Indy Transponder: USAF Museum - News and Notes: July 2011

Friday, July 1, 2011

USAF Museum - News and Notes: July 2011

News & Notes

July 2011

Jet World Masters comes to museum

Championship competition takes place July 27-Aug 6

The Jet World Masters championship competition will take place in the United States for the first time July 27-Aug. 6 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Up to 100 pilots from over 50 different countries could compete during this two week event, which is free and open to the public. The event features scale models with real turbine powered jets, detailed to exactly replicate full-size aircraft. Each pilot will perform 10 maneuvers typical of a full-scale plane in three or four sessions. The planes will be judged on their accuracy by a team of six international judges with a flying speed up to 200 mph. Food and radio-controlled aircraft merchandise will also be available for sale. Since 1995, this international event has been hosted in various countries every two years. The last competition was held in Israel in 2009. Click here for event details.

Thunderbirds to sign autographs

Air Demonstration Squadron visits museum July 22

The National Museum of the United States Air Force will offer all an opportunity to meet members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron as they sign autographs in the museum's Cold War Gallery from 9-10 a.m. on July 22. Museum doors will open to the public at 8:30 a.m.The Thunderbirds, who perform precision maneuvers designed to showcase the capabilities of modern high-performance aircraft and the professional qualities of those who fly, maintain and support them, will be among the featured performers at the Vectren Dayton Air Show on July 23-24. Additional Thunderbirds information and photographs are available at http://thunderbirds.airforce.com/.

Park and Ride to Dayton Air Show

RTA shuttle buses to run from the museum July 23-24

Those who want to take an easy route Park and Ride to the Dayton Air Show

to the Vectren Dayton Air Show may park and ride from the National Museum of the United States Air Force. An RTA shuttle bus runs from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on July 23-24. The buses run to and from the museum and drop off riders at the air show ticket booth. Shuttles depart from both locations approximately every 10 minutes. The cost for a round trip ticket is $3, and children age 5 and under ride free. For more information about the RTA shuttle service, please call (937) 226-1144. For more information about the Vectren Dayton Air Show, visit www.daytonairshow.com.

Family Day is July 16

Learn about rockets and space

Learn about rocketry and space flight during Family Day

Commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 15 moon landing while learning about rocketry and space flight during Family Day at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on July 16. "Storytime" begins at 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. in the Early Years Gallery. Participants will be able to build their own paper rocket decorations. The free hands-on Aerospace Adventure will allow visitors to build and launch their own paper rockets in the second building from 1:30-3 p.m. There will also be model and high power rockets on display and visitors will have the opportunity to look at lunar samples through a microscope. The event is free and visitors of all ages may participate in these aviation-related activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No advanced reservations are necessary. Click here for more information about Family Day.

Register for Behind the Scenes Tours

Registration for fall tours opens July 25

You can see the aircraft restoration process first-hand by participating in the Behind the Scenes Tours at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Registration for tours from 2 September through December 2011 opens on Monday, July 25. Visitors will see a variety of aircraft in several stages of the restoration process, including the famous World War II bomber, B-17F Memphis Belle®. These free tours take place nearly every Friday from 12:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. Space is limited, so advance registration is required. To register or for more information visit http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/visit/tours.asp or call (937) 656-9436. Participants must be at least 12 years old, and an adult must accompany those under 18. No group reservations are accepted.

Featured exhibit

"Stumpy" John Silver: Heroic Winged Messenger

Homing pigeons were used in World War I to deliver messages when other means such as telephones, telegraph, radio or dispatch riders were unavailable. During the Meuse-Argonne offensive, this pigeon was one of the most active pigeons in the Army, and his barrage-dodging skill was apparent in many exciting flights from the front line trenches to divisional pigeon lofts. He went on to become a war hero and earned the name "John Silver," after the one-legged pirate in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Click here for more information about this exhibit.

This month in USAF history

July 27, 1972

Test pilot Irving L. Burrows took the

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle up for its first flight at Edwards Air Force Base. The museum's F-15A Eagle is located in the Cold War Gallery. Click here for more information and photos.