139th News

Tarkio holds ‘Fly-in’ air show

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Michael Crane
  • 139 AW
The sixth annual Wing Nuts Flying Circus Fly-in at Gould Peterson Memorial Airport, Tarkio, Mo., took place July 11.
This was a perfect opportunity for members of the 139th Airlift Wing to practice their skills not far from home. 

"We don't deploy with this equipment," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Vogt, 241st Air Traffic Control Squadron, referring to the mobile control tower used during the airshow. "Most places we deploy to have equipment already set up." 

A combination of civilian, Army and Air Force aircraft were on display to include the AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, A-10 Thunderbolt II (aka Warthog), B-2 Spirit (aka Stealth Bomber) and of course Rosecrans's very own C-130 Hercules. 

"A lot goes into making an air show like this," Vogt said. "Lots of waivers for the airspace, the aircraft, and to be able to build here have to be filled out." 

One of the challenges for the air traffic controllers that is unique to this situation is different types of aircraft the controllers have to communicate with. 

"It's good for training because we talk to multiple types of planes...congressmen, colonels from the base [139th AW] and any pilot that has a license. We also monitor radio frequencies so no other aircraft come into our airspace," Vogt said.
During the air show, Col. Mike McEnulty, Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center commander, was a commentator about the aircraft. 

"This is what it's all about...this is hometown America," said Col. Mike McEnulty. "This is a great opportunity to showcase our wing to our community."
Also in attendance was U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, 6th congressional district of Missouri, who was born in Tarkio, is a pilot, and is on the U.S House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation. 

"This is good for everyone to see the folks who protect our country," said Graves. "We have men and women the Missouri National Guard who are ready to be deployed at a moment's notice." 

Disaster struck a day before the air show when the pilot of an Edge 540 fatally crashed during an aerial practice run. Female pilot Chandy Clanton, 36, of Lincoln, Neb., was the only person on board when the incident happened