Ski season takes off

While a lot of the country has been blanketed in snow for the last few months, in Pella, Iowa, the first real snow of the season started falling Feb. 12, 2025, with the forecast predicting the first measurable amount of snow for the year.

“While the snow fell, the Classic Aviation maintenance team put Trick Air skis on our Citabria,” reports Megan Vande Voort, General Aviation News photographer and a critical member of the team at Classic Aviation at Pella Municipal Airport (KPEA). “Nine inches later the snow finally stopped.”

The team put in a late night getting the runway plowed and operational, she added.

“The reward came the next day, with sunshine and light winds,” she continued. “Ski plane flying started at 7 a.m. and wrapped up at sunset. Shane Vande Voort, Doug Cash, and Grant Vandevoorde flew a combined total of 7.1 hours, and gave 14 rides.”