Guest Post: Mount Vernon Outland Airport Recognized Nationally, Establishes Aviation Explorer Post

A Message from Mount Vernon Outland Airport Manager, Chris Collins

Mount Vernon Outland Airport was recognized on a national level on multiple occasions in 2017. Events such as the Midwest LSA Expo and EAA AirVenture Cup Race garnered attention from the aviation community, and additional public exposure came from this summer’s total eclipse. In 2017, a relationship between the airport and the Boy Scouts of America led to an increased number of events at the airport for area youth, and the airport established this region’s only Aviation Explorer Post.

The remarkable November 2017 AOPA Pilot cover shot, titled “Total Eclipse,” captured by AOPA Senior Photographer Chris Rose, was connected to Mount Vernon Outland Airport through Eric Whyte, ONE Aviation Chief Demo Pilot. Whyte and AOPA’s Dave Hirschman conceived the idea of the total eclipse in the background of the Eclipse 550 Jet at Sun ‘n Fun in April. The pair chose Mount Vernon Outland Airport due to its close proximity to totality, and the nine page article mentions the airport on nearly every page. The November edition of EAA Sport Aviation also featured an article covering the total eclipse, with several southern Illinois airports mentioned. 

The 9^th Annual Midwest LSA Expo, held in early September, generated articles in the November 2017 Powered Sport Flying magazine and the December 2017 edition of EAA Sport Aviation. Mount Vernon Outland Airport Manager Chris Collins remarked about the recent media attention: “With so much going on in the aviation industry, it is a rare occurrence to be featured once in a national magazine. To be mentioned this many times in a single year is truly special!”

Mount Vernon Outland Airport officials recently reviewed their 2017 partnership with Boy Scouts of America. The airport hosted a five day Bug Hunter Day Camp for Cub Scouts in July, provided training and Young Eagle Flights for nearly 60 Aviation Merit Badge candidates in September, and introduced aviation careers to several youth through the newly established Aviation Explorer Post #1155. Visits to SIUC, Boeing, the St. Louis-Lambert International Airport Control Tower, and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force were just a few of the trips made by the region’s only Aviation Explorer Program.

Mount Vernon Outland Airport looks forward to many more activities in 2018, including Balloons over Mount Vernon/Veterans Fly-In and the Vietnam Veterans Run for the Wall Lunch Stop, both in May, and the return of the Midwest LSA Expo and the KR National Gathering, both in September. New and exciting opportunities await the Aviation Explorers as well. Slots are always available in the program for high school-age youth interested in an aviation career.  For those older than high school age, the airport always welcomes visitors - flying or driving!   To see more, visit www.mtvernonairport.com.

The Aero Experience is proud to support Mount Vernon Outland Airport. Thanks to Airport Manager Chris Collins and his staff for all they do to make the airport an outstanding Midwest Aviation resource.

A Visit to St. Louis Downtown Airport

By Carmelo Turdo

The Midwest region relies on high-quality airports for its air transportation needs, and St. Louis Downtown Airport is the destination for many general aviation pilots and business travelers.  The airport is the closest one to downtown St. Louis, and so it becomes a beehive of activity when visitors arrive for events at the nearby Gateway Motorsports Park, baseball and hockey games, conventions and concerts.  The airport is also host to charter aircraft for visiting professional sports teams.  

Along with the daily and peak air traffic, St. Louis Downtown Airport is host to organic aviation assets.  The Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum is located in an historic 1929 Curtiss-Wright hangar on the west apron, and FBO Ideal Aviation is the museum's neighbor.  Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology (St. Louis University), founded in 1927 and the first federally certified school of aeronautics, maintains their flight training fleet at the airport.  Jet Aviation St. Louis provides maintenance, refurbishments and completions for business jets as well as FBO services on the north apron.  Flight training schools on the airport include Ideal Aviation, St. Louis Flight Training and Midwest Rotor.  Also based at the airport are Fostaire Helicopters, Helicopters, Inc., and Gateway Helicopter Tours.  Also during the summer, St. Louis Biplane Rides offers scenic flights in a 1941 Waco open cockpit biplane.          

Even on a gloomy winter day, there can be some interesting aircraft operating from the airport, including some military aircraft.  Here is one short period of traffic from Tuesday afternoon.

World Bird Sanctuary Releases Bald Eagle Into the Wild After Treatment

By Carmelo Turdo

The World Bird Sanctuary released a bald eagle into the wild today at Cliff Cave County Park along the Mississippi River south of St. Louis. The eagle was being treated at the World Bird Sanctuary's hospital and rehabilitation facility in Valley Park for an injury, and he was given a clean bill of health to return to his natural environment. The eagle is still fairly young, as shown in his juvenile brown plumage, and will develop the characteristic white head and tail feathers at about four years of age. During his treatment, he had to show his ability to fly in a large enclosure and feed himself. Following the release, the eagle flew out over the river and circled back, landing in a nearby tree.  After a short time, he took off and flew north up the river and out of sight. The Aero Experience salutes the World Bird Sanctuary for their efforts to keep eagles and other raptors healthy and thriving in the Midwest.