Fox21 Takes to the Sky in a World War II Stinson L-5

As a part of the Duluth Airshow, the Commemorative Air Force flies restored U.S. combat planes

DULUTH, Minn. — Practice was well underway this morning for the Duluth Airshow. But while eyes were trained on the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, another plane was ready for takeoff.

The Stinson L-5 Sentinel is a World World II-era liaison plane. During the war, the L-5 was used for artillery spotting, bringing ammunition to the frontlines, and evacuating severely wounded soldiers. Today, its only job was to give Fox21’s Jenna VanSickle a bird’s eye view of Duluth. The flight was a part of the Commemorative Air Force, or CAF.

“It’s a nationwide museum of airplanes,” CAF Pilot John Schmidt explained. “The unique thing about the Commemorative Air Force is we fly what we have in our museum. We don’t just park it in a corner and let it gather dust. So, we have volunteer pilots, like myself, who pay for the privilege of flying these World War II airplanes. I flew it up here from the Twin Cities to Duluth and we’re part of the airshow here at the Duluth Airshow this weekend.”

CAF Pilot John Schmidt says he’s been a part of nearly every one of the Duluth Airshows. He added he really enjoys sharing the planes’ histories and giving others the chance to take flight.

The airshow is this Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 9 a.m. Flying is expected around 11 a.m.