9th Annual - Northern Alliance Military Fly-in
07-24-2013, 07:25 AM
#1
9th Annual - Northern Alliance Military Fly-in
Remember the dates for the 9th annual Northern Alliance Military Fly-in, Aug. 9-11, 2013, in Owatonna, MN
This is the original largest Warbird event in the Upper/Midwest, with pilots fom all ove rthe country and even Canada! We get 80-100+ great pilots and 100+ qaulity airplanes. Spectators are welcome as well. Open to Don't forget the Saturday night BBQ with ribs and sweet corn!
This is an any size warbird Fly-In. Any Military Plane from any era is welcome, but must be an actual warbird, no modified Extras, etc. Giant Scale classic airplanes are also allowed as long as they are on an aircraft prior to 1962 and have a wingspan of 80" for single wing and 60" for multi wing aircraft. The field has a 650 ft simulated asphalt runway and a 1250 ft grass strip with pretty much unlimited air space to fly in. This is one of the best fields around.
From Carl Bachhuber's GINORMOUS 180+ inch span multi-engine metal beauties (will we see his new 180 inch Lockheed Hudson?), to Paul Letourneau's HUGE museum quality WWII iron (I hear he is getting into jets now as well[8D]), to Top Gun pilot Dennis Crooks' scale materpieces, to Brian Omera's 12 foot "JUG", we will have some of the top notch pilots and planes anywhere in the country at the show.
This year we are featuring aircraft from the Royal Air Force so bring your Sptfires, Typhoons, Hurricanes and any other British warbirds you have in your hangar.
Feel free to bring your miltary and classic era planes for 3 days of fun and see great planes, great pilots, great friends and great comradery. Each plane is a beauty in its own right. Come early and stay late!
We hope to see you there. Here is a link about the event: http://www.smmac.com/smmac/namfi/Welcome.html
Jeff
This is the original largest Warbird event in the Upper/Midwest, with pilots fom all ove rthe country and even Canada! We get 80-100+ great pilots and 100+ qaulity airplanes. Spectators are welcome as well. Open to Don't forget the Saturday night BBQ with ribs and sweet corn!
This is an any size warbird Fly-In. Any Military Plane from any era is welcome, but must be an actual warbird, no modified Extras, etc. Giant Scale classic airplanes are also allowed as long as they are on an aircraft prior to 1962 and have a wingspan of 80" for single wing and 60" for multi wing aircraft. The field has a 650 ft simulated asphalt runway and a 1250 ft grass strip with pretty much unlimited air space to fly in. This is one of the best fields around.
From Carl Bachhuber's GINORMOUS 180+ inch span multi-engine metal beauties (will we see his new 180 inch Lockheed Hudson?), to Paul Letourneau's HUGE museum quality WWII iron (I hear he is getting into jets now as well[8D]), to Top Gun pilot Dennis Crooks' scale materpieces, to Brian Omera's 12 foot "JUG", we will have some of the top notch pilots and planes anywhere in the country at the show.
This year we are featuring aircraft from the Royal Air Force so bring your Sptfires, Typhoons, Hurricanes and any other British warbirds you have in your hangar.
Feel free to bring your miltary and classic era planes for 3 days of fun and see great planes, great pilots, great friends and great comradery. Each plane is a beauty in its own right. Come early and stay late!
We hope to see you there. Here is a link about the event: http://www.smmac.com/smmac/namfi/Welcome.html
Jeff
07-29-2013, 06:11 PM
#4
RE: 9th Annual - Northern Alliance Military Fly-in
I am sad to report that Karen Johnson, the wife of Tim, who owns the land SMMAC sits on, died in an automobile accident while on a Model T tour last week. Anyone that knew Karen will take this news very hard. It is tragic and very sad. Karen was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend, but an even a better person, that always put others first. As I have read about her, she was angelic in this way. She like to feed you and make you laugh and do whatever she could to help anyone she could. Her cheery personality was never ending, and just made you feel happy to be around her. It was contagious. Our thoughts are with Tim and his and Karen's entire family at this difficult time. We are here to do whatever we can for the Johnson family. Tim has stated that he wants the fly-in to go on, and that Karen would kick his behind if he cancelled it. While it will be with heavy hearts, we gather at this event to support our friend Tim Johnson and his entire family, and to honor the memory of Karen, who really made this fly-in as good as it is/was, as anyone involved! She was the vital part, if not the main spark plug. We also thank Tim for allowing her to be as good as she always was with all she ever did. As Karen would always say....see ya later!
Jeff
Jeff
07-29-2013, 07:52 PM
#6
RE: 9th Annual - Northern Alliance Military Fly-in
This is indeed sad news. While I never had the pleasure of attending this fine event and meeting her in person, I have seen, in the coverage of the event, how much she was appreciated by all. Please accept my deepest sympathy for her loss. Wish I could be there to express this in person. I hope to make it this event in the near future.
07-30-2013, 02:58 PM
#7
RE: 9th Annual - Northern Alliance Military Fly-in
No words for this. Tim and Karen are truly great people. I do know she would want everyone to show up at this great event and carry on. See everyone next week in Owatonna.
Ryan
Ryan
07-30-2013, 04:14 PM
#9
RE: 9th Annual - Northern Alliance Military Fly-in
I heard the sad news thru a mutual friend in Owatonna a couple days ago .. I still can't believe it.
I hope for the best for her friends and family, She was always such a nice person when I talked to her at the event.
I hope for the best for her friends and family, She was always such a nice person when I talked to her at the event.
07-30-2013, 06:07 PM
#10
RE: 9th Annual - Northern Alliance Military Fly-in
I'm still at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Tim and family. For those of us that had the pleasure of knowing Karen, we will always remember her shining smile and fantastic personality. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.
Here is Karen presenting me with the "People's Choice" award last summer at the Northern Alliance Military Flyin. She loved Spitfires as much as I do!
Here is Karen presenting me with the "People's Choice" award last summer at the Northern Alliance Military Flyin. She loved Spitfires as much as I do!
07-31-2013, 12:29 PM
#11
RE: 9th Annual - Northern Alliance Military Fly-in
Absolutely shattering news. The world is a less friendly place without her in it. It seemed like her greatest joy was serving people and befriending strangers, making folks comfortable and keeping them well fed! Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim and family.
08-13-2013, 06:21 PM
#19
08-14-2013, 08:57 PM
#20
OK, I'll give this my best shot. I think I know why there's kind of a stunned silence on this thread
The event, the whole weekend has a sacred aura around it that seems untouchable, indescribable to all of us.
When I first heard about Karen's death, I was physically ill.
Soon thereafter, event organizers, encouraged by Tim, began a grassroots campaign to make sure the event happened despite the recent tragedy: "because that's what Karen would've wanted.".
My first reaction was one of protest: "How can they manage to carry on so soon after? Maybe next year, but not next week!
But I felt the urge to honor their wishes, as did (apparently) practically anyone who had ever attended or thought about attending NAMFI.
And with heavy hearts we packed planes and supplies and gathered at the field in Southern Minnesota
What I feared might be a dysfunctional and dysphoric confusion of mourners soon swelled to an incredible memorial celebration by the RC family that Karen helped create.
Hundreds of cars and tents and planes clogged the entire length of the field. The weather was perfect: "heaven-sent" some claimed.
I don't think it an exaggeration to say there were constantly 5 planes in the air from 0800 to 1800 Saturday.
Many stepped up to fill Karen's huge shoes and the logistics of the event were flawless.
Maudlin speeches were kept to a minimum
I think we all felt the LOVE of Tim and Karen's huge RC family coming together to celebrate them and to celebrate ourselves and the LOVE and the fellowship this event has generated.
Tim mingled with us every day in his quiet stoic manner and it was painfully obvious that (rather than cancel the event) we all desperately needed to talk to him, to hug him, to show him that we are family.
In summary, it was the event of a lifetime. As an initial doubter, I have to thank those of you (Tim?) who had the wisdom and the vision to make sure it happened.
Karen has inspired us all to cherish each other every day.
OK, there, I tried to put it in words. How'd I do?
mt
The event, the whole weekend has a sacred aura around it that seems untouchable, indescribable to all of us.
When I first heard about Karen's death, I was physically ill.
Soon thereafter, event organizers, encouraged by Tim, began a grassroots campaign to make sure the event happened despite the recent tragedy: "because that's what Karen would've wanted.".
My first reaction was one of protest: "How can they manage to carry on so soon after? Maybe next year, but not next week!
But I felt the urge to honor their wishes, as did (apparently) practically anyone who had ever attended or thought about attending NAMFI.
And with heavy hearts we packed planes and supplies and gathered at the field in Southern Minnesota
What I feared might be a dysfunctional and dysphoric confusion of mourners soon swelled to an incredible memorial celebration by the RC family that Karen helped create.
Hundreds of cars and tents and planes clogged the entire length of the field. The weather was perfect: "heaven-sent" some claimed.
I don't think it an exaggeration to say there were constantly 5 planes in the air from 0800 to 1800 Saturday.
Many stepped up to fill Karen's huge shoes and the logistics of the event were flawless.
Maudlin speeches were kept to a minimum
I think we all felt the LOVE of Tim and Karen's huge RC family coming together to celebrate them and to celebrate ourselves and the LOVE and the fellowship this event has generated.
Tim mingled with us every day in his quiet stoic manner and it was painfully obvious that (rather than cancel the event) we all desperately needed to talk to him, to hug him, to show him that we are family.
In summary, it was the event of a lifetime. As an initial doubter, I have to thank those of you (Tim?) who had the wisdom and the vision to make sure it happened.
Karen has inspired us all to cherish each other every day.
OK, there, I tried to put it in words. How'd I do?
mt
Last edited by kram; 08-15-2013 at 07:52 PM.
08-15-2013, 04:00 AM
#21
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Very well put Kram , I don't think any of us would have blamed Tim for cancelling the event--but I'm glad he didn't and with the help of an amazing group of people it was an event to remember!
. Roy
. Roy
Last edited by ozzie454; 08-15-2013 at 04:05 AM.
08-15-2013, 07:54 PM
#23
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kram,
Being one of the club members and a bit dysfunctional I feel you captured the weekend rather well. It was stated over and over for two weeks. The previous week was the well sponsored WATTS over Owatonna event. That we can not replace Karen nor can we be just like Karen but the club wanted to try very hard to extend the same courtesies and hospitality that Karen was so renowned for. I hope we captured that spirit and was able to provide an event that was enjoyed by all. She was present everyday with us that weekend and she will always exist at our field. Thank you to everyone who attended and celebrated the life of Karen Johnson last weekend. I do believe she had some pull on the event weather we enjoyed.
Thank you all,
Marty Zinsli
SMMAC Member
Being one of the club members and a bit dysfunctional I feel you captured the weekend rather well. It was stated over and over for two weeks. The previous week was the well sponsored WATTS over Owatonna event. That we can not replace Karen nor can we be just like Karen but the club wanted to try very hard to extend the same courtesies and hospitality that Karen was so renowned for. I hope we captured that spirit and was able to provide an event that was enjoyed by all. She was present everyday with us that weekend and she will always exist at our field. Thank you to everyone who attended and celebrated the life of Karen Johnson last weekend. I do believe she had some pull on the event weather we enjoyed.
Thank you all,
Marty Zinsli
SMMAC Member
08-15-2013, 09:36 PM
#24
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJQ2QaFgdC8 cal and a few other guys wanted to make sure I got this on video. thought it fitting to post it here..
for anyone that missed the event feel free to look at my channel have tons of videos from the event so many I will not even try to post them here already like 20 and like 15 or more yet to edit
http://www.youtube.com/user/hacker8675309/videos
Last edited by hacker8675309; 08-15-2013 at 09:47 PM.
08-15-2013, 09:48 PM
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