Apache lands at Junior High

When Mountain Home Junior High hosted a special assembly recently on the physics of ballistics, the guest speakers for the event were Chief Warrant Officer 4 Steve Swenson and CW2 Kevin Stokes from the Army National Guard at Gowen Field.

On exhibit for the presentation was an AH 64 Apache helicopter, that landed on the school ground.

Before Swenson presented the students with a slide show presentation, math teacher Michelle Hoye described the presentation and how some applications of math and science are used on the Apache helicopters. "Without math and science, these helicopters wouldn't fly," said Hoye.

The presentation featured a video of aerial and cockpit footage showing students how the Apache rockets are deployed from the pilots' point of view and their perspective in combat.

Swenson's presentation discussed the benefits of aerodynamics and the affect they have on aircraft and weapons used in combat.

Following the presentation, the students were sent out to view the helicopter. They were able to climb up on the helicopter and view the cockpit controls and take pictures while sitting on the wings.

"The kids were great and well-behaved. I think it was very interesting for them," said Stokes.

"I think the students related to the material well, we were happy to give them a little bit of correlation for their science class and rocket studies," said Swenson.

"I think the presentation was very informative, and it provided them with an application of math and science that we are unable to show," said Hoye.

"I think it was informative for the students to have an experience to see a real-life use of the math were trying to teach," said Mountain Home Junior High Principal Ernest Elliott.