Lyrics from the old Cheers sitcom – “sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came” – seem apropos when describing the First Ditch Fly-In.
Marginal Aviation’s annual First Ditch fly-in, so named because it’s the first Midwest antique fly-in of the year, is held the first weekend of June at Le Sueur Municipal Airport (12Y) in Minnesota. Non-profit Marginal Aviation is an independent antique airplane organization.
The organization and the city of Le Sueur work together to ensure successful operations during the fly-in — even going so far as to increase the length of the adjacent parallel grass runway by 300 feet.
Airport Manager Joel Schmidt lends a helpful hand and the airport discounts its fuel price by 50 cents per gallon during the fly-in. An astounding 2,413 gallons of 100LL were pumped during the 2025 fly-in. Clearly, attendees enjoy flying aircraft and sharing rides throughout the event.
All told, there were 110 airplanes that flew in for the 2025 event, including 11 Wacos, Culver Cadets, a Piaggio Royal Gull, a New Standard, a Grumman Goose, a Ryan SCW, three Howards, a Mullicoupe, a Cessna Airmaster on floats, Pietenpols, a Bücker Jungmann, Navion, Luscombes, a Meyers 200D, and many more.
John Hofmann, a Cub owner from Columbus, Wisconsin, and the president of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Vintage Aircraft Association, was enjoying strolling the flight line and mingling with aviators.
“These are vintage aviation movers and shakers,” he shared. “They are doing the restorations and flying the airplanes — and they fly them everywhere! They do a fly-in right — it’s open, people are friendly, and they’re hopping buddy rides. It’s just an atmosphere that makes you feel welcome.”
Buddy Rides
Ryan Lihs and friends stayed busy taking turns flying buddy rides in Ryan’s 1929 “Alaskan Airways” New Standard D-25, and Justin Niemyjski also shared rides in his North American AT-6G.
John Ricciotti of Poplar Grove, Illinois, has been sharing rides in his one-and-only 1934 Waco S3HD (NC14048) ever since he became its caretaker 13 years ago.
John was helping yet another smiling passenger, nine-year-old Hazel Schaefer, climb out of his biplane after a flight.
“I probably enjoy giving rides more than the people getting the rides, because I love sharing the airplane with people. The Waco’s past owner, Dick Jackson, gave a lot of rides, and I’m just trying to continue that legacy,” John said with a smile. “What I really like about this fly-in is being with the people who love aviation like I do. When you’re at a major fly-in, you might find people that love airplanes, but you still feel a little weird because you love airplanes more than anybody there. But here at First Ditch, we all love airplanes the same. To me, it’s heaven!”
First Ditch is a very active flying event and safety is paramount to its success.
To that end, a mandatory flight briefing is held each morning, and the experienced Flight Ops team, made up of Toby Hanson, Wyat Hatz, Glen Seurer, and Joe VanReeth, coordinate the steady stream of traffic.
The pilots are a significant part of the safety equation, according to officials.
“Having more than 100 airplanes operating without a full-length taxiway requires people being on a real good cadence,” said Vaughn Lovley who, along with Toby Hanson, revitalized the decades-old Marginal Aviation group their fathers founded. “I stress in my pilot briefing that they be predictable and consistent, so people can anticipate their moves and I think that has helped.”
Young Aviators
The younger generation is trending within the Marginal Aviation membership. They were flying vintage Pipers and Aeroncas, antique Cabin Wacos, and hauling buddy rides in a New Standard.
“For antique aviation circles, we skew pretty young,” said Vaughn Lovley.
Of special note were the teenagers who flew in to enjoy First Ditch.
“We had two 16 year olds, who had already soloed, fly in this year. They were Sullivan Vande Voort of Pella, Iowa, and Aaron Lihs of Sioux City, Iowa,” said Vaughn, “Also, 17-year-old Liam Redman was taking turns flying the Lihs’ PA-11 over the course of the weekend.”
Sullivan has a deep-rooted passion for aviation and decided to make his 16th birthday especially memorable.
“My dad runs the FBO at Pella, Iowa, and I have a lot of friends with airplanes,” he said. “I soloed 13 different airplanes on my 16th birthday: A 1946 Champ, 1946 J-3 Cub, 1941 Meyers OTW biplane, 1947 Cessna 120, 1947 Stinson 108-2, an IO-360-powered Van’s RV-6, Taylorcraft L-2, Rans S-21 Outbound, 7GCBC Citabria, Cessna 172, Cirrus SR-20, Cirrus SR-22, and a Cherokee 140.”
Sullivan plans a career as a pilot, right now looking at corporate flying.
“When I turn 17, I’ll probably try to do my instrument and private in the same check ride, because I have a year now to prepare for both,” he said.
Aviation has always been Sullivan’s passion, and while he flies nosewheel airplanes, he’s quite fond of tailwheel aircraft.
“Most of my training up to solo was in the Champ. I did a lot in the Skyhawk, and I learned some in the Cirrus. The Cirrus are cool — they’re fast and good performers and comfortable. But the taildraggers are just way more fun and offer a lot more challenges,” smiled Sullivan.
“It’s awesome being here at First Ditch,” he added. “There are cool airplanes and cool people, and it’s tons of fun. I’m glad to see more young people like myself getting involved in antique aviation.”
From the Flightline
First time attendee Rick Clarke of Easton, Maryland, flew his 1948 Ryan Navion (N4443K) to Le Sueur and was camping with his airplane. Rick was impressed with how many people came up and introduced themselves to him, making him feel welcomed.
“I’ve got a bunch of friends who do vintage and classic airplanes, and they’ve been coming to First Ditch, so I figured maybe I really ought to come out here too,” he said. “It’s great! Marginal does a nice job. It’s low key and it’s a friendly bunch of people. Everybody’s out here to enjoy the airplanes and to enjoy each other, and I like that!”
Pilots Kris and Mike Iverson enjoy kicking off the fly-in season by being at First Ditch, and flew the short hop from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, to Le Sueur in their 1940 Howard DGA-15P.
NC22424’s last restoration was completed about 22 years ago, and according to Mike, it was the only civilian DGA-15P to have a Wright engine on it from the factory. In the early days, it was owned by Texaco Oil. A Pratt & Whitney replaced the Wright at a later date.
Kris’ brother, Jim Lund, owns the sister-ship Howard, which was owned by Shell Oil.
Jim Lund, who parked his Howard (NC22423) next to Kris and Mike’s Howard, said he likes First Ditch because it’s “real casual.”
“There’s not a lot of money involved and the people and airplanes are just terrific,” he said. “First Ditch has a really good vibe. There are no cliques at all and everyone’s friendly — it’s the place for me!”
Interested in learning more about Marginal Aviation? Joining the organization isn’t complicated: The only way to become a member is to “buy a T-shirt,” according to officials, who note there are no membership fees or registration fees at the fly-in. Of course, donations are always welcome.
For more information: MarginalAviation.org
More Photos From First Ditch
Great Job Sparky..!! Really how comfortable it feels to be there..!!
Marvelous story and photos. Sparky!