As some of you may know, I have been touring some local airfields in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin in search of our first official office and retail shop. On a recent visit to our local UPS store in Hudson, Wisonsin, a chance meeting turned into a potential opportunity. There I met Darrel Gibson of St. Croix Valley Aviation, LLC. Darrel is a former Northwest mechanic who has gone into business for himself and owns a modern and very promising maintenance shop at Osceola Airport. Darrel invited my wife and I to tour the airport this past weekend.
Founded in 1948, L.O. Simenstad Field (CTAF 122.9 & AWOS 119.925), located in Osceola, Wisconsin, is a local public airfield hosting a variety of aircraft including King Air, twins, singles, light sport, ultralights and gliders. Under the direction of airport commissioner Philip Mattison, the airfield recently underwent a runway extension on L-10 to 5,005 feet and accomodating 30,000lb gross weight. The airport shows great potential and growth for both private pilots and aviation enthusiasts, but also small corporate charter jets.
Special "thank you" to our hosts last weekend. Mike Carver of "Everything Aviation, LLC for taking the time to show us his operations and letting our daughters sit in the honored Piper P-18 Super Cub he was working on. And, Darrel Gibson of St. Croix Valley Aviation, LLC for a tour of his new modern maintenance facility. We had a great time and look forward to seeing you all out at the airfield again this Spring.