Aviation and Technology Week right around corner
The 2007 Laurel Aviation and Technology Week is almost here and organizers say it will be at least twice as large as the 2004 event. This year the LATW will be May 7-11.
According to LATW founder and executive director Jack Bayne, anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 students are expected to attend the event from all over Montana and northern Wyoming. The week will feature over 120 technology displays and over 200 static displays as well as aerial flyovers by military aircraft and civilian aircraft. The event is dedicated in memory of Denny Lynch, an avid supporter of LATW, and pilot Marta Bohn-Meyer who came to Laurel Aviation Weeks as a speaker.
On May 7 and 8, Laurel students will have a variety of speakers visiting classrooms including NASA astronaut Lt. Col. Robert S. Kimbrough; Thomas J. Bogdan, Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Environment Center; Larry Combs, Space Environment Center Weather Forecaster; Bret Luedke, test pilot for the F-22 Raptor; Brigadier General of the Montana Air National Guard John DelToro; U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Craig McDonald; and many others.
The ReMax hot air balloon, piloted by Danny Stam of Salt Lake City, UT, will be at each of the grade schools beginning May 7. Special static displays for Laurel students to view on Monday and Tuesday will be the U.S. Air Force “Do Something Amazing” tour station, the U.S. Navy “Accelerate Your Life” station, NASA U.S. lab module “Destiny,” Air Force and Army National Guard NASCAR automobiles, the U.S. Air Force Orange County Chopper and the 83rd CST (WMD) Analytical Laboratory System. Most of the helicopters and static displays are scheduled to arrive on May 8.
Students will arrive from outlying areas on May 9 and 10 to view the static displays and technology demonstrations.
The event takes place in three areas: Thomson Park and Laurel High School, Laurel Airport, and Billings Logan Airport. Most of the static displays and technology displays will be at Thomson Park (including helicopters) and the Laurel High School gymnasium. Military and heavy aircraft will be on display at Billings Logan Airport. Laurel Airport will have Leer jets through gliders on display with flying demonstrations and flyovers from various aircraft. All aircraft and personnel are subject to change.
Students will be treated to a parachute demonstration by Wings of Blue Parachute Team who will jump into the high school football field on Wednesday and Thursday morning.
Helicopters coming to Laurel are the CH-53 Super Stallion (one of the largest military helicopters in existence), the CH-47 Chinook, the Montana Army National Guard H-60 Blackhawk, the H-58 Kiowa, the AH-64 Apache, the CH-46 Sea Knight, the U.S. Coast Guard H-65 Dolphin, a USDA helicopter, medical helicopters from St. Vincent Healthcare and the Billings Clinic, H-1 Huey from Malmstrom AFB, experimental helicopters and fire fighting helicopters.
Fixed wing aircraft included in Aviation and Technology Week are two C-130 Hercules (one piloted by former Laurel resident Lt. Col. Perry Sorg), the PC 12 (used by the U.S. Border Patrol), the KC-135 Tanker, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-18 Hornet, T-38 Talon, B-52H Stratofortress, B-1 Bomber, F-15E Strike Eagle, C-17 Globemaster III, F-15C Eagle, the B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber, two FedEx planes, T-34 turbo jet trainer, Civil Air Patrol aircraft and assorted general aviation aircraft. Many of these aircraft will have scheduled flyovers on May 9 and 10. They will communicate with students via the P.A. system at the football field during the flyovers.
An Abram Tank and Bradley Fighting Tank will also be on display.
Some of the numerous technology displays will include an alternative energy car tent, wildfire and fire fighting technologies, the latest truck and heavy equipment technologies, medical technologies, electrical energy displays, Invenergy Wind Energy display, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks and Custer National Forest and BLM new technologies, automobile technologies, RMC Flight Simulator, wind tunnel and heat imaging technologies, satellite technologies, NASA and rocket technology, new computer technologies, bio-diesel factory, ATF Dog Team, petroleum and railroad technologies, and many more.
Laurel Aviation and Technology Week is open to students and their chaperones only. It is not open to the general public. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities may contact Laurel Public Schools if the ir residents are interested in attending.