by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2019 Issue
In this issue of Midwest Flyer Magazine, you will read about a number of people in the aviation community who have flown West – most due to age, but one person from illness. Several of these people were renown and highly respected aviation business people, namely Mary Jane Rice of Willmar, Minnesota, and Francis and Joyce Einarson of International Falls, Minnesota.
In feature articles, we describe when, why and how they got started in aviation, and how they succeeded. They were all entrepreneurs, invested a lot of time and money in their businesses, and they risked everything to see their dreams come true. As their businesses grew, they employed dozens of people, contributed to aviation and their local economy, and aviation became a way of life for them and their families.
I want to especially recognize longtime contributing editor, Lynnwood “Woody” K. Minar, who left this earth way before his time. His articles describing his experiences as a flight instructor were always fun to read, and he was able to get his point across, which has made us all better pilots. Woody also wrote about some of his seaplane adventures flying from Minnesota to Florida and elsewhere. Woody will be sorely missed by all who knew, loved and respected him.
Also featured in this issue is the “Sling TSi” homebuilt aircraft, which is manufactured by the Airplane Factory of Torrance, Calif. In describing this amazing aircraft, which flew non-stop from Torrance, California to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to exhibit at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, I note that one of their customers was so thoroughly pleased with the aircraft that he became part owner of the company, and is now its Chief Executive Officer. Like many of the exhibitors at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wayne Toddun and his business partners, are taking a gamble that their aircraft will succeed when others have failed. We wish them great success!
The editorial in the August/September 2019 issue of Midwest Flyer Magazine on why the size of fuel hoses on self-serve systems is so important, is beginning to resonate throughout the aviation community. Concerned pilots have called and written about the situations at their local airports, and what they are doing about it. Hopefully airport managers who know they have a problem will take positive action to correct their situation. (See the Letter To The Editor immediately following this editorial.)
