EAA Chapter 1635 Holds Young Eagle Rally at Perryville, MO Airport

By Fred Harl

EAA Chapter 1635 held a Young Eagles rally on Saturday, May 28, at Perryville, MO Regional Airport. Youth aged 8-17 were given a flight around the local area by EAA Young Eagle pilots in a variety of aircraft. The EAA Young Eagles Program offers first flights without cost during chapter events as well as post-flight benefits such as Sporty's Learn to Fly Course, first flight lesson and flight training scholarships. Local EAA chapters can be found in the national directory.

Here are some views of the EAA Chapter 1635 Young Eagle rally:

Perryville Regional Airport Holds Spring Fly-In

By Fred Harl

Perryville, MO Regional Airport held their Spring Fly-In Saturday, attracting hundreds of visitors and a variety of aircraft during a well-timed break in the weather. The event was a community effort to showcase the airport to the local community and enjoy fellowship with aviators from around the region. Area businesses supported the fly-in by providing attendance prizes and product demos, and Titan Aviation Fuels provided 50 gallon fuel cards to lucky winners (along with the already low fuel prices at the airport). Food and fun, including Cape Air helicopter rides and gyrocopter flights, continued as long as the weather held into the afternoon.

Here we feature a brief look at the morning arrivals and the gyrocopters on display:

 

B-17 Yankee Lady Makes Fuel Stop in Perryville on Flight to Bell Fort Worth Alliance Airshow

By Fred Harl

The Boeing B-17G Yankee Lady made a fuel stop at Perryville Regional Airport Thursday on a flight to this weekend's Bell Fort Worth Alliance Airshow. The public was invited to view the aircraft on the apron, and local news carried the story. Warbirds like the Yankee Lady attract attention when they make even a brief appearance at a local airport, and they provide an opportunity for visitors to see first-hand what the Greatest Generation flew during World War II. The Aero Experience thanks the flight crew and airport service personnel for providing this look at the legendary Flying Fortress.

April In Review: Midwest Airports Offer Aircraft Viewing Opportunities

By Carmelo Turdo

After a cold start to spring, the last few weeks in April have offered improved flying weather and more opportunities to view Midwest Aviation in action. The Aero Experience has been visiting Missouri and Illinois airports to report on recent aviation events (more stories coming soon), and along the way, we took some time to observe the local air traffic as well. In this collection, we feature samples from five different airports that illustrate the great variety of aircraft that could be seen in operation even by the casual observer. Each airport has its own unique clientele and below is just a snapshot of the aircraft seen during our visits.

St. Louis Downtown Airport, Cahokia, IL   

On our visit to St. Louis Downtown Airport, a frequent destination, we show a Convair 440 and World War II veteran C-47, a Piper Cub banner tower, Big River Aviation's Cessna 172, a team charter Boeing 757, Parks College Diamond DA-20 trainer and Piper Aztec former VW Motors corporate aircraft. Operations at North American Helicopter (formerly Fostaire and Midwest Helicopter Academy) include primary training in the Guimbal Cabri G2 and sorties in the Bell Helicopter 206B and 212 models. A pair of USAF UH-1Ns from the 1st Helicopter Squadron, Andrews AFB, MD visited for a short time before continuing on their journey.

Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, MO

Spirit of St. Louis Airport is host to many general aviation and business aircraft operators. In our survey below, we include a Cessna 172 from Elite Aviation, a variety of general aviation aircraft from Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft and Cirrus, vintage Luscombe and experimental aircraft, Piper Comanches donated to Wings of Hope, several Bombardier Challenger jets, and helicopters from Air Evac Life Team and St. Louis County Police Department.

Washington Regional Airport, MO

Washington Regional Airport is currently undergoing apron construction while continuing normal operations. In our coverage below, preparations for pouring new concrete continues as a Cessna Citation Mustang lands in the background. The airport hosts a variety of general aviation aircraft, and is home to airshow performer Patrick McAlee's Pitts Special the Blue Demon.  

St. Louis Metro-East Shafer Airport, St. Jacob, IL and Perryville Regional Airport, MO

Short visits to these airports yielded some interesting aircraft. At St. Louis Metro-East Shafer Airport we caught Robert Bosche and his family taking off for the first time together in his Piper Arrow IV. At Perryville Regional Airport, The Aero Experience team member Fred Harl captured aerial sidewall trimming using a ten-bladed saw suspended beneath a Hughes 369D utility helicopter operated by Rotor Blade Airborne Utilities Management.