A Runway Success: Inaugural Kids STEM Day takes flight at Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport (2024)

Aerial performer Chris Thomas, right, speaks with Sarah Cottrell and her son Lako Lynn, 6, of Parkersburg after the air show at Kids STEM Day Saturday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

WILLIAMSTOWN — Hundreds of attendees turned their eyes to the skies at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport’s first Kids STEM Day Saturday.

Airport Manager Ben Auville said they had reports of long waits in traffic.

“We opened an hour-and-a-half prior to the air show for people to come. A lot of people came at once. Some said, ‘I’ve been waiting an hour,'” he said.

The event offered a variety of activities — including fire trucks, model airplanes and bounce houses — with an educational focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Prior to the air show, Auville asked American Legion Post 15 Commander Lee Starcher if he wanted to fly with Chris Thomas, who performed a variety of maneuvers. Starcher agreed.

Aerial performer Chris Thomas, left, answers a question from Paxton Zimmer of Barlow after the air show at Kids STEM Day Saturday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

Friday’s plane trip included flying over Parkersburg and looping in the air.

“It was the experience of a lifetime,” Starcher said. “I’ve been in planes but not like that. I will never forget it.”

Chris Thomas said while his moves may look improvised, each show is carefully planned out beforehand.

“I get a layout of each place I’m performing at and walk through it on the ground,” he said.

Thomas has been flying since he was 17 and said he enjoyed many aspects, including looking down at the ground while at the top of a loop.

Jacob Allen of New Era Kite Club flies a kite at Kids STEM Day at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Saturday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

Jacob Allen of New Era Kite Club, was spotted flying two kites during the event, one in a rainbow color scheme and another as an American flag.

“Kites are fun to fly. When you fly them as an adult, you learn different things,” he said.

Dave Bunner, vice president of New Era Kite Club, said they were invited to participate in the Kids STEM Day.

“The airport reached out to us because we do a lot of things with kids,” he said

Bunner was selling various types of kites to attendees and said they’d been busy.

Children explore a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter during Kids STEM Day at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Saturday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

“We weren’t sure what would happen but it’s been a good turnout,” he said.

New Era’s tent also included a craft table, where kids could color their own paper kites and fly them next to the tent.

Another vehicle flies via propeller. Tyler Moore of the West Virginia Army National Guard brought a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, often used in medical missions.

“There was flooding in Kentucky a few years ago. We rescued around 40 people that day from buildings and such,” he said.

Moore said kids and adults alike were interested in exploring the helicopter and he hoped to do a similar event again.

Aerial performer Chris Thomas files over the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport during the first Kids STEM Day Saturday. Thomas told spectators he has a button in his plane to release steam during the show. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)

“This is a good turnout for the first year. I hope it continues to grow and we’ll be able to bring more models over,” he said.

Kristen Hainkel can be reached at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com