Planes of Fame: Grumman Iron Works June 7

Grumman Iron Works June 7, 2008 - Chino, California
Historic Aircraft such as this Grumman TBM Avenger will be in action over the Chino Airport during the Grumman Iron Works event. Click on the image for a High-Res Press photo. PLANES OF FAME PHOTO		----------------------- PRESS RELEASE START ----------------------- Grumman Iron Works · June 7, 2008 - Chino, California · Chino, CA - The legendary “Grumman Iron Works” will be the subject of the monthly special event hosted by Planes of Fame Air Museum at the Chino Airport on Saturday, June 7, 2008. The event will begin at 10 a.m. with a seminar describing the company that came to be synonymous with naval aviation for six decades, and conclude with a flight demonstration by the Planes of Fame Grumman TBM-3 Avenger World War II torpedo bomber.
Established in 1929 at Long Island, New York by Leroy Grumman, together with partners Jake Swirbul and William Schwendler, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation became the major supplier of combat aircraft to the U.S. Navy and some of its allies for the next six decades. During World War II, according to some accounts, the reliability and ruggedness of its aircraft led some to refer to the company as “the Grumman Iron Works,” though other accounts say that the nickname came about because a major plant expansion early in World War II was made possible by the use of scrap steel from a torn-down New York City elevated train system. Still involved with naval aviation, Grumman merged with Northrop Corporation in 1994 to become Northrop Grumman. Established in 1957 as the very first permanent air museum in the American West, Planes of Fame Air Museum was a pioneer in the concept of restoring historic display aircraft to flying condition. Staffed primarily by a core of dedicated volunteers, Planes of Fame supports its operations with admission fees, donations, facilities rentals and proceeds from the use of its aircraft in various productions. Planes of Fame Air Museum also has a special membership program available to the public, with the opportunity to experience the thrill of orientation flights in genuine warbirds being one of the benefits of membership. At each monthly special event, members in attendance, including last-minute sign-ups, can have their names entered into a free drawing for a member-supported warbird orientation flight. Planes of Fame Air Museum is open to the public every day, except Christmas Day and Thanksgiving, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. General admission is $11, youngsters 5 – 11 are admitted for $4, and admission is free for accompanied children under 5. For more information about The Planes of Fame Air Museum, and its events, please call (909)597-3722; or visit the Planes of Fame website at www.planesoffame.org.