Alexandria Airport delivers open up house on June 5 highlights new aircraft hangar spaces, Bellanca constructing upgrades

And there is also a fly-in and open home this Saturday, June 5.

All are welcome

The group is invited to the party at the Alexandria Airport from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The free, community event will consist of displays, sellers and foodstuff.

In the aviation world, Alexandria Airport Manager Kreg Anderson said it can be known as a fly-in because pilots fly into the airport that is web hosting. But for the general community, Anderson refers to it as an open property.

There are some activities that will be returning, these types of as aviation-similar displays and enterprise presenters. The Experimental Plane Affiliation will be just one of those people, supplying totally free plane rides to young ones ages 8 to 17.

But Anderson also made a decision to “spice it up” a bit this 12 months.

Instead of the traditional breakfast food, he requested Smokin’ Brews & ‘Ques to serve pulled pork sandwiches. Guests will also see Classic Automobile Club vehicles, Viking Speedway automobiles and an U.S. Axe Throwing opportunity.

“It’s a likelihood to arrive out below and see what goes on,” Anderson stated. “The allure of it, to me, is you really do not know what else is heading to show up. That’s part of the entertaining.”

High desire for hangars

Anyone can tie down their airplanes outside for totally free, but preferably, they’d like to park them somewhere indoors, risk-free from the factors. Aircraft house owners wish this individual room for their prized belongings, Anderson said, and there’s a significant need for them across Minnesota.

“I kinda look at it to residences and apartments,” Anderson claimed. “You want your possess house, your very own own place. It is often a demand from customers due to the fact men and women want their have house.”

In advance of acquiring it approved by the metropolis council, Anderson gathered 10 letters of determination and showed the waitlist of 36 more names to verify that it was a task with high demand. After the new T-hangar is accomplished, there will be 54 hangars at the Alexandria Airport, and all of them will be filled.

“We’re quite energized about it,” Anderson said. “It’s a good way to improve the airport. That is 10 far more airplanes that are likely to be centered right here.”

If someone would like to skip ahead of the T-hangar waiting around checklist, there is an substitute route: Create your very own.

“It’s been definitely awesome to see people investing in our airport and our local community by carrying out so,” Anderson explained.

Three constructions with 5 hangars have been crafted by private traders in the previous two many years, and Anderson doesn’t assume this development to sluggish down.

There’s land plotted out especially as openings for these kinds of structures. There’s space for another 6 non-public hangars as perfectly as just one or two T-hangars in the exact space as the other new buildings.

The 3rd building job at the airport entails the Bellanca making.

When the company’s ground lease with the city of Alexandria expired in 2016, the assets was returned to the metropolis.

The city’s next query was what to do with it. Any route was possible: Marketing it, allowing it stand vacant or demolishing it. Anderson stated there was a wrestle to come across funding mainly because when the state and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are wanting towards the place to put their airport funds, runways and gas pump assignments acquire priority above outbuildings, these types of as the former Bellanca site.

But in 2019, the Minnesota Division of Employment and Economic Enhancement declared an Airport Infrastructure Renewal Application. This grant initiative was geared towards outstate airports with warehouses or other industrial facilities on airport house.

“It was practically unbelievable for the reason that it was particularly what we wanted with this building,” Anderson mentioned.

Obtaining the grant allowed the metropolis to commit to the long run investment and what it could do for the Alexandria neighborhood, according to Anderson. The town of Alexandria had to match the state’s grant contribution, totaling $362,000. The airport’s timeframe to do the job from this grant has been March 2020 by means of June 2021.

Coming up on the conclusion of that 15-month period of time, Anderson reported the contractors have labored tirelessly to make certain the job finishes on time, which has included roofing replacements, heating and cooling technique upgrades, brighter lighting installments, gutted office environment place and rest room renovations.

“It’s kind of a madhouse above there,” Anderson mentioned. “A lot’s likely on, but it feels really excellent to know that progress is remaining created with that setting up.”

Two tenants are at present using about 50 % of the 56,000-sq.-foot place, and there’s area for a couple of far more organizations.

Alexandria Aircraft LLC — the “old-college Bellanca guys” — present airplane refurbishments, restorations and portion sales. Chances Enterprise, the other small business in the Bellanca creating, is a subcontractor for Glenwood-based mostly Quickly International Methods, one particular of the greatest companies of baggage carts and airport grounds equipment.

Anderson reported other companies interested in utilizing the Bellanca setting up need to be aviation-connected and stick to a handful of other suggestions, but he is open to inquiries. The obtainable spaces are stripped down to the concrete, a blank slate for a enterprise to get about as its new house.

“Whatever vision you see for it, you got our support to go do it,” Anderson reported.