Broadwater County Airport FLY-IN
Author: Matt Nelson
Article Published: 06/19/2026 Volume: 4 Edition: 50Matt Nelson
After many months of runway refurbishment and airport improvement, there was an official dedication and FLY-IN at the Broadwater County Airport, just a couple of miles east of Townsend, on Saturday, June 13th. Admission was free to the public. Approximately 2 dozen aircraft flew in to the airport and an estimated 500 people attended. The Rocky Mountain Roughhands 4-H Club sold breakfast.
At 10 AM, four cadet members of the Lewis and Clark Civil Air Patrol Squadron 60, based at Fort Harrison in Helena, marched in the Color Guard formation for the presentation of the Colors. The four cadets are: Cadet Airman 1st Class MaDonald; Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Culp, who carried the American flag; Cadet Airman Clement, who carried the Montana flag; and Cadet 1st Class Bacon. 2nd Lieutenant Wedel led the Color Guard. Lexi Davies wonderfully sang the National Anthem.
After the presentation of the Colors, former Broadwater County Commissioner and current airport board member, Darrell Folkvord, gave a dedication speech, followed by Montana Chief Justice and Army National Guard Colonel Cory Swanson, who spoke on the county's interaction with the military and the use of the Limestone Hills for training exercises.
On display were several Cessna aircraft, predominantly Cessna 172s and 182s. The Civil Air Patrol had its Cessna 182 there. Local pilot Chris had his Cessna 172 there. Brian Carroll, another local pilot, proudly showed the RV-7 plane he had built to several people.
Five helicopters were on the field. One is a 2007 Eurocopter 898JF owned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP), flown by Joe Rahn. His son Hunter also flies a Maule 7 prop plane for the FWP. FWP pilot Pat Smith flew his own Robertson R-44 helicopter, which was used to drop 150 pounds of candy to the kids. Boy, what a good time they had running around finding the candy! The US Forest Service had a Bell UH-1H helicopter on the deck. Another federal helicopter was a model M69FF, made by MD Helicopters, Inc., and is based out of Cedar City, Utah. It is used for Aviation Training, Operations, and safety for Wildlife Services missions nationwide, according to their website, Aviation Safety, Training, and Operations Center | APHIS. The last helicopter at the airport was the 2020 model MBB-BK 117 C-2 made by AIRBUS HELICOPTERS INC. It is based out of the Billings Clinic in Bozeman.
Two ladies, Rochelle Madeval and Madie Eichten, had a display table set up for the organization Angel Flight West. The website is info@angelflightwest.org. The purpose is to have volunteer pilots provide free flights for people in need to go to medical facilities.
Two men, Karsen Kramer and Chris Durkerson, represented the Recreational Aviation Foundation. TheRAF.org is their website. The goal of the RAF is mainly to identify and/or assist in the maintenance, building, and repair of backcountry airports, while complying with federal regulations.
Towards the end of the FLY-IN, four people parachuted and landed on or near the runway. Fantastic!
The Townsend STOKE students sold lunches to complete this awesome event.
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: See captions.
Image 1 Caption: Helicopter Dropping Candy
Photo Credit: Diane Brown
Image 2 Caption: Kids hunting for candy during the "Candy Drop"
Photo Credit: Diane Brown
Image 3 Caption: Skydiver on the parachute jump
Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
Image 4 Caption: Civil Air Patrol Color Guard Cadets L-R: Cadet Airman 1st Class MaDonald, Cadet 2LT Culp, Cadet Airman Clement, and Cadet Airman 1st Class Bacon
Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
Image 5 Caption: Rochelle Madeval and Madie Eichten are members of Angel Flight West, an organization for transporting medical patients
Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
