Benson Airport

09/07/2025

A very good pancake is coming soon at a very old grass airport

08/16/2023

Its all about perspective...

08/29/2021

Many of you did not know my father Joseph (Joe, Ted) Wagner. He was a fixture for 50 years at Benson's and thought of John as a best friend. Dad passed away last Tuesday 8/24 in peace at the age of 93. The single most important thing he did for me was to teach me how to fly. He was a good pilot and friend to many of the legends that walked the hallowed ground at Bensons International Airport. This is a picture taken after we painted the Taylocraft with sponge brushes and hardware store enamel in 1970. Just one of the many stories that made up his life and family.

02/12/2020

10/27/2019

Plane crash near Benson Airport

The crash scene is just off Hwy. 61 in White Bear Township.

03/07/2019

Not Spring yet.

01/24/2019

Heads up

01/23/2019

A window into of a turbulent time in American History.

It has been nearly 3 years since my last release for the “Women of Harley” series. I was waiting for the right pieces to put together a painting worthy of the previous ladies. Please allow me to introduce: “Bootlegger Betty & Ugly Eddie”. straight out of the era...She is anxious to take off and deliver her shipment up to the Kennedy farm to keep on her tight schedule. Little does she know the authorities will be ready to intercept her and her 1200lbs of contraband. The rare New Standard biplane (Huge Thanks to Rob Lock and his wife Jill at Waldo Wright's Flying Service.) was confiscated in 1933 along with its contents, mostly Scotch Whisky some gin &vermouth and a firearm. For those interested in this snippet of American history, I will include a copy of the arrest report with the certification docs. Ugly Ed Jewel plays the muscle with the Tommy gun, The talented Warren Lane hands a crate of whiskey to my son Sterling in the cockpit. Then, of course, Betty Ballew is my lovely star pilot and she is actually an accomplished artist along with avid biker, cigar, smoking firearm instructor, and rich aviation background. Her husband Jim and her father are both seasoned pilots along with being aircraft engineers ... I want to thank all those who tirelessly helped me bring this production to fruition. Especially Jim Arbogast photography who was instrumental in getting the characters and props in this piece all lit and posed correctly. Then Billy Lane .inc for helping orchestrate the 1929 scooter amongst several other components! Whew, sorry for the long winded post but it took a village to make this happen. Hope you like!

04/07/2018

Joe Wagner Family and Taylorcraft painted by hand with sponge brushes and hardware store enamel outside on a sunny day at Bensons Airport. Circa 1970