The Aero Experience is a celebration of Midwest Aviation and aerospace achievement. We invite you to join us as we tell the story of Midwest Aviation through first-hand, immersive media presentations. Check in with The Aero Experience frequently to see where we land, and then go out and have your own aero experiences!
Friday, January 10, 2025
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
What is The Aero Experience? Our Mission and Services
The
Aero Experience continues into our second decade promoting Midwest Aviation,
and we look forward to more fun and flying in the year ahead. We will be
covering more events, supporting more initiatives and producing more media than
ever before. The Aero Experience is also grateful for the sponsors and
advertisers from across the region who continue to support our mission.
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| Carmelo Turdo, Founder |
What is The Aero Experience?
The Aero Experience is a celebration of Midwest Aviation and aerospace achievement. We believe that aviation is best appreciated through direct participation, and so we encourage everyone to engage in the many aviation activities available to the general public in our region. We also work with industry leaders to strengthen the Midwest Aviation business climate and inform our viewers of professional development opportunities as they become available. The results of our work can be found in a wide range of marketing materials, from aviation industry and general media outlets to periodicals and books. Event coverage and feature stories are regularly posted on our website, The Aero Experience blog, and videos are included on The Aero Experience YouTube Channel.
Media Coverage of Aviation News, Events and Features:
The Aero Experience provides media coverage of Midwest Aviation events and publishes feature stories of interest to the aviation community and general audiences. Our coverage may include individual or corporate profiles, STEM education programs, guest speakers, association meetings, seminars, trade shows, conventions, open houses, airshows and fly-ins, historic occasions and countless other opportunities to promote the positive aspects of Midwest Aviation. We also provide photo shoots and video coverage for private events as listed in our service offerings below.
Sponsors and Midwest Aviation Partners:
The Aero Experience promotes our sponsors and Midwest Aviation partners, including: Elite Aviation, Wings of Hope, Gateway Flight Training, Piston Aviation, Gateway Jets, The Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association, St. Louis Regional Freightway, Army Aviation Heritage Foundation Gateway Chapter, Missouri Wing of the CAF and Fly with Alexis. We are also a team sponsor of Patrick McAlee Airshows – ExtremeFlight and support the Team Alec Forever Foundation. Sponsor partners receive home page advertising space, priority coverage of events, additional media products and promotion of their products and services.
Advertising Packages for The Aero Experience:
Ad Package: 12 months/$300:
Home page logo ad with link;
Introductory feature story about your business;
Referrals for your products and services;
Home page logo ad with link;
Introductory feature story about your business;
Referrals for your products and services;
Additional services listed below are bid separately. *
Ad Package Extra: 12 months/$1,000:
Home page logo ad with link;
Introductory feature story about your business;
Referrals for your products and services;
Introductory feature story about your business;
Referrals for your products and services;
Priority placement of feature stories, videos and event coverage;
Additional services listed below are included. *
* Additional Services
Promotional photos and videos;
Special event coverage and media package;
Aircraft photo and video sessions;
Full-length feature stories for third party media sources;
Other related services as mutually agreed upon in advance.
Extra expenses for a project or event, including but not limited to entry and media access fees, aviation assets (as applicable) and travel/lodging are borne by the sponsor or event host.
Contact Carmelo Turdo at aeroexperience@att.net for details.
Special event coverage and media package;
Aircraft photo and video sessions;
Full-length feature stories for third party media sources;
Other related services as mutually agreed upon in advance.
Extra expenses for a project or event, including but not limited to entry and media access fees, aviation assets (as applicable) and travel/lodging are borne by the sponsor or event host.
Contact Carmelo Turdo at aeroexperience@att.net for details.
The Aero Experience provides full-length stories and media support for other publications:
Media from The Aero Experience have appeared in other local, regional, national and international publications and video productions, increasing our ability to promote Midwest Aviation. Media requested by our sponsors, event organizers, researchers and other publications are provided through mutual agreement with sourcing to The Aero Experience. Some examples of third-party media sources, not including sponsor publications, include:
Newspapers:
Alton Telegraph
St. Louis Post Dispatch
Newsletters (multiple editions):
AIAA Gateway News
Chesterfield Villas
EE Times
Greater St. Louis Flight Instructors Association News
Hands of Compassion, Reichard Report
Missouri Aviation Historical Society Middle Marker
Missouri Pilots Assocation News
Ozark Air Lines Silver Swallows Alumni Newsletter
P-38 Lightning Association
Saint Louis Downtown Airport
Spirits of St. Louis RC Club Flightlines
Periodicals (specific editions):
NATA Skylines, Fall/October 2024
The Buzz Magazine, August 2024
NATA Skylines, Fall 2023
St. Louis Science Center NewScience, Winter 2022
NATA Skylines, Fall/September 2022
NATA Skylines, Spring/March 2022
St. Louis Science Center NewScience, Winter 2021
ICAS Air Shows, 1Q 2021
Global Aviator, February 2021
FAA Safety Briefing, January/February 2021
World Airshow News, Autumn 2020
IAC Sport Aerobatics, July 2020
IAC Sport Aerobatics, January 2020
NATA Skylines, Winter/December 2019
Aviation News Journal Magazine, November/December 2014
Arabian Aerospace, November 2013
Skyways, April 2012
World Airshow News, Featured Contributor September - November 2010
Books:
Wings of Hope. (2024) SOAR Into STEM Book of Knowledge
Parsons, D. (2022) One Hotel Zero, Blurb Books
Klaus, H. and Bert Kinzey (2020). F/A-18E & F/A-18F Super Hornet in Detail & Scale
Kissinger, B. (2015). Fly Now! (Book and Movie Combo), Pax et Amor Productions Intl.
Turdo, C. (2002). Aviation Adventures, Turdo Productions
Marketing Materials and Event Programs:
Midwest Aviation Expo 2024 Official Program, Fall 2024
Erik Lindbergh Lancair Restoration/First Flight Certificate, February 2024
Sun'n Fun International Fly-In & Expo Official Souvenir Program, Spring 2021
Giles Henderson Memorial Fly-In Announcement, Summer 2018
GT Propellers GT3G-MMP brochure, Summer 2018
Illinois Tourism Visitors Guide 2018 Commemorative Issue, Winter 2017/2018
Highter Education Channel, Come Fly with Us, April 2017
Sun'n Fun International Fly-In & Expo Official Souvenir Program, Spring 2015
Midwest Airport Fun Days poster and event card, Spring 2015
Mount Vernon Outland Airport IL ANG Lobby Exhibit, Summer 2014
Midwest Airport Fun Days poster and event card, Spring 2014
Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum brochure, Fall 2013
STL Biplane Rides Enjoy St. Louis from the Air! brochure, Fall 2012
Asolo Repertory Theatre, Come Here Often, 2011-2012 Season Program
Centennial of Naval Aviation, Celebrating 100 Years of Naval Aviation, Winter 2011
The Aero Experience Has Sponsored These Activities:
Team Alec Forever Golf Tournament Hole Sponsor, July 2024
100 Years Around Australia Flight Promotion, April - July 2024
Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation Founding and Media Sponsor, 2020-2024
Ranken Technical College Summer Adventure Academy, Summer 2022
Nathan Rose Cancer Benefit auction items, February 2020
International Space Development Conference, St. Louis, May 2017
Testimonials for The Aero Experience:
"Gateway Jets and I pass on a sincere Thank You to Carmelo and The Aero Experience for some great company and outstanding coverage of our expansion and open house. The pictures look phenomenal, and the 3-part series covers our operations and philosophy perfectly." Corey Tomczak, Founder and President of Gateway Jets
"St. Louis is a great aviation town with a rich history. I feel that there are a vast amount of activities missed because the word didn't get out, which is why I am very thankful to The Aero Experience team for their efforts to promote Midwest aviation. I like to joke that I can't afford a nice camera, so I have to take Carmelo with me. The truth is, I like Carmelo and what The Aero Experience does for the aviation community."
Paul Voorhees, Owner of Big River Aviation
"Carmelo really has a talent of capturing cool pics. We are lucky to have him in our area!" Bob Hamilton, Pitts Special Competition Pilot
"I am proud to have Carmelo and The Aero Experience as a supporter and to reciprocate my support to a great organization. We share similar passions through all facets of aviation and the community. Carmelo and his team will capture amazing moments through beautiful photography and then write very inspiring articles for all airways of our magical aviation industry. The Aero Experience is a unique and great way to make your Aero Events a memorable Experience!"
Airshow Pilot Patrick McAlee, ExtremeFlight Patrickmcaleeairshows.com
Airshow Pilot Patrick McAlee, ExtremeFlight Patrickmcaleeairshows.com
Friday, December 20, 2024
Southwestern Illinois College to Launch Avionics Certificate Program at Granite City Campus
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| By Carmelo Turdo |
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| Instructor Nick Mansker and Aviation Flight Management Coordinator Keith Mueller |
"Avionics is a huge segment of aviation maintenance, primarily involved with the navigation and communication systems on aircraft," Keith Mueller, SWIC's Coordinator of Aviation Flight Management and Aircraft Dispatcher Programs, told The Aero Experience. "This area, especially, has a significant need for more and more aviation maintenance and avionics related personnel with a large number of facilities here in the St. Louis area." He added that within 50 miles of St. Louis, there are over forty organizations in need of avionics technicians. In addition, there are many more positions open in aircraft production, interior finishing, and all levels of aircraft maintenance and inspection. West Star Aviation, Gulfstream Aerospace and the Boeing Company are expanding their operations at St. Louis Regional Airport, St. Louis Downtown Airport and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.
Mueller and Avionics instructor Nick Mansker are putting the final touches on a brand new, state-of-the-art avionics classroom and hands-on lab suite that will be used for the first session starting January 13. Mansker brings a wealth of experience to SWIC's Avionics Certificate Program. He served in the United States Air Force for 20 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 2015, with additional Department of Defense work as a civilian employee. He has been promoting SWIC's program at career fairs and open houses this year as he solidified the curriculum and acquired the impressive training equipment featured here.
"Our program is set up to where we go all the way from the very beginning of basic electronics and getting into the mathematics that it takes to do this kind of work," Mansker explained. "And then we have a 101 course that talks about the aircraft and the basics of the avionics systems. Then we get into DC and AC circuits and talk about microprocessors and go all into computing before we start working on the actual systems on the aircraft." System installation, wiring, troubleshooting and testing are taught in detail during the certificate program.
"So, when you're done with this course," Mansker continued, "you are able to go out and get a job working for one of the manufacturers around here or for one of the airlines as a repairman type technician with the AET Certification that we're preparing people for." Significant numbers of immediate openings are available for qualified applicants in our area.
In the lab, student workstations will be equipped with individual monitors for the day's lesson as well as a complete set of tools, including an industrial-quality soldering unit. Aspen Avionics Evolution Primary Flight Displays are also available, and supplies such as wiring and associated hardware were donated by industry sponsors.
Avotek AS76 Cockpit Instrumentation System Trainer
This training device simulates the functioning of both legacy vacuum instruments and modern electronic flight information system displays found in most aircraft. The instruments reflect the movement of the panel acting as the aircraft in pitch, roll and yaw. They can also be affected by changes in barometric pressure in the pitot static system through manipulation of the chamber on the stand below the panel. Instructors can induce faults on the system to set up troubleshooting scenarios for the students.
Avotek AV22 Avionics Systems Trainer
This training device provides an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) panel to demonstrate modern instrument approaches and aviation radio systems. The students have test points to complete on the wiring bundles behind the panel and with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) test set. The instructor can induce failures on each display, providing a realistic environment for the students.
Southwestern Illinois College is embarking on a bold, new Avionics Certificate Program to complement the existing Aviation Maintenance Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Program. The Avionics Certificate Program is open to students as a stand-alone course, part of a comprehensive approach to aviation maintenance or contributing to a SWIC aviation degree program. Classes begin January 13, so contact SWIC to enroll.
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Piston Aviation Hosts Christmas Party Flight Events at Both St. Louis Airport Locations
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| By Carmelo Turdo |
The Creve Coeur Airport event was held on Saturday. The Grinch stole the good weather and left rain instead, so the party moved inside Piston Aviation's main hangar. Here we see visitors checking out the Bristell, Cherokee and Viper training fleet aircraft and flying the Redbird simulator. Discovery flights for Saturday's guests will be rescheduled, and the improving weather this week will provide more opportunities to get back into air!
The Aero Experience thanks Piston Aviation for hosting a great weekend of Christmas cheer and Midwest Aviation hospitality. Contact Piston Aviation today for more information about their flight training packages.
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