NAAA represented ag aviation at U.S. Congressman Sam Graves’ (R-MO) Wingnuts Air Show before more than 2,000 attendees in Tarkio, Mo., last week. Several NAAA members participated in the show, whether it was displaying ag aircraft or representing agricultural aviation's interests to audience members as part of a General Aviation (GA) Town Hall.
The show began with a night airshow display on July 7 with a tremendous flight demonstration by the AeroShell Beechcraft T-6 quartet performing their darkened aerial ballet with illuminated aircraft. The team includes none other than Steve Gustafson, an aerial applicator from the Southeast.
On the morning of July 8, Congressman Graves held a General Aviation Town Hall to discuss national issues affecting the industry. Andrew Moore, NAAA’s executive director, took part in the discussion which also included representatives from Helicopter Association International, EAA, AOPA, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, National Air Transportation Association, National Business Aviation Association and other GA interests. The major concerns expressed by the audience and a number of GA interests were with the recently introduced bill privatizing air traffic control (ATC). Rep. Graves explained that he worked hard to successfully exempt general aviation from user fees in the proposed bill and to ensure that they were adequately represented in a board overseeing the privatization. Moore complemented Rep. Graves for his assistance in marking low-level towers that endanger aerial applicators and for well-representing American agriculture and agricultural aviation in the U.S. Congress.
NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore (far left) represents the ag aviation industry before a public audience at the Tarkio Air Show; Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO) speaks to the audience (standing with mic on right).
A number of NAAA members displayed and or flew their aircraft to the show, including Rick and Mary Boardman of Aurora, Neb. The Boardmans went old school and flew in and displayed their vintage Stearman ag aircraft.
Mary and Rick Boardman (back) fly their Stearman into Tarkio, Mo.
NAAA member Adam Myerkorth of Myerkorth Aviation in Missouri also showcased his Air Tractors at the airshow. Dallas Grimm of Redline Aviation in Nebraska was also at the show.
Myerkorth Aviation lands in Tarkio, Mo., in good company with the Team AeroShell T-6’s and Mustang in sight.
One of the highlights of the show was the Beechcraft T-6 quartet display which concluded the day ... well, not quite—the final act of the day was the B-2 Stealth bomber, stationed in nearby Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, flying by to conclude the show.
AeroShell's T-6 team including ag pilot Steve Gustafson dances in the sky with their well-choreographed aerial display.
The show concluded with the B-2 Bomber fly by with three-fourths of Team AeroShell’s crew (Steve Gustafson missing).
