Dubois Municipal Airport will welcome the public to its inaugural Aviation Appreciation Day on Saturday, August 22. A variety of aircraft will be on display and visitors will have an opportunity to see up close and learn about them from the pilots who fly them and the specialists who maintain them. The event is free and open to all.
“We hope the public will come and share the adventure of flying with us,” said Cathy Groves, Volunteer Coordinator for the event. “This is a chance to view the world of pilots who fly for business or family transportation, personal challenge, career development, or just plain fun. The day’s event will be an exciting opportunity for everyone, especially for young people and older ones who have occasionally thought about learning to fly. It will be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the airport’s role in the community, as well as experiencing the excitement of aviation first hand.”
Wyoming Community Bank will be bringing in a Hot Air Balloon from Riverton which will offer tethered rides at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday (weather permitting) – tickets will available through the Civil Air Patrol on Friday evening, August 21 in Town Park at 8:00 p.m. and onsite at the airport at 6:30 a.m.
Raffle tickets will also be on sale for a free helicopter ride with Classic Air Medical during the event on Saturday. Dubois Chamber of Commerce will have tickets available at the front entrance gate.
Kiwanis Club of Dubois will offer a ‘Flying FlapJack’ pancake breakfast, complete with all the accompaniments, including High-Octane Coffee. 6-Gun Kettle Corn & Concessions will serve up yummy lunch and snack items to get you through the rest of the day.
The KidZone area, sponsored by Dubois Telephone Exchange, will offer a variety of activities for young people. Hosted by the Girl Scouts of Montana/Wyoming, the booth features will include a mini photo booth, wooden airplane coloring activity, kite-flying, and of course, there will be boxes of Girl Scout Cookies for sale.
Youth from ages 8-17 can sign up to take a free airplane ride, the Young Eagles program sponsored by EAA. Parent authorization will be required. The flights will occur early on Sunday morning, the day after the event.
Complimentary shuttle van rides back and forth from High Country Senior Center to the Airport will run throughout the day, starting at 6:30 a.m. and ending by 3:00 p.m. This service is being made available by the Bank of Jackson Hole.
Non-Profit organizations from Dubois have been invited to showcase their organization and will be given complimentary booth space. Contact 307-455-2557 for space availability.
Among the variety of aircraft that will be seen landing at the airport will be the United States Air Force 37 Helicopter Squadron unit which supports the 90th Missile Wing located at Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Please thank these men and women for their service and for making time to share their day with us in Dubois.