Minnesota Wing of Van's Air Force holds quarterly meeting

by Bob Collins

About 50 or so members of the Minnesota Wing of Van's Air Force gathered today (Saturday July 28, 2008) at Crystal Airport, north of Minneapolis for a barbecue and RV talk.

Gusty winds and thunderstorms kept all but two RVs from flying in . One of those making it in was famed RVator Tom Irlbeck, who flies in any weather. Once you've been a carrier Top Gun pilot, a little wind and rain doesn't bother you much. The weather kept the Met Life blimp on the ground nearby.

There was no program per se but Pete Howell demonstrated the APRS tracking system. And Tom Berge brought his RV-7A over so that people could see his new cowling. Host Warren Starkebaum handled barbecue duty and let folks poke around his under-construction RV-7. Warren just finished -- mostly -- the front fiberglass work on his RV.

Some pictures are posted below. You must be connected to the Internet in order to see them.

Tom Irlbeck talks with fellow RV drivers.

Whenever you get a bunch of RVers together, chances are good they're going to form into groups, shove their hands in their pockets, and lean over your RV.

Mike Behnke explains his plan for dogfighting in the RV-9 he's building.

As fall gets closer, MN Wing president Doug Weiler looks less like a Northwest Airlines captain, and more like the retired country gentleman building an RV-7. I believe that's mIke Hilger with him.

Pete Howell explains the APRS tracking system.

Warren Starkebaum hasn't had this much fun since he started his canopy frame.

Paul Hove, RV-7A pilot, was featured in the local newspaper just a few days before the meeting.

Hangar flying the Minnesota way. See those jackets. The temperature had dropped to about 65. That's the Minnesota way, too!

A bunch of people who wish they had RVs fly this thing.

If you want to see more -- and larger -- pictures, go to my Flickr page and wade through the muck.

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