BLOOMINGTON, MINN. – Six aviators with impressive aviation backgrounds will cross the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame Induction banquet stage on April 20, 2013 at the Ramada, Mall of America Hotel in Bloomington, Minn., including Dale Johnson of Burnsville: homebuilder and aircraft restorer, sailplane owner and pilot; Ray Johnson of Marshall: crop-duster, flight instructor and longtime manager of Southwest Minnesota Regional Airport-Marshall (Ryan Field); John Kahler of Rochester: Navy helicopter pilot, glider pilot and Rochester businessman; David Konshok of Park Rapids: 60-plus-year member of the Park Rapids Airport Commission, developer and namesake of the field; Earl Olson of Duluth: aviation pioneer and barnstormer, fixed base operator, and long-time manager of Duluth International Airport, who was among those who selected the present site of the airport; and Rita Orr of Faribault: long-time member of the Minnesota 99s, and played a huge role in the development of the Faribault Municipal Airport.
In addition to the inductees, the Hall of Fame will be honoring Jim Hanson of Rochester, Minn., as the “Aviation Writer of the Year,” and Bruce MacLean as the “Aviation Artist of the Year.” (Hanson is a contributing writer to Minnesota Flyer and Midwest Flyer Magazine.)
Reservation materials for the reception and banquet will be available beginning January 1 on the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame website: www.mnaviationhalloffame.org.
