Aviation adventurers

Hundreds

attend

Lions Fly-In

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- By many accounts, Sunday was a great day to fly an airplane. Or at least it was a great day to watch one being flown.

Hundreds and hundreds of people turned up at New Ulm Municipal Airport for the Lions Club's annual Fly-In Breakfast on Sunday. The event is a fund-raiser that mainly benefits the hearing and vision impaired.

Several small single-engine propeller planes dotted the lawn beside the western runway. On the other side of the tarmac, an Army helicopter crew landed a Vietnam-era UH-1 "Huey" at the request of the Lions Club.

On the northern runway, a line for airplane rides ran around the terminal building. Curious onlookers walked around examining the planes and stopping to question the pilots.

Inside the south hangar, a longer line formed for the pancakes, sausage, apple sauce and coffee.

New Ulm Lions Club President Dar Raddatz estimated that the fly-in brought more than 150 planes to the area and attracted an estimated 1,900 people.

The fly-in was started by the Lions Club 31 years ago as a way raise money for the charities that the club supports. Raddatz said it's also a way to bring the community together and rub shoulders.

"This is as good as we've had it," he said. "This is the second time we've had to buy extra food."

Gentle breezes, clear skies and sunshine made for a good flying day, according to airport staff.

As in years past, Bernie Davey of Eagle Lake flew his 1981 Petonpul Air Camper to New Ulm from Mankato to have breakfast and visit friends. The plane, which actually belongs to a 88-year old friend, is based on a 1929 design and was homebuilt with the type of fabric and wood common to the airplanes of the 1920s. Davey said he flies the Air Camper more than anyone and also owns its engine and propeller.

"It's perfect," said Davey of the weather. "Its a beautiful day for anything."

Meanwhile, Charles Modaschel showed off his 'Teeny Two' plane amidst a field full of newer, single-engined propeller aircraft like Cessnas and Pipers.

The Army's vintage helicopter attracted small children and their parents as well as a few military veterans. Sgt. Jeff Dana of the second battalion of the Army's 147th Aviation Wing in St. Paul said the helicopter usually makes a few appearances at community functions around the state.

The wing is one of the last Army units to use the Huey, he said. Most active-duty Army units now fly the UH-60 Blackhawk although a good deal of the pilots in the 147th are qualified to fly both types of helicopters. Hueys are still used in training situations and by medical evacuation -- or Medivac -- units, he said.

The Huey on display was built in 1971 and more than likely didn't see any combat duty in Vietnam, because there was more equipment coming back to the U.S. than was going overseas, Dana said.

Like Davey and many other pilots, Dana and the Army crew have been regulars at the fly-in breakfast for about three years. He said the units gets requests for flyovers frequently.

Following the breakfast, the crew shut the Huey's maintenance hatches, closed the doors and started the engines. Dana said the crew had a flyover to do in Osceola, Wis., after that day.