The USO Hangar Dance returns to the annual Minden-Tahoe Airport's open house this weekend. But jitterbugging to popular World War II-era dance tunes isn't the only attraction at the three-day event.
A Blackhawk and other military helicopters and a C-130 transport plane will be on display courtesy of the Nevada Air National Guard and the U.S. Navy. The military aircraft and civilian aircraft will fly in Friday afternoon and be on display throughout the weekend, airport Manager Jim Braswell said. People who would like to chat with military and private pilots are welcome, he said.
"Moonlight, A Teen Dance Under the Stars" for ages 12 to 15 will be 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department. The DJ Ant Man will spin tunes, and a dance contest, photo booth and raffle drawings are planned. Pizza and refreshments will be served. Cost is $5. Call 782-9828.
Members of the Experimental Aircraft Association of Carson City will flip pancakes for breakfast on Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. At 9 a.m., a brief ceremony will begin with the presentation of the colors. The theme of this year's event is the history of flight.
At 9:30 a.m., members of the Sierra Sagebrush Fliers will show off their remote-controlled aircraft. Flying in formation and other aerial demonstrations will take place until about 3 p.m., Braswell says.
Various flight-related information booths and a bounce house for children will be set up on the taxiway. Civil Air Patrol cadets will distribute information about programs for youths. The 99s, a women's pilot association, and the Reno Air Racing Association will offer details on the annual Reno Air Races in September.
The Sierra Sagebrush Fliers will display several model airplanes, and the Valley Cruisers will show classic automobiles. Among the private informational booths is one sponsored by NIFTI, which offers single- and multiple-engine training for private and and airline transport pilots in Minden. A a twin-engine Piper Seminole will be displayed.
Sierra Express from Carson City will play for about two hours beginning at 3:30 p.m.
The USO Hangar Dinner, Dance and Auction fund-raiser honoring the airmen of all U.S. armed services sponsored by the Douglas County Public Library Foundation, will feature a barbecue dinner at 6:30. Dancing to World War II-era swing music performed by the Mile High Jazz Band from Carson City will begin at 8:30 p.m. Mile High features big-band music from such swing greats as Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Woody Herman.
The grand prize in the silent auction is a slot machine worth $1,500 donated by IGT, said Liz Paul of the library foundation. Another prize is a Major League baseball autographed by Shawn Estes of the Colorado Rockies. Estes began his baseball career playing for the Douglas High Tigers. The dinner-dance will be in the Peregrine hangar at a cost of $25.
Tickets are at the airport, the Minden and Zephyr Cove libraries, the recreation department office on Waterloo Lane across from Lampe Park in Gardnerville, or by calling Joel Morrison at 265-7109 or Paul at 265-3493. Proceeds from the dance will go to Douglas County Library's Children's Resource Center.
Sunday morning, the pancake breakfast will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. as the military and private aircraft leave. For information on the open house, call the airport at 782-9871.
If you go
What: Wings of Change open house
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Minden-Tahoe Airport, take Highway 395 south past Johnson Lane to Airport Road
Call: 782-9871
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