thedrifter
05-03-08, 05:25 AM
Students get sneak peek at the weekend air show
LINDELL KAY
May 3, 2008 - 12:48AM
Much more than airplanes flying overhead will be on hand today and Sunday at the New River Air Station air show.
More than 600 students from 11 area schools took a sneak peak Friday at what the general public will see over the next two days at the Sounds of Freedom Past and Present Air Show.
Students from Northside High, Dixon Middle and Swansboro Elementary schools and several others climbed over Humvees, sat in helicopters and played with disarmed explosives.
Marines with the Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 answered student questions about equipment ranging from 81 mm mortars to M1 Abrams tanks.
Brenda Robertson's seventh grade students from Beulaville School in Duplin County played with bomb disposal robots and were allowed to steer some of the robots that normally look for and deactivate improvised explosive devices in places like Tikrit and Baghdad, Iraq.
"The Talon robot is for bomb recon and disposal," said Master Sgt. A. Page, with the MWSS 272. "It is sent down-range so we don't have to go.'
The public will be allowed to get a hands-on look at some of the Marine Corps' most high-tech equipment like that robot and the M40A3 sniper rifle that can "engage a man at 1,000 yards."
The Marine Air-Ground Task Force will demonstrate its coordinated use of close air support, armor, artillery and infantry forces with the audience in the middle of the action, said Staff Sgt. Angela Mink, spokeswoman for New River Air Station.
The show will also feature a commercial business expo with more than 100 booths, arts and crafts, and a variety of food and drink vendors. Also, Coca-Cola will sponsor a kiddie corner.
Booths will include Beasley and Nextmedia with multiple radio stations, Armed Services recruiting tents, Maui Wowi, military units and military memorabilia, Mink said.
Lawn chairs and blankets for seating are encouraged. Do not bring pets, coolers, wheeled vehicles / toys, glass containers or alcoholic beverages.
Beer will be available from vendors on the air show grounds.
The event is free to the public. Gates open at 9 a.m. each day. Photo identification is required for all spectators 17 and older. For more information about the show, visit www.newriverairshow.com.
Contact crime reporter Lindell Kay at lkay@freedomenc.com or 910-554-8534. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.
Today and Sunday
9 a.m. gates open
11:30 a.m. remote control aircraft show
12 p.m. U.S. Army Special Ops ‘BLACK DAGGERS'
12:10 p.m. Aeroshell Aerobatic Team
12:16 p.m. Gary Rower Vintage Airshows
12:29 p.m. Marine Air Ground Task Force Demonstration
12:59 p.m. F-18 Demonstration
1:15 p.m. Michael Wiskus Lucas Oil Pitts
1:28 p.m. Art Nalla Air Shows
1:40 p.m. Greg Poe Air Shows
1:53 p.m. F-16/P-51 Heritage Demonstration
2:18 p.m. Dale ‘Snort' Snodgrass Air Shows
2:36 p.m. Patty Wagstaff Air Shows
2:50 p.m. U.S. Army Special Ops ‘BLACK DAGGERS'
3:10 p.m. Aeroshell Aerobatic Team
5:00 p.m. Air Show ends
Ellie
LINDELL KAY
May 3, 2008 - 12:48AM
Much more than airplanes flying overhead will be on hand today and Sunday at the New River Air Station air show.
More than 600 students from 11 area schools took a sneak peak Friday at what the general public will see over the next two days at the Sounds of Freedom Past and Present Air Show.
Students from Northside High, Dixon Middle and Swansboro Elementary schools and several others climbed over Humvees, sat in helicopters and played with disarmed explosives.
Marines with the Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 answered student questions about equipment ranging from 81 mm mortars to M1 Abrams tanks.
Brenda Robertson's seventh grade students from Beulaville School in Duplin County played with bomb disposal robots and were allowed to steer some of the robots that normally look for and deactivate improvised explosive devices in places like Tikrit and Baghdad, Iraq.
"The Talon robot is for bomb recon and disposal," said Master Sgt. A. Page, with the MWSS 272. "It is sent down-range so we don't have to go.'
The public will be allowed to get a hands-on look at some of the Marine Corps' most high-tech equipment like that robot and the M40A3 sniper rifle that can "engage a man at 1,000 yards."
The Marine Air-Ground Task Force will demonstrate its coordinated use of close air support, armor, artillery and infantry forces with the audience in the middle of the action, said Staff Sgt. Angela Mink, spokeswoman for New River Air Station.
The show will also feature a commercial business expo with more than 100 booths, arts and crafts, and a variety of food and drink vendors. Also, Coca-Cola will sponsor a kiddie corner.
Booths will include Beasley and Nextmedia with multiple radio stations, Armed Services recruiting tents, Maui Wowi, military units and military memorabilia, Mink said.
Lawn chairs and blankets for seating are encouraged. Do not bring pets, coolers, wheeled vehicles / toys, glass containers or alcoholic beverages.
Beer will be available from vendors on the air show grounds.
The event is free to the public. Gates open at 9 a.m. each day. Photo identification is required for all spectators 17 and older. For more information about the show, visit www.newriverairshow.com.
Contact crime reporter Lindell Kay at lkay@freedomenc.com or 910-554-8534. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.
Today and Sunday
9 a.m. gates open
11:30 a.m. remote control aircraft show
12 p.m. U.S. Army Special Ops ‘BLACK DAGGERS'
12:10 p.m. Aeroshell Aerobatic Team
12:16 p.m. Gary Rower Vintage Airshows
12:29 p.m. Marine Air Ground Task Force Demonstration
12:59 p.m. F-18 Demonstration
1:15 p.m. Michael Wiskus Lucas Oil Pitts
1:28 p.m. Art Nalla Air Shows
1:40 p.m. Greg Poe Air Shows
1:53 p.m. F-16/P-51 Heritage Demonstration
2:18 p.m. Dale ‘Snort' Snodgrass Air Shows
2:36 p.m. Patty Wagstaff Air Shows
2:50 p.m. U.S. Army Special Ops ‘BLACK DAGGERS'
3:10 p.m. Aeroshell Aerobatic Team
5:00 p.m. Air Show ends
Ellie