On May 11, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation had the distinct honor of taking part in a general aviation (GA) flyover of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The flyover was in commemoration of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)’s 85th anniversary. 

The diverse group of aircraft included 15 chapters of planes, telling the story of GA in America, including aviation’s Golden Age, the postwar boom, and all the way up to modern business jets and wildfire-fighting airplanes.

Of the 60 or so aircraft that participated, only three were helicopters, distinguishing Enstrom as part of a select company. 

“AOPA sent us an invitation back in January,” said Enstrom chief commercial officer Dennis Martin. “From there, I had to go through multiple briefings and background checks from the FAA and Secret Service. It was a fairly involved process” 

FAA personnel and AOPA staff timed the operation to the second, organizing the flight based on aircraft and pilot capabilities. Officials shut down Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for an hour to make way for the flyover. 

Martin flew the Enstrom 480B from Menominee, Michigan, to Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland, where he then flew down the Potomac along the designated flyover route. 

After reaching Roosevelt Island, Martin took a turn at the Lincoln Memorial, flew down Independence Avenue, and dipped south at the Hirshhorn Museum. Martin and his fellow aviators flew at an altitude of about 1,000 feet, all just a half mile away from the White House, one of Washington, D.C.’s most restricted flight zones. 

“It was surreal. Millions of people see these landmarks from the ground every year, but unless you’re the president, nobody gets to see them from the air,” said Martin. “And for the locals, they might typically only spot military aircraft or massive airliners in the airspace above D.C., so for 60 smaller airplanes and helicopters to fill the skies, it must have made for a unique and breathtaking experience.” 

Following the flyover, Martin exited the restricted airspace and flew back up to Frederick. He recognized Enstrom’s participation in the flyover as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

“But if AOPA ever hosts a celebration like this again, I’d accept an invitation in a heartbeat,” added Martin. “My 11-year-old daughter had a blast flying alongside me.” 

For anyone unable to watch the flyover live, a rebroadcast is available here. You can also watch a highlight reel from the event here.

This press release was prepared and distributed by Enstrom.

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – The Minnesota North Dakota Honor Flight continues as veterans from the region celebrate their service in Washington D.C. 102 veterans loaded onto buses and visited several museums and memorials on Monday; first visiting the National Archives where there would be able to see historic documents and relics such as the Declaration of Independence.

Navy Veteran, Robert Leslie reflected on the trip thus far outside the Navy Memorial.

“It’s awesome, seeing the World War 2, and the Iwo Jima and the archives and now the Navy.. It’s exciting. It’s exceeded my expectations.”

Leslie remembers his service fondly, taking pride in his service to his country.

“I would gladly do it again, I was in ‘65-69 during Vietnam and I’d gladly do it again, i have no regrets whatsoever going into the service// It’s fun and talk about some of our experiences in the service, year, it’s kind of neat, yeah, find out what other people did, yeah.”

Veterans from the Vietnam War, The Korean War, and even a veteran from World War 2 were chaperoned across the Nation’s Capital by dozens of honor flight volunteers. ND/MN Honor Flight Vice President Lori Ishaug says that organizing and coordinating this trip is her way of giving back to the veterans.

“For the love of the country, for the love of the veterans and really if the veterans didn’t do what they did we wouldn’t be here and this is our way of giving back and thanking them, plus the two sisters on either side of me are veterans so I grew up with, you know, the military family so for me personally it’s just my way of giving back,” said Ishaug who also volunteers with here sisters, Susan Schoeder and Diane Modrow.

The trip will conclude Tuesday with visits to the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial, and Fort McHenry before flying back to Hector International Airport in Fargo Tuesday afternoon.

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A modern American diner named for its proximity to legendary Carnegie Hall makes its first foray outside of the New York tri-state area next month.

Carnegie Diner & Cafe (501 Maple Avenue W., Vienna, Virginia) will debut on June 5 in the 3,200-square-foot space that housed short-lived Yellow Diner. The original Carnegie Diner & Cafe opened off Central Park near Carnegie Hall in 2019, followed by another large Midtown Manhattan location and a third in Secaucus, N.J. The fledgling diner has no affiliation with NYC’s famed pastrami house Carnegie Deli.

Its newest 92-seat edition brings all-day breakfast and its popular 24-layer chocolate cakes down I-95. Its Greek owner and executive chef Stathis Antonakopoulos has ties to D.C., having served as director of operations at Kellari on K Street NW.

Breakfast served from opening to close (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) includes lobster-topped eggs Benedict, avocado toast, a BLT quinoa bowl, steak and eggs, a dozen types of pancakes, decadent waffles, and French toast. Lunch and dinner brings rib-eye steak, burgers, salads, Atlantic salmon, fish n’ chips, shrimp spaghetti, and spaghetti carbonara to the table. The menu also swings from sugary sweets (pies, cupcakes, and over-the-top milkshakes) to a full page of healthy entrees like a souvlaki platter and Impossible vegan burger.

Nearby neighbor Vienna Roastery will fuel the diner’s bottomless coffee component and espresso bar. Anytime-brunch drinks like mimosas, bellinis, and bloody marys join wine, beer and cocktails at the bar.

To honor its NYC roots, the space will showcase supersized photos of Carnegie Hall’s iconic concert stage and portraits of past musicians performing at the centuries-old landmark venue.

Yellow Diner at the Village Green shopping center opened only two months ago in a former Suntrust Bank branch, and its owners from Nostos Restaurant opted to close and hand the diner off to Carnegie.

Antonakopoulos’ Carnegie Hospitality also owns and operates Italian Piazza and Carnegie Catering, as well as delivery ghost kitchens like Organic Burger House, NYC Pancake House and NYC Pastrami House.

Carnegie Diner is the latest Manhattan eatery to make moves into the D.C. area. Cafe Fiorello, the Italian fixture across from Lincoln Center since 1974, will open later this year in the old Tadich Grill space along Pennsylvania Avenue NW.