Wabash Valley Soaring Association Hosts Vintage/Classic Sailplane Regatta at Lawrenceville-Vincennes International Airport, IL

By Mark Nankivil

The Wabash Valley Soaring Association hosted their annual Vintage/Classic Sailplane Regatta at their home field on the Lawrenceville-Vincennes International Airport outside Lawrenceville, IL. The club is heavily into vintage and classic sailplanes and many members are part of the Vintage Sailplane Association.

With the International Vintage Sailplane Meet coming up the week of 4th of July in Elmira, NY, a number of sailplanes came in from parts well to the West, such as Jeff Byard's Schweizer 1942 TG-2 and 1930's Bowlus Baby Albatross all the way from California. We stopped in on Father's Day Sunday, the last day of the Regatta, and after 4 glorious days of soaring weather many were packing up to head home but a few decided to get in another flight or two before calling it a day. Jeff flew backseat in the TG-2 while others flew for a couple of flights and Jim Croce, Club President, brought out his homebuilt Miller Tern for a pair of flights. Leland Cowie flew his Mu13D-3, which was originally built in Germany in 1943 and brought back to Canada as war booty after the war strapped to the gun turret of a destroyer! Also flying was an Italian designed postwar sailplane, the Morelli M100. The Baby Albatross, along with other vintage sailplanes such as the Grunau Baby II and Slingsby T31b trainer, were tied down out on the ramp and easy to photograph.

There's a grace and elegance to sailplanes and vintage/classic types in particular, as they circle in lift and travel from thermal to thermal.  Here are some views of the aircraft:

Baby Albatross Cockpit

Baby Albatross

Baby Albatross

Grunau Baby II

Miller Tern

Morelli M100

Mu-13D-3 Leland Cowie

Mu-13D-3 Leland Cowie

Slingsby T31b

TG-2

TG-2

EAA Chapter 64 and Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum Fly Tuskegee Airman, Youth

By Carmelo Turdo

EAA Chapter 64 and the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum hosted about 50 teenagers and adults this weekend to introduce them to the joy of flight. The group is associated with the Tuskegee Airmen, and special guest Dr. Granville C. Coggs from the San Antonio Chapter flew with Mr. Joe Wapelhorst in his T-34 Mentor. The 86-year-old Tuskegee Airman aerial gunner, bombardier and B-25 pilot, radiologist, inventor, athlete, and singer among other vocations, enjoyed his flight along with the youth. A variety of aircraft were used along with the Beechcraft T-34, including a 1953 Piper Tri-Pacer, Cessna 172s, and Piper Saratoga. Special thanks to St. Louis Downtown Airport management and Tuskegee Airmen organizers who arranged for participation in this activity.

  

Southwestern Illinois College Demonstrates Jet Engine Operation in Granite City Facility

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aviation Maintenance Technology Department at Southwestern Illinois College in Granite City recently demonstrated the operation of a $1.3 million TFE 731-3-1C jet engine donated by Honeywell. The engine, used on corporate jets, will be used to give students experience operating and monitoring a current turbine engine in a modern blockhouse facility. The newly constructed test stand and blockhouse offer sufficient safety and comfort that occupants are protected by bulletproof glass and can converse without using an intercom. The engine is controlled by a throttle, and its performance parameters are recorded for later evaluation. The addition of the jet engine test facility elevates the SWIC Aviation Maintenance Technology program to national excellence status.

Special thanks to Mr. Robert Beckett (pictured below), Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Aviation Maintenance Technology at SWIC's Granite City campus, for the demonstration.          

Sightings: Cessna Citation Mustang "American Patriot"

By Carmelo Turdo

The Cessna Citation Mustang "American Patriot" has made several appearances this year in the St. Louis area.  The aircraft is used in support of the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC), a nonprofit organization that provides free medical and compassionate transportation for wounded veterans and their families through a national network of aircraft owners and pilots. Its priority is to help the veterans of Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan).  This aircraft began flying VAC missions in time for Veterans Day, 2011, and flies several missions per month as needed to support this worthy cause.  

For more information on the VAC and "American Patriot," please visit http://www.veteransairlift.org/ and http://www.cessna.com/NewReleases/New/NewReleaseNum-1192359701596.html.

The Aero Experience spoke with Heather Rider, Regional Sales Director, Citation at Cessna Aircraft Company during the Great Plains Air Expo at Spirit of St. Louis Airport about the aircraft:

The aircraft was recently seen again at St. Louis Downtown Airport: