For the 61 members of the RST-based Southeastern Minnesota Flying Club (SEMFC), the sky isn’t the limit – it’s a second home.
To truly grasp the passion of club members, consider this: Over the past five years, the collective distance flown in SEMFC’s two club planes is about a half-million miles, enough to circle the earth 20 times.
Six decades and counting
Founded in 1958 by four former IBMers, the SEMFC is a cornerstone of the Rochester aviation community, providing affordable access to the skies for members ranging from student pilots to professional airline pilots to military pilots.
SEMFC president Justin Haase became a member after he finished flying lessons at RST-based Great Planes Aviation and earned his private pilot certificate in 2022. “It really came down to the choice of buying an airplane or becoming a member of the club.”
The club serves as a valuable resource for a few reasons, Haase said: “It offers well-maintained airplanes with up-to-date features and technology at a reasonable price. But more than that, it’s a social club that supports the local aviation community and the local area … It’s a great way to meet people with related interests.”
Club members support the community by participating in initiatives like ditch pickup near RST as well as Young Eagles, a program that introduces kids to the world of aviation by providing them with a free introductory flight.
Getting there IS the fun
In 2024, members reserved and flew the club’s aircraft — a Piper Archer II and a Cessna 172 – more than 430 times.
Haase himself aims for weekly flights to stay proficient. He enjoys flying solo for the tranquility, but also enjoys brining passengers.Favorite destinations include airports within an hour’s flight, such as Mason City, La Crosse and Decorah, but he has flown as far as the Omaha area. Often his adventures are planned around airport restaurants he wants to try. “I love the strong feeling of accomplishment of reaching my destination,” he said.
Other club members take the planes for multi-day trips. “We’ve had the plane in New Mexico and on Mackinac Island in Michigan. I’ve even seen members throw a couple sets of clubs in the plane and head down to Tennessee for a golf trip.”
A vibrant partnership
Haase said that members appreciate that their club is based at RST. They enjoy RST’s convenience and supportive aviation environment, especially the “fantastic” air traffic controllers who work in RST’s tower.
Meanwhile, SEMFC contributes to the overall vitality of RST by generating maintenance revenue for Great Planes Aviation, fuel revenue for Signature Flight Support and hangar rental revenue for the Rochester Airport Company.
SEMFC holds its monthly meetings at the airport, where topics include plane updates, recent trips, safety and more. People don’t have to be members to attend a monthly meeting, Haase noted. “We invite people to come, eat, learn about the club and see the planes. We love visitors!”
To learn more about the Southeastern Minnesota Flying Club, visit semfc.org.
