Kansas University Aerospace engineering student Robert Burns sits in the Kansas University flight simulator Wednesday. Burns will be helping at the All Kansas Air Tour on Saturday at Lawrence Municipal Airport, where the public will have access to the simulator.

You’ll never have more fun crashing an airplane.

Area residents looking for a unique way to work off some nerves prior to the big Kansas University-North Carolina basketball game on Saturday can find it at Lawrence Municipal Airport as part of the state’s All Kansas Air Tour.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, airport leaders will be providing free access to the Kansas University flight simulator, which provides participants with a realistic feel for piloting a small Cessna 172 aircraft. The event also is expected to attract 30 real airplanes from across the state, including about a half-dozen antique planes from the 1940s and 1950s.

Airport leaders are hoping the event will bring new people to the airport, which is in North Lawrence along U.S. Highway 24-40.

“There’s a lot of cool work going on out here, but I didn’t even know this place existed until I was a sophomore,” said Robert Burns, a junior in KU’s aerospace engineering program who is helping with the event.

The city’s Aviation Advisory Board worked to land Lawrence as one of about 20 cities that will play host to pilots participating in the All Kansas Air Tour, a weeklong event being sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation to promote the state’s aviation history and draw attention to the role aviation plays in the state’s economy.

In addition to the flight simulator, visitors will have a chance to tour a small airplane manufacturing shop and even feel what it’s like to “buck” – or install – a rivet in an airplane under construction. Drawings also will be held for free airplane rides.

The day’s events – all free to the public – are meant to promote fun and games. But Rick Bryant, chairman of the aviation board, said he hopes the day also opens some eyes to the potential the airport has to add to the city’s economy.

During the past 10 years, he said the number of aircraft based at the airport has grown from about 50 to 85. The airport – which can accommodate business jets up to about 24 passengers – also has about a half-dozen aeronautics-related businesses. Bryant said there are approximately 30 additional acres that could be developed at the airport to house more businesses, if the facility gains access to city water and sewer service.

“We’ve had lots of discussion with businesses over the years who have been interested in locating at the airport but can’t because of the water and sewer issue,” Bryant said. “We feel like there is potential to transform the area into a real economic engine for the city.”

A private developer has proposed developing about 145 acres near the airport and has offered to split the approximately $2 million costs with the city to bring water and sewer service to the area. The Airport Advisory Board, however, has remained neutral on the project, which has drawn strong opposition from neighbors and has created cost concerns at City Hall.