The Way Flying Used To Be

By ANN Correspondent Rose Dorcey

The tired old airplane engine is run-out and can't be repaired; it sits rusting in its crate in a dark corner of your hangar. Back in the day it was a smooth runner, it provided you with moments of solitude, the most beautiful views, and some of your greatest pleasures while high above the earth. You realize you just can't bear to send it to a scrap heap; isn't there a way to put it to use?

A dedicated group of flyers at a friendly country airport did just that. A Continental radial engine now marks the way to the Wild Rose Idlewild Airport (C23). Don Gunderson, former 18-year airport manager, said Wild Rose (WI) Airport Association member Jim Stark donated the old Continental for use as the showpiece for a new airport sign.

"The whole project took about four months," said Gunderson. "We had a good group of guys helping out - Don Mahn, Don Nickel, Ron Bender & Brett Wilke, to name a few. Jim spent a lot of time cleaning up the engine, which didn't have a prop. Ron Unertl, from nearby Central County Airport, donated one. Ken Lapp, a machinist, made an adapter so the prop would fit and he designed mounts to attach the engine to the sign."

"The project ran into a delay," Gunderson (right) continued, "when we poured the cement for the sign's foundation. It was a disaster! The forms collapsed and we had cement all over the place. So of course, we had to build new, stronger forms and order another load of cement." He said the 50-some members of the Wild Rose Airport Association are the "best scroungers in the business," as materials were scrounged up from local businesses and around the airport. Old sheet metal was discovered for the sign's roof, while the lettered boards from the original sign were incorporated into the new one."

"A healthy dose of airport support comes from local businesses," Gunderson said, "because the airport is almost completely self-supporting, and because the local business people realize the positive impact the airport makes on the community. We even get support from people who won't get in an airplane," he exclaimed, "One guy even told me, 'I'll support the airport, but I won't get in a plane with you.'"

Since the small airport with two grass runways does not receive federal funding, income comes from donations, association dues, hangar rents, and an annual June fund-raising event, a fly-in breakfast and pig roast. An area favorite, last year's event attracted 110 airplanes and diners by the carloads. "They came for breakfast, then stayed for the day - they walked around, looked at the airplanes, and stayed for our pig roast. Airport Association member Art Korleski starts the hog the night before. It's a 200 pound hog, the live weight, which gives us 120 pounds of pork."

Installed in the fall of 2002, the new airport sign receives much attention from the pilots flying in and those who drive by. "People drive by, stop and back up, and get out to take a closer look. Some even take pictures," said Gunderson.

The airport sits about 45 miles NW of Oshkosh (WI). The east/west 2990' runway, 9/27, is plowed in winter and open year round, while 18/36 - at 1600' - is not. "The best time to come see us and our sign is on the weekends, when most of us are around. It's a small airport, we have just 21 hangars, but it's a friendly place. We have a pilot's lounge where you can take a break and have a soda."

FMI: www.1wisconsin.com/wildrose