| One day in early 1928, a barnstormer visited Aitkin. Vic spent all day hauling cans of water from the Mississippi, with the promise that he would get a ride. His work paid off and he got a ride the got him hooked on aviation for a lifetime. Vic recalls a day in 1937 where he went on a bus with his friend, Willard "Speed" Heft. They went to Minneapolis and Heft purchased an airplane for $700. They flew back to Aitkin, Heft as the pilot and Vic as the navigator. Vic used Highway 169 to navigate to Aitkin. Vic laughs harder when he remembers when he and Heft flew to Isle. Vic was the pitchman. "Licensed plane, Licensed Pilot, Rides 50 cents," Vic would say. The only truth was that the rides were 50 cents. |
Maj. Victor Erickson
