Fly-In swoops into Superior

Nearly 20 small planes buzzed around the Mineral County Airport Saturday afternoon in celebration of the first annual Mineral County Fly-In.

All morning, spectators and pilots alike enjoyed planes lifting off and flying into the airport in Superior. People cheered from the airfield when the small, often times one-manned planes, would cut diagonally through the air.

The Mineral County Chamber of Commerce worked together with the Mineral County Commission and Airport Board to put on the inaugural event.

The theme of the fly-in this year was “The Lord of the Wings, a Superior Epic Tale”, a spin-off of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The Methodist Men from the local Methodist Church provided a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m.

Throughout the fly-in, local vendors set up tents for passersby while predominate figures in the community gave speeches, including mayor Mike Wood and Representative Gordon Hendrick. The local Superior Veterans of Foreign Wars led a flag ceremony.

The speeches lead to an announcement for the airport dedication. County Commissioner Roman Zylawy introduced and honored local Bob Ruthford with the airport dedication honor.

“There’s not a better place than Superior, Montana,” Ruthford said during is brief acceptance speech. Ruthford greatly accepted the honor.

“It makes me humble,” Ruthford said later about the dedication. “I’m just any ordinary old American.”

Two signs were revealed at the airport that read, “Col. Robert E. Ruthford Airfield, WWII, Korea, Vietnam”. In between receiving congratulations from those in attendance, Ruthford took pictures with his family by the new signs.

Ruthford, who moved to Superior in 1971, was born in Chicago and raised in Duluth, Minnesota. With a passion for flying, he joined the Army Air Corps, later known as the Air Force, in 1943.

“I was just looking for adventure,” Ruthford said.

That sense of adventure has rubbed off on his family. Ruthford said he has two sons, who both enjoy flying.

At the fly-in, Ruthford’s grandson also took to the sky in one of Ruthford’s two planes.

Ruthford brought both of his planes to the fly-in. One of his planes has an Alaska Airmen’s Association, Inc. seal on it from the time he flew the plane to Russia.

Ruthford is proud to be part of a world record flight in 1991 where 42 aircraft with 92 people flew between Alaska and Russia.

Ruthford was one of the airmen during the world record flight.

Ruthford bought the 1961 Russia -bound plane in 1984.

“It was ready for salvage when I bought it,” Ruthford said. “It was a lot of work.”

Since the day he purchased the plane, he said it holds a special place.

“It’s a part of the family,” Ruthford said.

Through all the stories speakers and Ruthford shared about his flying experiences, Ruthford said he wants the focus to be on the airport itself.

“I’d just like people to see our airport,” Ruthford said.

Ruthford got his wish as many community members converged onto the airport for the fly-in. Among all the planes, Grant Bierer of Pinesdale brought a unique aircraft to the fly-in.

Bierer took flight in a powered parachute. What looks like a time-traveling go-cart, is actually something many people in the area, including Bierer, consider an adrenaline rush pastime.

Before the wind kicked up to fast, Bierer hopped in the one-seated powered parachute, started the engine, released the parachute and took to the air. Bierer got himself nearly 500 feet off the ground.

Bierer said the powered parachutes could go 26 to 30 miles per hour and the record height is over 19,000 feet.

His powered parachute weighted 254 pounds and held five gallons of fuel.

Bierer, who has been flying powered parachutes for three years, said he taught himself the first time he flew in one.

“It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Bierer said.

Bierer has brought his powered parachute to other fly-ins around Montana, including the air show in Quincy.

After showing off his powered parachute, Bierer hung around to show off his aircraft.

Bierer felt traveling from the Bitterroot for the Mineral County Fly-In was worth his while. Others agree.

“It was a successful day, I’d say,” Ruthford said leaving the fly-in, passing by his name etched in the airport sign.