UW Research Aircraft to Be Displayed at Cheyenne Frontier Days

Those attending Cheyenne Frontier Days 2017 will be able to take a break from the crowds to view the University of Wyoming’s research aircraft tomorrow, courtesy of the UW Department of Atmospheric Science.

The King Air will be on display during the National Guard open house from 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the 153^rd Airlift Wing of the Wyoming Air National Guard on 217 Dell Range Blvd, according to a UW news release.

Bart Geerts, head of the UW department of atmospheric science, said he hopes having the King Air on display will inform residents from Wyoming and beyond about the aircraft and the research it participates in.

“I think it is a great opportunity for the residents of Wyoming and the residents from the region to see this aircraft used for atmospheric research that’s funded by the National Science Foundation,” Geerts said. “We’ve been using it for many years to study clouds, snow, rain, done all sorts of experiments in the U.S and even internationally. It's good for Wyoming residents to see this facility.”

Geerts said the department is looking forward to connecting to people from all over the region and for the opportunity to teach and answer questions about what kind of research King Air is participating in.

“Some people may wonder what’s going on in terms of, for instance, weather modification and cloud seeding, they may be interested in whether this aircraft is used in air-quality research and ozone pollution,” Geerts said. “These are all fields that we are involved in with our aircraft. It’s good to showcase this facility.”

Wyoming King Air is the only NSF-supported aircraft facility owned by a university. The UW Department of Atmospheric Science has operated aircraft for research for more than 50 years and King Air is the third aircraft in the series.

Other research facilities that will be on display include the NSF and National Center for Atmospheric Research C-130 aircraft equipped with cloud-sensing radar and the Center for Severe Weather Research Doppler on Wheels truck-mounted weather radar.

Only shuttle bus traffic will be allowed on the base. Buses will leave continuously from the north side of Cheyenne’s Frontier Mall at 1400 Dell Range Blvd, between Dillard’s and Sears, beginning at 10:45 p.m. The last bus to the open house will leave at 2:45 p.m.  Foot traffic will also be allowed at the main gate of the base.