Disney's New Animated Film Pulls From Clear Lake Airport

Aug. 30, 2013
Leaders Clear Lake Airport art inspiration for Disney's new film

Aug. 10--CLEAR LAKE -- A pack of blond-haired, blue-eyed children rode bicycles and wandered into the cornfields around Leaders Clear Lake Airport.

Nearby, aunts, uncles, moms, dads and grandparents chatted and worked on small planes in a worn hanger.

This is Bob Leaders' love. The founder and owner created a community around these airplanes. This small airport, which is bordered by vast cornfields in western Sherburne County, was introduced to the world Friday.

Its buildings and setting serve as an inspiration for the airfield in Disney's newest animated film, "Planes," which followed its similar animation hit, "Cars." "Planes" is set in Propwash Junction, a rural airport, and tells the story about Dusty, a crop duster, who competes in an around-the-world race.

Just as Leaders' airport is focused around his family, "Planes" characters live at Propwash Junction. The film's fuel truck, Chug, is inspired by an old green fuel truck at Leaders.

"It's a very unique place," said Leaders' daughter, Nicole Oftedahl, Sartell. "It's different. You don't walk past something like this every day."

Leaders started the business in 1969. It's always been open to the public, and it's not uncommon for people to ask if they can wander around the many crop dusters, seaplanes and twin-engine airplanes that are parked around the airport.

So Leaders, 80, didn't think anything was unusual when some movie scouts stopped by the airport a few years ago. He had things to do, so he worked in the back office while the people poked around.

"I didn't know," Leaders said. "I thought they were making a home video."

Leaders didn't hear from anyone regarding that "home video."

Life went on. Two sons worked alongside him repairing and checking airplanes. Grandchildren made the one-runway airport their playground.

Fast forward to this year, and Leaders saw the August edition of the AOPA Pilot Magazine, a publication from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. The magazine had a spread on his airport and the film.

Aviation enthusiasts started to visit Leaders the day after the magazine published.

According to the Disney website, Leaders appealed to them after looking at nine small airports in Minnesota. Its worn buildings, old airplanes, cornfields and rural charm won over the scouts.

Kurt Leaders, Bob's son and airplane mechanic and pilot, proudly showed off a copy of the AOPA magazine.

"I don't know how they got word of it," he said. "They thought it was a perfect location."

The airport tells of the family's history and Leaders' passion for aviation.

Oftedahl pointed to an airplane that sat in an overgrown patch of grass. She took flying lessons in that one, she said.

Leaders uncovered a bright yellow airplane that he is carefully restoring. He owns more than 30 airplanes and has others that need repairs or that the owners have parked.

Leaders has always been fascinated with airplanes. He earned his pilot's license in 1954 and served as an Army paratrooper.

Leaders ran the St. Cloud Regional Airport until it moved from the Whitney Park area to the current location. He then opened the Clear Lake airport.

He is known around the aviation industry for his repair work and dedication to flying. His customers come from around the world.

"If Bob Leaders can't fix it or fly it, then forget it," Oftedahl said. "My dad said his handshake is worth more than anything in the world. My dad is known for his integrity in the pilot world."

The Leaders family planned to celebrate their airport's film debut Friday, when they wanted to pack into the movie theater. Oftedahl's 13-year-old daughter, Lexy, will be there with her cousins.

"It's kind of cool," she said. "It's a big movie and a small airport."

Copyright 2013 - St. Cloud Times, Minn.