the week and remained on display for the day before departing following the afternoon airshow.  The Airbus freighter was parked on the Phillips 66 Plaza, dwarfing most of the other aircraft on display there and drawing a large crowd of visitors.  The aircraft's crew treated the crowd to a fly-by on arrival and a swift takeoff as it left to pick up its next revenue cargo load.  Here are some views of the Cessna Grand Caravan and the arrival, display and departure of the FedEx Airbus: 

Sightings: Columbus Blue Jackets DC-9-32 in St. Louis

By Carmelo Turdo

The Columbus Blue Jackets hockey team was in town again yesterday to play the red-hot St. Louis Blues (the Blues won 6-2).  The team's aircraft, a 1979 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, was hosted by Jet Aviation at St. Louis Downtown Airport just across the Mississippi River from the Scottrade Center venue in downtown St. Louis.  The venerable DC-9, in its 35th year of service, still looked great in the morning sunshine prior to the arrival of the severe winter weather last evening.  St. Louis Downtown Airport has become the destination of choice for hockey teams using their own aircraft or Air Canada A319 charters over the last few years.  The Aero Experience is proud to be part of the airport community, and we bring to you some views of the Blue Jackets aircraft.

    

  

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2013: Cold Weather Themes - TrickAir Snow Skis and Polar Flight 90

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2013 continues into the new year!  In the first few days of 2014, many of us in the Midwest have experienced some very harsh winter weather, and we thought this might be a good time to review the exhibits related to cold climate flying.  For those who are adept at landing in snow, the TrickAir Snow Skis configuration transforms your aircraft into a flying snowmobile.  For those who need inspiration to do some winter flying, the story of Polar Flight 90, Art Mortvedt's project to fly his Cessna 185 "The Polar Pumpkin" to both poles, will warm your heart on a cold day.  Both stories show that cold weather should not keep a skilled aviator from experiencing the joy of flight.

TrickAir Snow Skis, manufactured by Rick Discher's Weyauwega, Wisconsin-based  Custom Fiberglass Molding Inc., were displayed on the company's Maule M-4.  TrickAir Snow Skis are wheel penetration skis, offering good performance in snow while making it easy to maneuver the aircraft on paved surfaces as well.  There are several models of skis to fit various types of conventional-gear aircraft manufactured by Aeronca, Cessna, Piper, Maule, Aviat and others. The aerodynamic drag penalty is negligible according to the TrickAir Snow Skis manufacturer, and any slight drop in cruising speed is more attributable to the loss of the wheel pants rather than addition of the skis.  The skis can be installed by the pilot, and a tailwheel ski is available for some models.   

              



Continuing with our winter theme, we now turn to the very conspicuous Cessna 185, known as The Polar Pumpkin.  The aircraft (then equipped with skis) was flown by Art Mortvedt to the North and South Poles to demonstrate the applicability of single-engine aircraft operations in support of Polar Science.  Mortvedt, an Alaskan bush pilot with over 5,000 flight hours and multiple expeditions to the polar regions, reached the South Pole November 22, 1999 and most recently flew over the North Pole on April 6, 2013.

On the recent polar flight, the aircraft was equipped with a hyperspectral camera to search for microscopic life living in the ice and snow (similar to efforts to search Mars and other potential habitats).          

Spirits of St. Louis Radio Control Aircraft Flying Club Holds Annual New Year Fly-In Event

By Carmelo Turdo

When New Year's Day arrives each year, you can be sure that a group of radio control aircraft builders and fliers from the Spirits of St. Louis RC Flying Club will be gathered as part of the "Chosen Frozen" at their St. Charles, Missouri airfield.  Fortunately, the first day of 2014 offered clear skies and temperatures reaching toward the 40s, so there was much activity on the ground and in the air.  The Aero Experience visited with club members at the airfield for several hours yesterday morning as the event was getting underway, and we quickly learned why radio controlled aircraft flight is an important part of our celebration of Midwest Aviation.

A variety of radio control model aircraft were resting on tables near the main pavilion as the club members prepared them for flight.  The fixed-wing aircraft, designed for different flight regimes - racing, aerobatics, dogfighting, and training - were joined by highly-maneuverable helicopters and quad-copters.  As with full-size aircraft, a prospective pilot takes into account skill level, available time and budget when deciding to build and fly an aircraft.  And as with any activity, there are many levels of commitment of time and resources.  Spirits of St. Louis RC Flying Club President Vic Bunze put it in perspective, describing a scenario wherein a new member can receive training from the club instructors and later acquire an aircraft and supplies for about $350.  From there, the sky is the limit, with ducted-fan and jet powered aircraft representing a major investment in time, skill and money.  The Spirits of St. Louis RC Flying Club offers opportunities for members to gain basic and advanced skills through participation in flying meets at the club's 12-acre  field.        



IP Bob Gizzie explains
the RC aircraft controller

Following a visit with club President Vic Bunze and other club officers, The Aero Experience Founder Carmelo Turdo was given the chance to receive some dual training with Instructor Pilots Bob Gizzie and Babe Raab.  Using a set of controllers wired together to allow the student to fly with override by the instructor, we were able to successfully burn up a tank of gas without putting the aircraft in danger.  Bob Gizzie performed the takeoff of his beautiful blue and white SIG Kadet Senior and turned over the "stick" to Turdo as he called out maneuvers.  IP duties were then turned over to Babe Raab for the remainder of the flight.  Flying an aircraft from the outside is very different than from within the cockpit, and it took some time to get used to this perspective.  However, with some practice, basic turns and figure eights were performed reasonably well before it was time for a landing.

There were many other aircraft, and here are a few examples:

Combat Gremlin


Club Secretary Greg Bowles and Treasurer Bill Lindewirth with

Bill's Combat Gremlin

Bob Gizzie's SIG Kadet Senior

 

Tom Foster's Synergy Helicopter

 

Greg Bowles' Mini Quad-copter

 

Brendon Weidinger's Multi-Plex Fun Cub

 

Special thanks to the Spirits of St. Louis RC Flying Club for their hospitality!  Here is a great video that shows what flying radio control aircraft is really about: