by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer April/May 2017 issue
The April/May issue of Midwest Flyer Magazine is traditionally dedicated to state aviation conferences being held throughout the Midwest in the spring, and seaplane flying. Usually by April 1, there’s no more snow to plow at our airports and the ice is off our lakes, and airport managers and seaplane-rated pilots are excited and preparing for the warmer flying season ahead. Well, in addition to the “State Aviation/Airport Conference” section, beginning with this issue, we have created a new section called Midwest Seaplane Pilot featuring seaplane pilots from throughout the Midwest, and the events, activities and travel destinations that fuel their interest.
One of the leading events in the Midwest is the Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association (MSPA) Safety Seminar and Fly-In to be held May 19-21, 2017 at Madden’s Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota. By sea and by land, pilots will converge on the shores of Gull Lake and land at East Gull Lake Airport located adjacent to Madden’s Resort. For additional information visit www.mnseaplanes.com. Midwest Seaplane Pilot begins on page 32.
In memory of the late Bob Hoover, airshow performer extraordinaire, the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) created an award in his memory, which is given to a person who demonstrates the airmanship, leadership and passion for aviation that Bob Hoover exhibited during his distinguished career and life as a pilot and aviation advocate. The first recipient of the trophy was Bob Hoover himself in 2016, and per his wishes, airshow performer Sean D. Tucker became the second recipient at ceremonies held March 8, 2017 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. Read all about it beginning on page 28.
Columnists Pete Schoeninger, Greg Reigel, Mark Baker, Mick Kaufman, Harold Green, Bill Blank, Hal Davis, Cassandra Isackson and Rachel Obermoller will entertain, inform and educate us with topics ranging from instrument flight, pilot proficiency, flight safety, aviation law, aircraft ownership and maintenance, and pilot health and advocacy, to state and federal issues, as they do in each and every issue. Also in this issue are feature articles written by seaplane enthusiasts, Steve Guetter and Randy Schoephoerster.
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