| Warbird
Weekend set for July 14
Warbird Weekend is ready for summer takeoff at the Idaho County Airport. Tentatively planned for the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. air fair, Saturday, July 14, will be aviation-centered events: a fly-in by warbird-era planes such as Corsairs, P-51s and Bearcats; tours of the new Anderson Aeromotive facility adjacent to the airport; historic aviation displays; aircraft flights; and presentations by local chambers of commerce on area recreation. Participation is also planned by the EAA Young Eagles organization (encouraging youth to become involved in aviation) with free flights to kids, and with tours of the Grangeville Smokejumpers facility. Attendees may also see activity by the Idaho Air National Guard, which is conducting unrelated local EMS training this weekend. Driving the event are two goals, according to organizers. One is setting what hopes to be an annual event for participants to view historic aircraft and enjoy aviation-related events. Two, it is to showcase the county facility -- which in the past few years has received new attention and purpose -- as a place for both business development and as the recreational gateway to North Central Idaho's back county wilderness. Key event organizers include Ida-Lew Economic Development Council, Idaho County / Idaho County Airport, and Anderson Aeromotive. As a cornerstone company for airport development, Anderson Aeromotive -- an FAA-certified repair station specializing in Pratt and Whitney and Curtiss-Wright radial engines -- has also come on board, through its owner Ray Anderson, to provide expertise and event direction, as well as lead to contacts with vintage aircraft owners to attend the event. The Idaho County Airport serves as a jumping-off point for visitors who fly in to access the region's outdoor recreation opportunities. And as part of the Idaho County Airport’s marketing plan, the event will be bringing in chamber of commerce representatives to showcase what those opportunities are. Promotion of the airport became an Idaho County Commission focus in 2009, recognizing the facility as an underdeveloped resource for both local and regional economic development through both business creation and recreation/tourism. Since then the Airport Development Authority was created to develop private and public sector opportunities and to advise on airport operations. |
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