Apache helicopter lands at junior high

Friday, May 14, 2010
Capt. Thomas Budge explains the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter to MHJHS students.

Eighth-grade students at Mountain Home Junior High School were treated to a visit Friday from an AH-64 Apache helicopter.

Flown by Idaho Army National Guard members Capt. Thomas Budge, pilot, and Lt. Cameron Ryffel, co-pilot and gunnery officer, the attack helicopter from the 183rd Aviation Battalion landed on the lawn outside the junior high's commons room.

The visit was organized by Craig Handy, a study hall teacher who has arranged for visits of Guard helicopters for the students for several years. "I've been doing it since my kids were at West Elementary," the retired maintenance crewman said. In fact, the helicopter that landed Friday was the last one he had worked on before he retired.

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