Indy Transponder: The Museum of Flight: Grand re-opening of Tower exhibit

Greetings!,

The Museum of Flight is celebrating Space Day, an internationally recognized, educational event, during the Museum's Wells Fargo Free First Thursday on May 7 from 5-9 p.m. The Museum's education department will present a variety of fun space-related activities. Land a space shuttle, see how mission control works, land a lunar lander and walk through the only known museum-quality full-size replica of the International Space Station Destiny Research Laboratory in the Museum's Space: Exploring the New Frontier exhibit.

Also this week, The Museum of Flight Tower at Boeing Field reopens on May 9 after extensive renovations and the addition of four entirely new exhibits--Animal Flight, Weather and Flight, Physics of Flight, and Flying Machines. The Museum's architecturally distinctive, semicircular "Tower" overlooking Boeing Field/King County International Airport will feature enhanced, interactive displays about air traffic control from both a pilot's and controller's point of view. All of the exhibits are designed to be fun and engaging with interactive displays, dazzling visuals, audio features and short videos. The exhibits were created by the Museum staff with expert advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration, academia and aerospace fields.

Dream, Discover, Soar!

Sincerely,

The Museum of Flight

May 2009

May 2009

Bank of America Weekend Family Workshop: Call It Destiny-A Science Lab in Space
Saturdays and Sundays, May 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31 at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
What would it be like to do science experiments in space? Visitors will learn about the Destiny module-the United States' orbiting laboratory that is a major component of the International Space Station-and then construct their own Destiny module!

Wells Fargo Free First Thursday

Thursday, May 7, 5 - 9 p.m.

Once a month, the Museum stays open late-for free! Enjoy the Museum's Great Gallery, Personal Courage Wing, Space: Exploring the New Frontier exhibit, flight simulators and more from 5 - 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. Museum Store and Wings Café will also remain open for the extended hours on this night.

Space Day
Thursday, May 7, 5 - 9 p.m.
Space Day is an internationally recognized, educational event held on the first Friday in May. The Museum of Flight is celebrating during the Museum's Free First Thursday on May 7 from 5-9 p.m. The Museum's education department will present a variety of fun space-related activities.

Tower Exhibit Reopens
Saturday, May 9
The Museum's Tower exhibit is closed for a month while it is undergoing major revisions. The renovated Tower will open on May 9 with four entirely new exhibits in the alcoves leading to the Tower. These exhibits-created by the Museum staff-will cover the topics of animal flight, the physics of flight, machine flight and weather. The distinctive, semicircular Tower overlooking Boeing Field/King County International Airport will feature enhanced, interactive displays about air traffic control. All of the exhibits are designed to be fun and engaging with interactive displays, dazzling visuals, audio features and short videos.

Amazing Skies Theater Presents "CanadiYanks"
Saturdays, May 16 and 23, 2 p.m. in the William M. Allen Theater
"CanadiYanks" is based upon the true story of Canadian Major Harold E. Hartney, transferred to the American army in 1917 to prepare Yank airmen for service on the Front. It also spins the bittersweet yarn of a young American couple, Malcolm Gunn and Marge Van Sciver, who must confront the worst possible tragedy of war. This, too, is based on a true story.

Music for the show will be sung by the Alpha Singers, a local choral group who have been performing in the Northwest for over 20 years.

EAA logo The Aluminum Overcast: The EAA B-17 Bomber
Wednesday, May 20 - Monday, May 25 on the Museum Ramp
The Seattle-born B-17 played an important role in World War II and aviation history. For several days in May, the Museum will be proud host of the Experimental Aircraft Association's popular B-17, Aluminum Overcast. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps in May 1945, Aluminum Overcast was too late to see action in World War II. Sold for $750 as military surplus, the airplane served as a cargo hauler, an aerial mapping platform and in pest control. Now, Aluminum Overcast carries the wartime colors of the 398th Bomb Group, serving as a living tribute to World War II aviation.

For flight reservations or more information please call the EAA at 1-800-359-6217, or visit www.b17.org.

cascade_warbirds Cascade Warbirds Fly-In
Saturday, May 23, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Museum Parking Lot
Join the Museum for the annual Cascade Warbirds Fly-in. Visitors will enjoy the chance to view a wide variety of beautifully restored vintage military aircraft representing several nations' armed forces from World War II through the Vietnam conflict. Operating under the motto "keep 'em flying," the Cascade Warbirds work to preserve history by maintaining important aircraft. A mixture of planes such as a North American T-28 Trojan, DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk, and a Douglas AD-4 Skyraider will participate in the fly-in. In addition, the pilot-owners of these planes will be on-hand to answer questions and share their enthusiasm for these vintage warbirds.

The Cascade Warbirds is an affiliate squadron of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Warbirds of America organization.

flag Memorial Day Panel
Sunday, May 24, 2 p.m. in the William M. Allen Theater
A special panel of World War II Tuskegee Airman veterans will be at the Museum to talk about their unique experiences. The panel will be moderated by Bill Holloman, a local Tuskegee Airman and former fighter pilot.

flag Memorial Day Program

Monday, May 26, Noon in the Side Gallery

Continuing a tradition first established in 1999, the Museum is pleased to be able to honor those who have given their lives in the service of their country through the Memorial Day Weekend. The Boeing Employees Concert Band will set the stage by performing patriotic music. Museum President and CEO Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar will preside over the ceremony. Our special guests will be several Tuskegee Airmen. Memorial Day Weekend programs are generously supported by the City of Tukwila. Veterans and Active Duty Military receive free admission with identification.

Puget Sound Antique Aircraft Club Fly-In

Saturday, May 30, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Parking Lot

Once again, the Museum invites you to look to the skies when up to 25 vintage planes of the Puget Sound Antique Aircraft Club fly in to the Museum. See airplanes such as the Stinson 108, the Interstate Cadet, the Bellanca and many more up close. You can also meet and chat with the pilots of these beautifully restored airplanes. The pilots will be on hand all day, but come early to see the eye-catching fly in.

Scheduled Events

MAY 2009