Photo by Phil Derner Jr.
|
If I had a nickel for every time I heard “Oh cool!” from children under 16 this past Saturday, Id’ be able to purchase any aircraft on display at the La Guardia Kiwanis Kids Day event of 2007. A sea of children with painted faces could be seen going from plane to plane, seeing a cockpit, sitting in a helicopter, eating hot dogs, and most importantly, giggling and smiling the entire time.
The annual Kids Day event, held every September, lets Kiwanis Club children and the general public enjoy a free afternoon of aviation attractions and refreshments, on what turned out to be a gorgeous day this year. The young kids were able to get their faces painted, see a fingerprinting process from PA Police, try on body armor from the Department of Corrections and say hello to one of the NYPD’s Mountain Unit horses.
The usual airlines’ contributions of MD-80s from American and Delta, as well as US Airways’ surprise Piedmont heritage aircraft were enjoyed by all, each of which offering people the chance to walk through the aircraft and indulge in an “in-flight” snack from flight attendants.
Perhaps the most exciting visitor was an LC-130 Hercules provided by the 109th Airlift Wing from the Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, NY. Sporting skids designed for Antarctic missions, the plane landed at LGA on a warm day of early Autumn. Adults even were excited to walk inside the big bird’s cargo bay, trying to imagine the kind of weather and frigid locations that this bird and its crew have seen in the South Pole.
Also in attendance were helicopters from the PAPD and NYPD, as well as a Navy King Air and a visit from our good friends, the New York Skytypers out of Farmingdale, who put on an enjoyable flyby after departing at the end of the event.
Each year, The Port Authority, Kiwanis Kids Club and many other organizations come together to not only open their doors to children, but to the general public, to give everyone a close-up and safe look at the excitement of aviation. Hats off to them for another great year.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Photos by Melanie Rose and Phil Derner, Jr.
About the Author
