By Carmelo Turdo |
The
Aero Experience took to the air October 19 to visit the Wings, Wheels and
Rotors fall fly-in and car show at Mount Vernon Outland Airport. The day began as
we met Alex Acevedo at St. Louis Downtown Airport for the preflight briefing before
taking off in his Grumman Tiger. The Tiger has a sliding canopy that offers an
excellent all-around view, valuable for our planned air-to-air photo shoot. Shortly
after takeoff, we rendezvoused with Mark Schuler flying his Nanchang CJ-6A from
nearby Sackman Field in Columbia, IL. We continued on to Mount Vernon, IL,
getting some photo and video coverage of the Nanchang before landing
around 9:45 A.M.
The
Wings, Wheels and Rotors event attracted a variety of aircraft and a unique
collection of autos to the airport on that beautiful Midwest fall day. Bonnie
Café served lunch to hundreds of visitors in their newly remodeled terminal
restaurant. Other noticeable changes to the airport grounds included new
displays from the Colonel R.D. White Military Museum throughout the terminal
and the installation of the Scalewings SW21 Jet mockup at the airport parking
entrance. Complete coverage of the event can be seen on a previous post, Mount
Vernon Outland Airport Holds Fall Fly-In and Car Show.
Following
our visit and buffet lunch, we took off to return to St. Louis Downtown
Airport. This time the photo shoot focused on the Tiger. Shooting from the rear
seat of the Nanchang’s tandem cockpit, we captured the formation flight heading
west toward the Mississippi River. We made one pass northbound in front of the
Gateway Arch, landed and taxied to the
West Terminal ramp where we began our day. Mark Schuler returned to Sackman
Field a little later in the day.
The
Aero Experience thanks Alex Acevedo and Mark Schuler for providing the flights
and fellowship for another great aero experience. We also thank Mount Vernon
Outland Airport Manager Chris Collins and his staff for their hospitality
during our visit. We will have video coverage of the flights coming soon on The Aero Experience YouTube Channel.
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