Wings, Water and Wheels at Laconia Airport

LACONIA — WinnAero, the nonprofit education group based at the Laconia Airport, will host Wings, Water and Wheels – Touch a Plane, Touch a Truck, on June 2 at the airport.

This is a family event running from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., rain or shine, at which kids of all ages can get up close and personal with various airplanes, large construction trucks, a NASCAR race vehicle from New Hampshire Motor Speeway, police cars, fire trucks, snowplows, ambulances, boats and other vehicles.

WinnAero is the STEM education non-profit for youth which approaches Science, Technology, Engineering and Math subjects from an aviation and aerospace perspective. The group also sponsors summertime ACE Academies for elementary, middle and high school-aged students plus teacher professional development workshops throughout the year. Admission to the June 2 Touch a Plane event is a suggested $5 donation per person with a maximum donation of $20 per family. This is WinnAero’s major fundraiser for the year and donations are tax deductible. The event is supported by the Laconia Airport Authority, the local chapter of the EAA and assisted by volunteers from the Civil Air Patrol and the Gilford High School technology education classes.

In addition to the planes and other vehicles to check out, local chapter 1516 pilots of the Experimental Aircraft Association, the world’s largest recreational pilots’ association, will be on hand to offer orientation flights for free. To be eligible for the free Young Eagle flights, participants must be between 8 and 17 years of age. Parents or guardians of participants must sign the EAA registration and liability release forms available at the event. The participants will then receive a safety briefing by an experienced pilot. EAA pilots donate their time and personal aircraft to make dreams of flight a reality for youth. For more information about EAA’s Young Eagles Program, visit www.youngeagles.org.

For the slightly less adventurous, there will be a WinnAero Flight Simulator available for all attendees to try their skill at flying without leaving the ground! Pilots and other aviation experts plus vehicle operators and safety services personnel will be available to speak with the public. Parents are urged to bring the kids and their cameras to capture some great moments. Local companies who support WinnAero will have informational tables available to meet the public. Businesses interested in adding their vehicle to the displays or in placing a company promotional banner on display at the event may contact dwcaron@hotmail.com or Mordonsan@aol.com, Subject Line “WinnAero Event.”

For more information about WinnAero, visit www.winnaero.org.