• Article Photo. National Guard helicopters like this UH60 Black Hawk seen Wednesday at times use the Vinton airport.
    National Guard helicopters like this UH60 Black Hawk seen Wednesday at times use the Vinton airport.
  • Article Photo.

Aviation fans who keep an eye on the tarmac at what the Federal Aviation Administration and pilots call VTI -- Veterans Memorial Airport north of Vinton-- hoping to see some unique flying machines.

On Wednesday, an Iowa National Guard UH60 Black Hawk helicopter landed at the airport as its pilots visited eastern Iowa for meetings with emergency management.
 

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jim Funk said that his unit, the Charlie 147 Aviation Company based in Boone, has seen action in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Egypt. The company will be deployed again in 2014. Funk said he personally has been to all four of those countries.

Wednesday's mission, however was about domestic security in Iowa.

"In addition to troop transport and battle readiness, we work with the state emergency management personnel on responding to disasters in Iowa," said Funk.

Some of the crew traveled from Vinton to Cedar Rapids for meeting with area emergency management officials.

The National Guard often responds to areas affected by flooding or tornadoes. Vinton residents remember the large contingent of Guard vehicles and personnel seen in Vinton during the flood of 2008.