Air Fest 98
The Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club was much in evidence at Air Fest 98 on July 18th and 19th. The Brainerd-Crow Wing County Airport was celebrating it's 50th Anniversary and what better way to honor the event than by staging a spectacular air show.
Hams responding to the call for volunteers were: Al WØRC, Shirley KCØDCW, Jim KCØANQ, John KCØANR, Alan KCØBQP, Mel NØFOO, John W3MQD, Clay KCØHA, Bill WBØMVE, Harmony KCØANO, Dick KCØBAN, Jon KBØMNM, Carlos NØOHX, Mark WØMH, Bob WØZPE, John WØJGY, Tom KØHHF, Gene KØTIW, Katie KBØDKD, Terry KIØFW, Roger KBØUUN, Ken KAØJSW, and George KCØBH.
Hams from the club put in some long days making certain that all ends of the airport were in instant communication. Such call signs as "Air Boss", "Show Boss", and "Concessions" were but a few of the shadow responsibilities served. On Saturday, the 147.03 MHz repeater was used extensively. However, on Sunday it was determined that operations on 146.52 MHz simplex would be adequately handle the assignment.
Above right is George, KCØBH, who was Net Control for the day. To the left is Marcella Chronquist and behind is Ken, KAØJSW, BAARC Event Coordinator.
Here is Harmony KCØANO. She received training in one of the Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club classes and passed here ham exam in the spring of 1998. She has participated in several BAARC field events.
Flyover of a World War II vintage U.S. Army Air Corps Mitchel B-25 Bomber. Planes like this one, led by Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, bombed Tokyo Japan in the early days of the war.
Here is a World War II P-51 Mustang. This fighter, powered by the legendary British Merlin engine, was creditied with saving thousands of bomber crew lives while escorting B-17's in runs over Germany.
Vietnam vintage OV-1B Mohawk surveilence aircraft. It is turboprop driven and has a crew of two.
What airshow would be complete without a four cylinder Piper Cub. This is a really fun personal aircraft.
A vintage bi-plane in bright red, white, and blue American flag colors.
The airshow ended with a jet propelled fire engine running at 400 miles per hour. What a thrill.
Hams continued to coordinate communications while thousands of spectators headed for their cars to leave the event. Bart Blinstrup, overall official in charge of the Air Fest, expressed his appreciation and compliments to hams. He said, "Of all the volunteers involved in the show, the hams not only showed, but knew what the were doing." He asked the Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club to help next year if another air show is scheduled.