History files at Air Expo

Flight Journal, Feb 2001 by Luikens, Bob

On July 21 to 23, 2000, more than 9,000 people from the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, area turned out to see the newest production by "Wings of the North." Called "Air Expo 2000," the expanded show originated with the Mustang Roundups of the previous three years that were last held at Executive Aviation at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

The famed Red Baron Stearman Squadron, T-6s and P-51 Mustangs were among the nearly 40 planes that participated during the weekend. Other aircraft present were an Apache helicopter, a pair of Twin Beeches and numerous T-34s. As well as numerous civilian types, there were also unique warbirds such as a CJ Chinese trainer, a German Bu.181D Bucker and a twinengine Mohawk. The big attraction was the B25 Mitchell bomber that sat at the show's center. Other popular aircraft were the massive Howard 500 and the Stinson Trimotor-both meticulously restored.

Nearly 65 VIPs, including original members of the Black Sheep Squadron, Doolittle Raiders, Flying Tigers, Tuskegee Airmen, WASPs, 8th Air Force, Minnesota's top aces, pilots of the Ploesti raid, winners of the Navy Cross and Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame inductees, attended the Air Expo. Other guests included famed German ace Horst Petzschler and British Spitfire pilot L.W. Burgess.

In between the symposiums that featured several of these aviators was some spectacular flying put on by numerous T-6 and P-51 Mustang pilots. Each group performed fantastic group passes as well as single-ship passes and breaks to landing. Several