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Newsletter ArchivesOctober 2008July 2008 June 2008 April 2008 January/February 2008 August 2007 May 2007 Subscribe to our newsletter | FeaturesPodcast for Chris Cape6-5-08 WORLD OF AVIATION guest:Chris Cape. Click button to hear podcast. 
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Recent News
9-24-2008 - Thunderbird Aviation Weather Seminar8-15-2008 - Scholarship Opportunity
7-30-2008 - Thunderbird Aviation increases rental and training fleet
7-22-2008 - Mooney returns to Thunderbird's rental fleet
7-18-2008 - Authorized Avionics Dealer
6-21-2008 - Thunderbird Aviation offers $35 Air Rides
4-30-2008 - Jurgen Fohlmeister receives 2007 Best Aviation Author Award
3-3-2008 - Thunderbird Aviation offers Innovative Career Program
2-20-2008 - Thunderbird Aviation awarded 5 Firewatch contracts
12-1-2007 - Thunderbird Aviation becomes Tecnam Light Sport Distributor
9-24-2008 - Thunderbird Aviation offers Aviation Weather seminar featuring KARE-11 Meteorologist Jonathan Yuhas
Thunderbird Aviation is pleased to announce a new Aviation Weather Seminar featuring KARE-11 TV meteorologist Jonathan Yuhas. The class is designed to help pilots, from students to seasoned aviators, interpret and identify the keys to Minnesota's meteorological environment and how each change in season can affect the way we fly.
"This class is open to anyone in the flying public, regardless of experience, and is a great way for all of us to become better educated on the weather systems that effect our flying on a daily basis," commented Christopher Cape, General Manager of Thunderbird Aviation.
The first seminar will focus on Fall Flying Weather and run for four weeks, beginning October 20, 2008. The class will be held at Thunderbird's maintenance facility on Flying Cloud Airport. The cost for the seminar is $35.00 per person in advance, or $40.00 at the door the first night. For more information call Chris Cape at (952) 941-1212.
8-15-2008 - Scholarship Opportunity
The Minnesota Aviation Trades Association is offering a $1500 scholarship to assist students in learning how to fly at Thunderbird Aviation Flying Cloud or Crystal.
Students meeting the following requirements are eligible to participate:
1. Write a one page, type-written, double-space letter entitled "Why I Want to Learn to Fly"
2. Must be a Minnesota resident
3. Must learn to fly at a MATA member flight school
4. Must be at least 16 years of age
5. Must be received by August 31, 2008
The winner will be presented with the scholarship at the 2008 Minnesota Aviation Trades Association Conference held September 19th in Shakopee, Minnesota.
The $1500 can be used toward a pilot certificate or rating. The MATA Scholarship Committee will select a winner based on best writing and personal desire to learn to fly among other factors.
"This is a unique opportunity for Thunderbird Aviation students to receive a $1500 scholarship to start or continue their flight training experience. MATA is happy to assist tomorrows aviators, today!", said MATA Board of Directors Member and Thunderbird Aviation Aircraft Sales Manager Alex Haak.
Send your scholarship letter by August 31, 2008 to:
Minnesota Aviation Trades Association, c/o Mike Higgins
6206 Crossman Lane, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
7-30-2008 - Thunderbird Aviation increases rental and training fleet
Thunderbird Aviation has added two Cessna 172 Skyhawks to it's large fleet of training and rental aircraft.
One Cessna is a 2003 Skyhawk SP with leather seating and full IFR avionics including
2-axis autopilot and a large 6-inch multi-function display (MFD) coupled to an IFR GPS.
The other Cessna is a 1978 Skyhawk, with new paint, new interior, and IFR avionics.
"With the addition of these two aircraft to our training and rental fleet, our customers have even more choices of aircraft to best suit their individual needs," says Alex Haak, Thunderbird Aviation's Fleet Manager. Both aircraft are available for rent at Thunderbird Aviation Flying Cloud.
7-22-2008 - Mooney returns to Thunderbird's rental fleet
Back by popular demand, the Mooney M20J-201 returned to our already large rental fleet on July 17, 2008. This addition adds a third complex single-engine aircraft to a fleet that is already Minnesota's largest available for rental and training.
The Mooney, which is available at Flying Cloud Airport, has a 200 hp engine, IFR avionics, 2-axis autopilot, and newer paint.
To celebrate the return of Mooney to our rental fleet, Thunderbird is offering a 15% discount off the rental rate on all flights taken in the Mooney until August 31, 2008.
Contact the Flying Cloud Location at 952-941-1212 for more information or to schedule a flight.
7-18-2008 - Authorized Avionics Dealer
Thunderbird Aviation is proud to announce that it has become an Authorized Dealer for two avionics companies: AvMap Satellite Navigation© and Icom America©.
AvMap has been offering innovative GPS units and mapping displays for
15 years. Their EKP-IV line of portable GPS units feature a large 7" screen
with Terrain Awareness and Warning System(TAWS), Airport Maps, Airways,
Street Maps, and available Fall 2008 XM Weather Service.
Icom, offers ground base stations, aircraft panel mounts, and handheld
communication radios. Known for their quality products at an affordable
price, Icom radios are found worldwide in general aviation applications.
Contact Matt Keleher at our Flying Cloud location 952-941-1212 or
Randy Sando at our Crystal Location 763-533-4162 for further details and pricing.
6-21-2008 - Thunderbird Aviation begin $35 Air Rides at Flying Cloud Airport
Eden Prairie, MN: Thunderbird Aviation, by popular demand, is excited
to announce an expansion of our Air Rides program. Each Saturday from
12 pm until 4pm, Thunderbird will dedicate one aircraft and pilot at
Flying Cloud Airport for $35.00 air rides. Rides are on a first come,
first serve basis and reservations are not needed.
"Our new air ride program will allow our neighbors here in Eden Prairie to experience
how much fun aviation is, without breaking the bank, and I'm glad
we will be able to offer this on a regular basis," commented Chris
Cape, Director of Operations for Thunderbird Aviation Flying Cloud.
Rides will only be sold on the day of departure and will not run during periods of
inclement weather.
4-30-2008 - Jurgen Fohlmeister receives 2007 Award for
Best
Aviation Author from the MN Aviation Hall of Fame
Jurgen Fohlmeister, a long time Thunderbird customer, and a research physicist at the University of Minnesota, will receive an award from the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame for Best Aviation Writing by a Minnesotan for 2007. In 1988, Mr. Fohlmeister flew a Thunderbird Piper Arrow, N-1641H, over the North Pole and through Europe. As a result of this trip, he wrote Polar Flight, which takes readers along as co-pilot to learn the history of Arctic exploration, geography, geology, and navigation.
Born in Germany, Fohlmeister has lived in Minneapolis for 55 years. He studied at the University of Bonn and earned a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from the University of Minnesota, where he is an associate professor. On May 3rd, Fohlmeister will will receive an award from the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame for Best Aviation Writing by a Minnesotan for 2007 for his book Polar Flight.
So what inspires someone to fly over the North Pole? Unlike Erhardt, Yeager and the many unheralded adventure pilots of the past, you can still discuss that question with him. Like his predecessors, the initial response to Jurgen's idea was met by skepticism. But also like his predecessors, Jurgen was not swayed by critics of his dream.
Jurgen's flight to "the pole" touched everyone at Thunderbird Aviation. In addition to flight information and planning, he worked with Thunderbird's maintenance shop to coordinate the retrofit of the airplane. Extended fuel tanks and navigation systems that would work over the North Pole were installed. This, along with all the other modifications, had to be FAA certified and deemed airworthy.
As we at Thunderbird look back on this memorable flight, some may ask: why a polar flight? While there were many more pressing issues to address at the time, there truly was something special about this project that made sense for us to follow it through. This adventure allowed Thunderbird to bust out of a routine, and live vicariously through the success of our customer and friend Jurgen Fohlmeister.
3-3-2008 - Thunderbird Aviation offers Innovative Career Program
Minneapolis, MN: Thunderbird Aviation announced today that they are starting an innovative career pilot training program to meet rising demand for airline pilots worldwide. "Even though Congress recently raised the maximum age for airline pilots to 65, we are still seeing record demand for pilots, especially at the regional airline level," said Christopher Cape, Thunderbird's Director of Operations. He continued, " our new Fast-Trac program is designed to offer students with little or no prior training to gain valuable multi-engine flying experience while building the necessary flight hours to be competitive for airline pilot jobs."
The curriculum for Fast-Trac was developed by airline pilots and career flight instructors and is one of the most comprehensive programs in the country. "We are offering students more flexibility than any of our competitors, by allowing students to begin the program as a student pilot and choosing either the airline geared track or a flight instructor track," said Alex Haak, Thunderbird's Chief Flight Instructor. The cost of the Fast-Trac program includes lodging, if desired, and allows students to fly from any Thunderbird location in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.
Thunderbird Aviation has also entered into an agreement with Academy College to provide college credit for completing the Fast-Trac program. Academy College, located in Bloomington, MN, is an accredited four year college awarding Bachelor of Science Degrees, Associate Degrees and Certificates. "Many students are trying to take advantage of the current hiring wave in the airlines and want to complete their flight training as fast as possible while still receiving a college degree and Academy College can make this possible," said Tracey Schantz, Director-Academy College. She added, "Fast-Trac students can go to the airlines, use the time spent at Thunderbird as credit and finish their degree on-line in their free time."?
Former National Air Transportation Association board member and current President of Thunderbird Aviation, Nancy Grazzini-Olson, added "Fast-Trac is a program that offers real value for the aspiring airline pilot and will make graduates highly competitive for positions within the airline industry. Thunderbird has a long history of producing quality graduates and we are excited to continue this tradition through this new program."
For more information, please visit Career
Pilot Training/Fast-Trac or call Thunderbird Aviation at (952) 941-1212
(Eden Prairie, MN), or (763) 533-4162 (Crystal, MN). If you'd like more information
about this topic or to schedule an interview call Chris Cape at (952) 941-1212.
2-20-2008 - Thunderbird Aviation awarded five Firewatch contracts by the State of Minnesota; becomes one of the fastest growing aerial services companies in Upper Midwest
Eden Prairie, MN: Thunderbird Aviation announced today that they have been awarded five aerial detection contracts by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. As part of this contract, the company will provide both aircraft and pilots for the 2008 and 2009 fire seasons and develop pilot and equipment domiciles in Pine River, MN and Cloquet, MN.
"We are very excited to work with the State of Minnesota in this critical capacity and are pleased to be able to create new jobs across the region in support of this contract," commented Nancy Grazzini-Olson, President-Thunderbird Aviation. "Our company has a long history of success in working with both government and private industry in meeting their aerial services needs and I am confident that we can create substantial long term value for both our State and taxpayers," added Ms. Olson.
Beginning in March 2008, Thunderbird Aviation will operate detection flights in Aitkin, Backus, Cambridge, Cloquet, and Little Falls, Minnesota. The company will begin the process of hiring pilots and support staff during the month of February and will announce specific qualifications, compensation and bases shortly. "With this contract, Thunderbird will be the fastest growing general aviation services company in Minnesota and we're proud to be able to offer this opportunity to both our current Flight Instructors and pilots from across Minnesota," said Christopher Cape, Chief Pilot-Aerial Services.
12-1-2007 - Thunderbird Aviation becomes Tecnam Light Sport Distributor
Thunderbird Aviation has become the Tecnam Light Sport Aircraft Distributor for Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Tecnam, building Sport Aircraft in Italy since 1992, currently has 3 models of light sport aircraft on the US market, the Super Echo, Sierra, and Bravo, with over 2200 of all types flying worldwide.
"With Thunderbird Aviation becoming a distributor, service center, and training center for Tecnam, we are bringing sport aviation to the Upper Midwest in a scale not seen before," says Thunderbird Aviation's Aircraft Sales Manager- Alex Haak. "Sport, Private, and even a sport instructor student have already started training in the new aircraft."
Thunderbird Aviation is currently operating one Tecnam Bravo in their training fleet with two more due by the end of the year. Contact Alex Haak at 612-767-9923 or click on contact button for more
information on services provided by Thunderbird and Tecnam Aircraft.
