The University of Central Missouri’s Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport hosted the first Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport Expo on June 2, 2012.  This free event gave the public an opportunity to tour the airport facilities while experiencing a variety of activities related to aviation.

The expo opened with the national anthem, followed by a flyover at 10:15 a.m. by a pair of A-10 Thunderbolt jets from the 303rd Fighter Squadron, part of the 442nd Operations Group at Whiteman Air Force Base. Spike has 94 hours in the airplane and was 2 years old on the 19th of May.

A-10 Thunderbolt Jet -- 303rd Fighter Squadron, Whiteman AFB



“Extreme Flight,” an aerial performance by stunt pilot, Patrick McAlee of St. Louis, was the highlight of the event.  Patrick is show here flying the Blue Demon, a custom-designed biplane.   McAlee executed a wide variety of precision aerobatics.

One of the many tricky, precise aerobatics of "The Blue Demon"

Johnny Rowlands, veteran helicopter pilot and traffic reporter for KMBC-TV, Channel 9 in Kansas City, provided helicopter rides by KC Chopers of Kansas City.  KC Copters is the creation of veteran Kansas City TV helicopter pilot and reporter Johnny Rowlands.



KC Chopers of Kansas City coming in for a landing



On display and available for rides ($399 per person) was the 1944 B-25J Mitchell World War II era bomber, “Show Me.”   During the darkest days of the war, Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and his men flew 16 B-25J Mitchells off the aircraft carrier Hornet and bombed Imperial Japan, including the city of Tokoyo.    

B-25J Mitchell on take off



Chris Herman, Missouri Wing of the Comemrative Air Force (cafmo.org), pilot of the B25J Mitchell



DENNIS BROOKS and his dog, Spike who fly the hummel ultraCRUISER were also in attendance.  Dennis and Spike were mention in the April 2012 issued of EAA.org magazine (eaa.org).







Dennis Brooks, Spike and the Ultra Light EAA704345







Sandra Cox, sitting on the UltraCRUISER



The AH-64D Longbow Apache Helicopter from Whiteman AFB was on display.  The helicopter conducts rear, close, and shaping missions including deep precision strike. Conducts distributed operations, precision strikes against relocatable targets, and provides armed reconnaissance when required in day, night, obscured battlefield and adverse weather conditions.  It entered Army Service - AH-64D (1998)



Front view of AH-64D Longbow Apache Helicopter.



Side view of the AH-64 D -  equipped with an advanced sensor suite and a glass cockpit



Sandra Cox with Chief Warrant Officer Philip Little (based at Whiteman AFB)

who was a co-pilot in the Iraqi war in 2011.



The Johnson County Fire Protection District was on hand.  The district operates 44 pieces of fire apparatus including 12 engines, 10 tankers, 13 grass fire units, 8 support vehicles, 1 mobile air cascade unit, a rescue unit and utilizes 3 generator/light trailers. The District also maintains a Safety House.  Equipment is housed in ten stations, which are located in or near Warrensburg, Leeton, Chilhowee, Knob Noster, Centerview, Valley City, Columbus, Fayetteville and Cornelia. The Chief and Assistant Chief serve as full time employees leading approximately one hundred forty volunteer personnel including the Division Chief-Training, three Battalion Chiefs, one training Captain, three training Lieutenants, ten station Captains, ten station Lieutenants and over one hundred fire fighters.



Quincy Cox, nephew of Sandra Cox, almost topples over
after getting to try on full fire department gear.

Lexie Cox, niece of Sandra Cox, tries to do jumping jacks while suited up in full fire fighter gear.