By Two unique aircraft made a pit stop at the Aberdeen Regional Airport on Thursday, July 20.
One was piloted by Aberdeen native Matt Guthmiller, who in 2014 became the youngest person to fly solo around the world. He was 19 at the time.
The speed and roar of the jets likely caught the attention of folks outside when they landed and took off. They were hard to miss as they zipped through the sky.
Guthmmiller stopped in Aberdeen to refuel his 1975 Aero L-39 Albatros and catch up with family before heading on to Traverse City, Mich. He and two other pilots were on their way to the Experimental Aircraft Association 2023 AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., which starts Sunday, July 23. The fly-in and air show is the biggest in the world.
“Every pilot is on the way now,” Guthmiller said Thursday. “Oshkosh becomes the busiest airport in the world that entire week.”
Earlier in the day, he had departed from his airplane hangar home in Alpine, Wyo., with friends Mat Perkins and Ross Feinstein. They were flying two jets, which were manufactured by Aero Vodochody in the former Czechoslovakia.
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The L-39 Albatros is believed to be the most common training jet in the world. It was developed in the 1960s, with production starting in 1971 and continuing into the late 1990s, according to many military and flying websites.
In the past, the Soviet Air Force, Czechoslovak Air Force, Libyan Air Force and Syrian Air Force were the primary ushers of the jets, though there were many others. Today, they are often used by jet teams and many are privately owned after having been demilitarized.
Guthmiller said he bought his L-39 Albatross last year from Estonia. It had to be shipped overseas and assembled at his home in Alpine, he said.
Matthew Guthmiller planning for National Championship Air Races
Ross Feinstein, left, Matt Guthmiller and Mat Perkins stopped in Aberdeen to fuel up on Thursday, July 20 their way to AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. Aberdeen Magazine photo by Annie Scott
Oshkosh isn’t the only plan Guthmiller has for the summer.
In June, he attended a Pylon Racing Seminar in Reno, Nev. That provided practice, training and certification for the National Championship Air Races and Air Show in Reno in September. This year will be the 59th and last year of the races, Guthmiller said.
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Guthmiller graduated from Central High School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His 2014 journey was 30,000 miles and included a stop at the Aberdeen airport. It also took him to New York City, London, Greece, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Hawaii and elsewhere. He finished his global flight in 44 and a half days, setting a world record that has since been broken.
His first solo flight was on Aug. 14th, 2011, around Aberdeen Regional Airport in a 1975 Cessna 150, according to his website.
Guthmiller also has a YouTube channel dedicated to his aviation adventures. He said he has been working on a documentary.