Piston Aviation Shares Vision of Flight at Open House Event

By Carmelo Turdo

Piston Aviation hosted over forty visitors Tuesday evening for an open house at their Creve Coeur Airport hangar. During the "Aviation Dream" event, Piston Aviation owners Joe and Meghen Ord shared their vision of making the freedom and joy of flight possible through their pilot training programs. Their Piper Cherokee and Bristell LSA fleet aircraft were on display, and CFIs were present to answer any questions. 

During a pizza break in the upstairs lounge, Piston Aviation's Joe Ord gave a short slide presentation on the exciting things happening with the company in the coming months. He made some news by announcing that two additional aircraft will join the fleet soon: a second Bristell 912ULS and a Beechcraft Musketeer. All aircraft will be IFR certified by later this fall.

Back on ground level, many remained to discuss their interest in flight training as they climbed into each of the aircraft. Ranging from fifteen years old to retirement age, and most without aviation experience, these future aviators will soon experience the freedom and joy of flight for themselves. 

Guest Post: Wings of the North Air Expo Sunday Airshow Performers

Guest Post: The Aero Experience thanks our friend Duane Cooley of DRC Images for contributing this coverage of the 2022 Wings of the North Air Expo held July 23-24 at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, MN. On Saturday, a storm rolled in and caused cancellation of the show. Sunday's weather was clear and sunny and most of the planes in attendance flew. Here we feature a sample of the performers and display aircraft:

Goodyear Zeppelin Wingfoot Three

Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, St. Paul, MN Army National Guard

Waco SRE

Vultee BT-13A Vibrator Lucky 13 based in Harlingen, TX

North American T-6 Thunder Flight Team

Grumman (GM) FM-2 Wildcat, Dakota Territory Air Museum

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, CAF Airbase Georgia 

Vought F4U-4 Corsair and Grumman (GM) TBM-3E Avenger, Wings of the North Air Museum

Curtiss P-40E Warhawk based in Granite Falls, MN and Bell P-63F King Cobra, CAF Houston, TX

North American P-51D Sierra Sue II, Wings of the North Air Museum, and P-51D Miss Kitty III, Dakota Territory Air Museum

Messerschmitt Me-109 (Hispano Aviacion Ha-1222), Erickson Aircraft Collection

Douglas AD-4N Skyraider Naked Fanny, East Iowa Air 

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Yankee Lady, Yankee Air Museum

Douglas C-47D Skytrain Hairless Joe, Yankee Air Museum

Douglas C-47 Miss Montana, Museum of Mountain Flying

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura (Howard 500) based in Eagan, MN