Blog Update - 14November to 04December

Wow, once again this update is not so weekly... I apologize profusely for this. I feel it is very important to keep our members and supporters up to date on our goings-on, so I am rather disappointed in my lack of attentiveness to the blog! I will do my best to keep you more informed, and this shouldn't be too much of an issue post-holiday season. Please bear with me as I do my best to keep up... I do assure you that I have some interesting content however! In the last few weeks we've seen a great number of members for it being the holiday season... it is incredibly exciting to see the number of dedicated individuals working together to accomplish so much around the hangar! The PT-22 is just about ready to be checked out by the FAA. Once that is completed, it will lay dormant until its maiden flight in the spring! Meanwhile, maintenance has begun on all of the the other aircraft. Last time I posted the B-25's right engine was being prepped for removal. Well, it has been removed, and we are preparing the new engine for installation! The drone is primed, ready for paint... and looking great! Soon we will see an original paint job, something worthy of the museum we aim to create!

Some items of importance of late include the elections of new staff members. This years election was for the Maintenance Officer, the Safety Officer and the Finance Officer. We had candidates for two of the positions... keep an eye out for who was elected later this month!

Apologies again for not being on top of this... I hope everyone is having a terrific holiday season!

Jim Lauria

Turret Trouble

A great achievment for the week was the repair of our B-25's Bendix turret! It has been inoperative for the last few years. It turns out it was an electrical problem that was easily solved. Thanks to everyone who participated in getting this working!
(Photos and Video Thanks to Brian Strom)

(Earl Teporten, Rudy Nassif and Nate Timm [inside the turret])

Engine Change Prep

Changing an engine on any aircraft is a faily large job. It takes a bit of prep work, and tools have to be gathered. Thanks to everyone who helped with the preparations!

(Photos Thanks to Brian Strom)

(Big Dave and Bob Wright remove panels and crossmembers)

(Bill Maitland works on cleaning up the gear well.)

(The new engine to be installed)

(Tooling prep includes borrowing Maxwell's Prop stand)

(Bob Wright acts as a counterbalance as Butch Maxwell hoists it)

(The prop stand makes it home, along with another B-25's prop. Devil Dog's prop will be hauled to them shortly.)

Fall Flights

The BT-13, Harvard and L-5 are getting a little flight time. The fall colors make for a great view, and our pilots are eager to see them. Some of our members had the chance to fly along with them!

(Photos Thanks to Earl Teporten)

(Craig Rodberg and Tim Gunter stand by while Bob Koelbl gets Ron Legg prepared for his first flight in the BT-13)

(Ron is all set as Craig runs through the checklist)

(Engine started, ready to roll out)

(Lift off, with a great spread of leaf colors as a backdrop)

(Craig and Ron make it safely back...)

(...and seem to have enjoyed themselves very much!)

(Next up, Craig takes Tim up in the L-5)

(Another great lift-off shot by Earl Teporten)

Halloween Party

The Halloween party was terrific, with great costumes, good music, fun games and food. Enjoy the variety of costumes! More photos available at http://www.matthollandphotography.com/

(Photos Thanks to Matt Holland and Art Minkle)

(Ken Martinson is ready to raid a blood bank)

(Ron "Iron Chef" Legg reminds me of my lunchroom servers in middle school.....)

(It took Steve Shumaker 4 hours to get into this outfit and made-up)

(Tacos and drinks were available to the crowd... operated by a group of members)

(Cadet Don Bystrom will help you taxi in!)

(Matt Holland and Joel Brown take a moment to look at some photos)

(Jazz Etc. played a great set of swing music...)

(...For a great crowd of dancers)

(Amy Lauria gains Klingon support for the Red Tail Project!)

(Bob Koelbl the safari hunter and a google-eyed Tim Gunter serve drinks)

(Aviator and Aviatrix themes fit in quite well here)

(Mike Martin donned perhaps the scariest costume of all... at least to me!)

Not-so-Weekly Weekly Update - 26October thru 13November

Good Afternoon All,
I apologize for a lack of posts in the last few weeks. We've finished with our final two events at the hangar. The Halloween party on the 30th was a hit... great music, good costumes and a taco bar! It was great fun, thank you to all those who attended and helped out. The next night we rented the hangar to a group for their private hHalloween party. It was a late night but a good time as well! The focus has turned from our event laden schedule toward a maintenance operation. The B-25 returned home from Midland, and has been put into maintenance for the winter. First tasks include an engine change, and some repairs. The small aircraft will continue to fly for a period of time before they too are put into maintenance. If you are interested in helping with aircraft maintenance, hangar repair, museum or general cleanup over the winter, we could use your help!!!

Airsho - Midland 2009

The annual Airsho in Midland is the largest CAF gathering in the country. Wings and Squadrons from all over bring their aircraft in and have what basically is a big CAF party! The aircraft on display and museum are all open to the public and visited by a huge crowd.
(Photos Thanks to Jerry Hahn)

Larry Mullaly's Award

Larry Mullaly was awarded the Distinguished Service Award (our highest award) by the Wing for his constant dedication to the Minnesota Wing. Larry has been a pilot with the wing since very early on, and has flown everything that we have. He's trained a number of our pilots and has always been a knowledgeable, humble and hard working member of the wing. Larry has contracted Lou Gehrig's Disease and is no longer able to fly, but has still made himself available to teach our ground school. He was not able to attend our awards banquet, so we brought him out to our General Membership Meeting to present the award.
(Photos Thanks to Earl Teporten)

(Roby Bybee, who is one of Larry's long time friends, wrote and presented a speed about Larry's service to the Wing)


(Roby presents the award to Larry)


(Larry and Doug Olson discuss the past, present and future of the Wing)


(Congratulations Larry! You've certainly earned this. Thank you from everyone for your dedication to the Wing!)


(Thank you also Roby for presenting the award so well!)


(The award presented to Larry Mullaly)

Clean and Prep

It was time to prep the BT-13 for the maintenance season. The crew got together and cleaned off the seasons grime.
(Photos Thanks to Brian Strom)

(Bob Koelbl cleans off the tail of the BT-13)


(Bob Wright works on the windows)


(Every little bit helps! If you're interested in helping with our maintenance operations, stop in!)

Annual Craft Fair and Chili Feed

This years chili feed had a variety of art and craft items, as well as different types of chili (all delicious!). Not only that, we had live music to round out the event. It was a very fun event, with great food and great people!
(Select Photos Thanks to Earl Teporten)

(Music was performed by Crankshaft, a rythm and blues artist. Liked it? - Check out http://www.myspace.com/crankshaftisprimitive)


(Laurie Minkle, Bob Koelbl and Tucker Goodwin serve chili and refreshments)


(The crafters setting up in the morning)


(Thank you to everyone who made the event a success!)

Weekly Update - 16October to 25October

Good Afternoon Everyone!
Last weekend the wing held the annual Craft Fair and Chili Feed! A number of you helped with the event and helped make a batch of home-made chili! It went fast, and made the wing some great income. There were about 30 crafters with all sorts of items for sale. If you haven't checked it out, for the crafts or the chili, keep an eye out this time next year for info on the next one!
We've attended the last airshow of the season, Midland's Airsho. The crews were forced to find different ways home (commercial aircraft or drive a van back). The crews all made it back, and yesterday, two weeks later, Kurt Koukkari, Jim Gilmore and Mark Erickson picked up Miss Mitchell and brought the aircraft back home. Thank you guys for using your own resources to accomplish this!
Locally the weather has changed dramatically. We're clearly heading into winter, and that means switching modes to maintenance. That means cleaning and prepping the aircraft, so that parts can be easily inspected. If you wish to help clean or maintain the aircraft, come down and lend a hand!
Be sure to stop in Friday the 30th for the Charity Halloween Party! It's $10 at the door, or $5 if you come in costume... so be sure to dress up! It should be a great time, so swing by to help out, or to party! It starts at 6:00 pm.

Running the PT-22

This is all we have for you, but it's great fun. The PT-22 needed some testing, and we were the only people available to do it. We did two runs, and found the Tachometer needs repair. It will be sent out and repaired once again. We expect the aircraft to fly early next year so keep an eye to the sky!

(Select Photos Thanks to Earl Teporten)

(Roger Ruhland stands by as Tim Gunter checks over the engine.)


(Doug Olson secures miscellaneous cockpit items as Tim attaches cowling)


(Doug is the crew chief on the PT-22 and has done a great job of managing the project)


(Doug performs the final look over)


(Ok who wants to hand prop this thing?)


(Earl Teporten takes a shot at propping the engine)


(This is the only way of starting the engine at this point. It's tiring, and requires a lot of attention. A cold engine takes awhile to start.)


(Earl did a great job, but it's a lot of work. While he takes a break, Jeff Quesenberry gives it a shot)


(Jeff gives it another shot while Roger, Dick Leighninger, Bob Wright and Tim watch)


(After about a dozen tries, the PT-22 breathes to life)


(Doug checks over the instruments and runs her up)


(This is about the time we found that the Tachometer was not working)


(Tim, Bob and Roger make their way over to see what the issue is)


(With the issues vetted, the aircraft gets put back into the warm hangar)

Click play to watch the video of the PT-22 running below!