FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range to hold open house to thank local community

Salina, Kan., (August 1, 2011) - Military aircraft will take to the sky for aerial gunnery demonstrations and public displays Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range.

Saturday's events serve to recognize local support of the training missions taking place at Smoky Hill.

Gates will open to the public at 8 a.m. with flying activities beginning at approximately 10 a.m. The aerial displays are tentatively scheduled to include the following aircraft: A-10 Thunderbolt, F-16 Fighter Jet, B-1 Bomber and B-52 Bomber. An AH-64 Apache helicopter will be on static display.

Entrance is free; food and refreshments will be available for purchase. Visitors are welcome to bring in coolers. However, no alcohol is permitted on the premises. Lawn chairs are encouraged as seating will not be provided.

Directions to Smoky Hill:  Take Hwy 140 west out of Salina. Turn left onto South Link Road head south then left on Farrelly Road headed east to Smoky Hill main gate.  For visitors coming from the south, the east Falun Road gate located 9 1/2 mi west of 135 on Falun Rd will be open, weather permitting.

For up to date information go to http://www.salinakansas.org/SmokyHillOpenHouse.html.

Smoky Hill Air National Guard Weapons Range

Located 10 miles west of Salina, Kan., the Smoky Hill Weapons Range is the largest and busiest Air National Guard bombing range in the nation, encompassing 51 square miles, and has more than 100 tactical targets and an electronic warfare range.  The complex provides approximately 36 thousand acres for combined arms training, allowing active and reserve component military organizations to train jointly in a realistic environment that combines ground and air assets in operational training in a way that's possible at only a few sites throughout the United States. The Smoky Hill range provides airspace within a Federal Aviation Administration sanctioned Military Operational Area, which permits active and reserve units to operate both piloted and unmanned aircraft in training scenarios.

The Salina Airport Authority has developed the premier airport and industrial center in the Midwest. The board of directors and staff are proactive in providing the citizens of Salina, Saline County and North Central Kansas with a center that support business and industry which in turn, provides jobs and payroll that benefit the region.

The Salina Airport Authority is home to the Salina Municipal Airport, the Salina Aviation Service Center and the Salina Airport Industrial Center.

Quick Links

• Kansas Adjutant General's Department
• Salina Airport Authority