Flying With The Aero Experience: Air-to-Air With Tiger and Nanchang

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.