Eyes on the sky this Saturday

Keep your eyes on the sky this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. as Paul Brutlag’s T-6G war bird makes a flyover to honor the three WWII veteran Grand Marshals for the Flekkefest reverse parade in Elbow Lake. The radial engine nine-cylinder, 600 HP plane will fly over the courthouse and museum, where the Grand Marshals will be seated as spectators drive by wishing them well.

Brutlag’s T-6G was built in 1941 as a trainer for fighter pilots. It was remanufactured ten years later with the latest armament attachments, instruments, and radios for instrument flying. From 1951 until 1957, the plane served with the 146th Fighter Bomber Squadron, Air National Guard in Pittsburgh, PA. There it was named “Susy Q.” From 1957 till 2001, the airplane was displayed at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH.

Brutlag purchased the T-6G in 2007, and brought her to the Elbow Lake airport, where it was restored and is maintained. The Susy Q has only 2000 aircraft time, one of the lowest times of original factory built T-6 war birds still flying.

Brutlag is proud to honor veterans with flyovers during funerals or Memorial Day observances. Brutlag said, “this Flekkefest warbird flyover for Ardell Bergrud, Orvin Amundson, Harvey Huseth, and our WWII veterans is in honor of, and a thank you to all of our American troops, both living and dead! Because of their sacrifice and their allegiance, we have our privilege of freedom in our United States of America. Please, offer your personal prayer for our Troops in our Armed Forces of America.”