Lecture and Book Signing with U.S. Vietnam War Veteran and Former Vietnamese Foe on March 19

Two Vietnam War fighter pilots who once flew combat against each other, will lecture at the Museum on Saturday, March 19 at 2 p.m. While serving as a U.S. Air Force pilot in Vietnam during 1972, then-Maj. Dan Cherry shot down a North Vietnamese MiG-21, and saw the plane's pilot, Nguyen Hong My, bail out. He did not learn of the Hong My's fate until they happened to meet 36 years later. The two men became friends. Both will share stories about their war experiences and the events that led to this remarkable friendship. They also will sign copies of Cherry's book, "My Enemy, My Friend - A Story of Reconciliation from the Vietnam War," following the lecture.  Fashion in flight... on Sunday, March 20, join Museum docents for a Tip-to-Tail Tour of the Style in the Aisle exhibit. Tours will begin at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thinking of becoming a Museum member or upgrading your current membership? Between now and March 31, the Museum's Membership office is offering a copy of Rober J. Serling's book "Character & Characters: The Spirit of Alaska Airlines" with all memberships purchased or upgraded in person at the Museum's Membership desk. Offer valid while supplies last.   We're excited to announce our involvement with Vanished, a first-of-its-kind, online interactive science mystery event created by MIT and The Smithsonian Institution. From April 4 through May 31, players ages 11 to 14 will collaborate with Smithsonian scientists, MIT students, and fellow players nationwide to unravel an interactive mystery story. Through games, puzzles, real scientific thinking, and visits to local museums - including The Museum of Flight - they must uncover the truth before time runs out.   If you have, know, or work with children ages 11 to 14, we hope you'll encourage them to sign up for this exciting event at vanished.mit.edu. You can learn more about Vanished from a USA Today article that appeared on February 22.       The Museum is also proud to announce it's participation in the Smithsonian Latino Center's 2011 Young Ambassador Program. The Young Ambassadors Program is a national, interdisciplinary leadership development program for high school seniors. Information about the program and how to apply are included toward the bottom of this newsletter. Sincerely, Cheryl Dart, Membership Manager  In This Issue Washington Shuttle Boosters March 2011 Events April 2011 Events A Note From Membership Smithsonian Latino Center 2011 Young Ambassadors Program Family Programs CONTACT INFORMATION   The Museum of Flight  206.764.5720, email Membership   206.764.5711, email Volunteering  206.768.7179, email Giving  206.768.7162, email Education 206.768.7116, email Museum Store 206.764.5704, email   TTY  1.800.833.6385 March  2011 Events "My Enemy, My Friend" with USAF Brig. Gen Dan Cherry (Ret.) and Nguyen Hong My  Saturday, March 19, 2 p.m., Allen Theater Thirty-six years after shooting down a North Vietnamese MiG-21 in 1972, Cherry met and became friends with the pilot, Nguyen Hong My. Hear their amazing stories of war and reconciliation. Book signing of "My Enemy, My Friend" to immediately follow. Tip-to-Tail Tour: Style in the Aisle Sunday, March 20, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Great Gallery Join Museum Docents for a Tip-to-Tail tour of the Style in the Aisle exhibit. Free Educator Workshop: Living History: Making the Human Connection Saturday, March 26, 9 a.m.-Noon Make history come to life! In this workshop, participants explore the concepts of "Living History," how Living History presentations are created, and how these techniques are applied. Examples will be demonstrated via Museum characters from the American Home Front (1942-1945). Applications to other periods of history, as well as creating Living History in the classroom will be discussed. The instructor, Interpretive Programs Coordinator Richard Wallace, has been involved with theater and education for over 25 years. Washington state clock hours are available at no charge. To register, e-mail dsmith@museumofflight.org or call 206.764.1384. For more information e-mail mkwong@museumofflight.org or call 206.768.7216.   April  2011 Events Free First Thursday, Sponsored by Wells Fargo Thursday, April 7, 5-9 p.m. Once a month, the Museum stays open late--for free! Enjoy Museum exhibits and galleries from 5 to 9 p.m., courtesy of Wells Fargo. Hops and Props 2011  Saturday, April 9, 7-10 p.m. The Museum's annual gourmet brew fundraiser has become one of Seattle's most anticipated events! Tickets are sold out. Designated driver tickets will be available at the door the night of the event. Jet Age: The Comet, the 707, and the Race to Shrink the World  Saturday, April 16, 2 p.m., Allen Theater Featuring author Sam Howe Verhovek, Boeing 707 test pilot Brien Wygle, 707 Aerodynamicst Joe Sutter, 707 Training Instructor Peter Morton and Boeing Company Historian Mike Lombardi. Tip-to-Tail Tour: The Beginning of Human Space Flight Sunday, April 17, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Space Exhibit Join Museum Docents for a Tip-to-Tail Tour of the Space: Exploring the New Frontier exhibit. "Rosie the Riveter" by the 5th Avenue Theatre  Saturday, April 23, 2 p.m., Allen Theater Seattle's acclaimed 5th Avenue Theatre brings its Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company to the Museum for a special performance of its new musical, "Rosie the Riveter," telling the story of the heroic women of the WWII workforce. Flight Attendant Day Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. In honor of the first flight attendant, Ellen Church, and 81 years of flight attendant service, admission to all current and former flight attendants is free! Just bring proof of profession--badge, wings, or even wear your uniform! Style in the Aisle Panel Discussion  Saturday, April 30, 2 p.m., Allen Theater Current and former flight attendants tell their stories of the exciting early days of serving the public and seeing the world. An audience question-and-answer session will follow the discussion. A Note From Membership... Annual Meeting Tuesday, April 26, 4 p.m., Allen Theater Museum members are invited to join us in the theater for our Annual Meeting. Smithsonian Latino Center's 2011 Young Ambassadors Program The Smithsonian Latino Center is pleased to announce the open application season for the 2011 Young Ambassadors Program.  The Young Ambassadors Program is a national, interdisciplinary leadership development program for high school seniors. The mission of the program is to foster the next generation of Latino leaders in the arts, sciences, and humanities via the Smithsonian Institution and its resources. This program is made possible through the generous support of Ford Motor Company Fund. Students with an interest in and commitment to the arts, sciences, and humanities as it pertains to Latino communities and cultures are selected to travel to Washington, D.C. for a week-long, leadership development seminar at the Smithsonian Institution. The seminar encourages youth to explore and understand Latino identity and embrace their own cultural heritage through visits to the Smithsonian's Latino collections and one-on-one interaction with anthropologists, artists, curators, historians, scientists and other museum professionals. Following the training seminar, students participate in a four-week interdisciplinary education internship in museums and other cultural institutions in their local communities, including Smithsonian-affiliated organizations. Participation in the Young Ambassadors Program is underwritten by Ford Motor Company Fund and includes meals and accommodations for the duration of the one-week training seminar, round-trip travel costs to Washington, D.C., and a program stipend.  Students selected are responsible for all expenses during the four-week internship, including transportation, accommodations, and meals.  Upon completion of the 5-week program, participants will receive a $2,000 program stipend towards their higher education.  Students that do not complete the seminar and four-week internship will not receive the program stipend. The deadline to apply is April 8, 2011. For further information and application guidelines and to apply, please visit http://www.latino.si.edu/programs/youngambassadors.htm or contact Emily Key, Education Programs Manager, at 202.633.1268 or by email at slceducation@si.edu.

Indy Transponder 04-FEB-2011 0500z

Aerobatic team Surya Kiran set to fly into sunset - Daily News and Analysis | The Surya Kiran aerobatic team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will perform for the last time at the biennial air show, Aero India, in Bangalore to be held from February 9-13, before being disbanded.  Citing shortage of aircraft for training purposes, a source told DNA that these aircraft will ...
Photo via Wikipedia

Al Ain air show finally begins as weather clears - The National | AL AIN // It's all systems go as the 2011 Al Ain Aerobatic Show kicks off today at the Al Ain International Airport after being delayed for two days due to ...

MMRCA contenders will showcase full flight display at Aero India 2011 from Defence Aviation | The Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) Competition,  commonly known as the MMRCA Tender that involves six contenders bidding for the deal, will be showcasing their full flight display at Aero India 2011. The MMRCA deal is an ongoing competition to supply the Indian Air Force with 126 Multi-Role Combat Aircraft in order to modernize and expand the Indian Air Force. The Defence Ministry has allocated INR 42,000 crore (US$9.11 billion) for the purchase of these aircraft’s. ...

British aerospace firms eye partnerships at air show - Sify
British Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology Peter Luff will lead a large defence and business delegation to the five-day air show at the ...
   
Wings of Freedom Tour stops in Fort Myers - Wink News | Visitors can get an up-close look at the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a consolidated B--24 Liberator and a P-51 Mustang. The B-17 on display is one of only ...

Saturday - Saturday, Feb 26, 2011 - Mar 5, 2011 - Fantasy of Flight's NightFlight Phase 2, Polk City, FL from FunPlacesToFly.com Aviation Events | Phase 2 of our popular paranormal investigations continues as we dig deeper into the mysterious female spirit M in the Officers Club the new approach in the Carrier Deck with the cluster of Naval carrier-based aircraft the expansion of the investigation into new areas, especially the Restoration Shop and the EVP experience within the PBY Catalina. 863-984-3500, info@fantasyofFlight.com

Thursday - Saturday, Feb 10-12, 2011 - Fantasy of Flight's Legends Legacies: They Dared to Fly - Featuring Tuskegee Airmen, Polk City, FL from FunPlacesToFly.com Aviation Events | Fantasy of Flight's Legends Legacies Series continues with They Dared to Fly in honor of Black History Month. Join several of the original Tuskegee Airmen as they share their personal experiences of wartime military service during segregated America. This event features open-forum/question-and-answer sessions. Fantasy of Flight's permanent ...

Flightline UK - RAF Waddington International Airshow 2011  Source: www.airshows.org.uk
RAF Waddington International Airshow is the RAF's premier airshow of the year. RAF Waddington is in Lincolnshire, long regarded at the home of the Royal Air Force. The show is well liked by families and enthusiasts alike bring together some of Europe's top display acts alongside very strong support  ...

Air show tickets on sale; Kestrel highlighted in aviation journal - Times Record | Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority officials announced this week that tickets are on sale for this August's Great State of Maine Air Show & Business ...

This is How it’s Done, Ladies and Gentlemen! from US Army Golden Knights by Rachel Medley | SGT Brandie Phillips of the Black Demonstration Team lands perfectly on the dead center after having exited the aircraft more than two miles above the earth. Brandie is one of the top accuracy shooters on Black Team, and was fourth overall best target score for the entire 2010 show season. SGT Phillips is originally from [...]

Centennial of Naval Aviation - Heritage Paint Schemes from FenceCheck Forums

Video: Freedom Flight 2011 for Able Flight from AOPA Live: Latest videos from AOPA Live
Freedom Flight 2011 for Able Flight thumbnail Disabled pilots Sean O'Donnell and Heather Schultz let nothing deter them.

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the DC-3 - TVR Photography | For many of us, the DC-3 is seen as a tired workhorse of the skies, a third world answer for passenger and cargo transport. A fuselage full of chickens and wooden boxes might be high on the list of stereotypical thoughts. The gathering of DC-3’s and C-47’s in Rock Falls, Illinois quickly grounded that mindset and illustrated to everyone that the DC-3 is strong, active and still filling a void within the aviation community.  Scott Glover's immaculately restored C-47 Dakota named 'Sky King', taxiis back to the ramp under the full moon after a nostalgic flight hosting local War Veterans.  On the weekend of July 23-25, a record number of airworthy DC-3’s and military C-47 variants came together at Whiteside Airport in Rock Falls, Illinois for what would be called ‘The Last Time’. Although the ...

27 balloons to participate in Philippine Int'l Hot Air balloon fiesta in Clark - Philippine Information Agency | Tour schedules are 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 9:30 am, 3:30 pm, and 4:30 pm There will also be sky diving and paragliding exhibitions as well as rocketry and ...

P-40 WarHawk Markings - Warbird Central

Forgotten Heroes – Jesse LeRoy Brown 1st US NAVY African-American Aviator - Resurrection of the Stratford Corsair  | Today I learned about a true American Hero that has all but been forgotten. What defines a hero? The “progression” is a classic  story. Born Poor, Faced Adversity, Choose the Hard Road, Excel Beyond the Wildest Dreams of Your Naysayers, Loved by Compatriots, The First, Sacrificial or Tragic Death.  All the makings for a great movie. Jesse LeRoy Brown (13 October 1926 – 4 December 1950) was the first African-American naval aviator in the United States Navy. ...

Good Flying: Interview with a Blackhawk pilot in Iraq  - YouTube
Captain Andrea Ourada, a Minnesota National Guard Blackhawk helicopter pilot, tells the story of her first combat action in Iraq.

Celebrating Women from Flight To Success | Father's Day, Mother's Day, Valentines' Day--- When I was a little girl, I told my dad, "We need a kids day!" and he'd said, "Everyday is kids day."  Yeah, right. I was soon to realize, some thirty years later, that we do have control our our days. We can make them anything we want. ... Women of Aviation Worldwide Week. March 7-13 ...

Women in Air Traffic Control from Roger-Wilco | My original article about the difficult road women wanting to become air traffic controllers (and commercial pilots…) faced in the early days seems to have struck a chord in several parts of the world. First there was Aminda’s lovely contribution from the Philippines then Evon Russel contacted me on Facebook with a link to an article at the Wings Over Kansas site which talks about whet they claimed was the first American female controller, Mary Van Scyoc.  ...

Episode 133 – Traveling Smart with Kelli from Airplane Geeks Podcast | Kelli Jones is this week’s guest. She’s an aviation consultant, cabin safety expert, mediator, traveler, philanthropist, and a blogger at Traveling Smart. Previously, Kelli worked for a major US airline where she was a cabin equipment engineer and accident investigator, and she now works as a consultant for the FAA, the NTSB, airlines, and ...

Flying Boxcar Snares Capsule In Flight (1960) from AIRBOYD.TV by Airboyd

Remnants of a bomber crash - Maple Ridge News | After starting out on the two-engine B-25 Mitchell bomber at Boundary Bay, crews graduated to the four-engine B-24 Liberator at Abbotsford. ...

Mikoyan–Guryevich MiG-21 - War and game | “It was superb to fly, tough, simple and easy to build in large numbers…” IVAN RENDALL commenting on the MIG-21 in ROLLING THUNDER. Fast and agile. Despite having only one engine, the MiG-21 is still an exceptionally agile aircraft that is not easily matched in dogfights. However, it is sometimes susceptible to snaking, which causes stalls and surges in the turbojet engine. ....

Aging fighter jet gets new lease on life - LA Time | The F/A-18, a fixture on U.S. carriers for decades, benefits from delays on its replacement, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Pentagon keeps ordering more F/A-18s, which is good news to workers at Northrop and hundreds of other California firms.

Eglin's 53rd celebrates 70 years of history, cuts its cake with a sword (VIDEO ... - The Northwest Florida Daily News | The video below consists of historical footage of the American Volunteer Group the Flying Tigers who fought the Japanese in China at the outset of World War ...

"Hearts Of All Ages" - 9NEWS.com
The event, which will be at the Wings Over The Rockies Air & Space Museum, boasts kid friendly food, live music, face painters, caricature artists and more. ...

Lindbergh Foundation to Lead Aviation Green Alliance - AMTOnline.com | During its presentation at the Wichita Aero Club luncheon, the Lindbergh Foundation today announced the Aviation GreenTM Alliance ...

Boulder’s eSpace Center Wants To Make Aerospace A Startup-Friendly Industry from TechCrunch | Private sector space tech companies — from Virgin Galactic to Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) — have been doing what only government agencies were empowered to do in earlier generations, launch vehicles into space, improve the fuel efficiency of aircraft, and more. A Boulder-based incubator called The eSpace Center for Space Entrepreneurship still thinks the industry could be friendlier to startups and innovators, though.  ...

The Soviet space shuttle's final ride [Spacelopnik] from Jalopnik by Justin Hyde | For nearly two decades, the Soviet Union attempted to beat the United States in the space race with its own fleet of space shuttles. Here's the story of the final Soviet shuttle's last ride.

Russia Building Its Own Super-Mysterious Robotic Space Plane [Space] from Gizmodo by Sam Biddle | Remember the US military's shadowy, unmanned X-37B? Well Russia won't just sit there and let us be the only ones flying shadowy robot planes into space—they're building their own, and it's even more shadowy.  Just how mysterious is this mystery-spacecraft? So mysterious that there isn't a single image of it, and it has no name. But it's intended to mimic the functionality of the X-37B—small, light, easy to put into orbit, and able to carry a truck's worth of gear (whether it be peaceful gear or otherwise). Russia's military space chief, Oleg Ostapenko, has said only  ...

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Indy Transponder 01-FEB-2011 1500z

Opening day of Al Ain Aerobatic Show postponed due to adverse weather - Zawya | Perennial favourites, the Saudi Hawks, who hold the world record for the biggest aerial drawing, will be appearing to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ...

100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation Medal - Military.com | It has been a century since the U.S. Navy incorporated flight with its seagoing military vessels. An accomplishment of this significance deserves a medal -- and now all Naval Aviators have their choice of two. These medals, minted by Northwest Territorial Mint, honor the Navy’s 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation.  The U.S. Naval Aviation program includes three branches of the military: the Navy, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. From its modest beginning in 1911 ...

Great State of Maine Air Show tickets on sale - NECN | BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) — Tickets are now available for the first Great State of Maine Air Show to be held in Brunswick after the Navy departs. ...

Sell-out expected for next Wanaka Airshow - The Press West Coast | Tickets are already on sale and expected to sell-out quickly for the 2012 Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow. The biennial Easter event attracts ...

World War I icon back in the skies - Marlborough Express | A historic World War I triplane will be wheeled out of the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre and flown at the 2011 Classic Fighters show after its engine was ...

Red Arrows pilot error blamed for mid-air crash in Crete - Mirror.co.uk | PILOT error and inadequate training were to blame for a mid-air collision of two Red Arrow jets, ...
   
Young carer gets invite from Red Arrows - Oxford Mail | Schoolgirl Kate Hiorns's spirits have been soaring since she received a very special invitation from the Red Arrows. Young carer Kate, who helps look after ...
   
Oregon Reveals Rich Aviation History - PRLog.Org | Local author Bill Alley and the Southern Oregon Historical Society present Aviation in Southern Oregon, the newest addition to the popular Images of Aviation Series by Arcadia Publishing. Boasting over 200 vintage images, Aviation in Southern Oregon showcases the beginning and rise of aviation in Southern Oregon and shows the major impact it had on the areas.  ...

North American B-45A from Planeshots

Today in Aviation History – February 1 from Calgary Recreational and Ultralight Flying Club 

Behind the scenes of fighting for Romania from fox2magazine | Wikileaks: Business cycles in the U.S. and Romanian officials opted the path of direct agreement to sell fighter aircraft F -16 type in Romania, according to a diplomatic letter from the U.S. Embassy in Romania since 2007, saw the light of day through Platform Information Wikileaks.  As a precondition for NATO membership in 2004, Romania needs to upgrade its air power, the fleet of MiG -21 Lancer, through a market in western fighter aircraft. ...

Photorecon Fly’s with Pennsylvania ANG at Red Flag 11-2 from photorecon.net | On January 28, 2011, Photorecon was invited to fly with the 147th Air Refueling Squadron in support of Red Flag 11-2.  Our mission was to refuel 5 F-16 aggressors that were participating in the exercise. We would be flying in a KC-135 from the 134th Air Refueling Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard.  The [...]

CAP Awards the Blaser Award for Outstanding Science Fair Project from Gainesville Composite Squadron | Image Members of Gainesville Composite Squadron were present at the annual Alachua County Science Fair award ceremony on 11 January 2011 to present the Blaser Award and a $50 prize for the best Aerospace related science fair project.

An Article Of Hope from Columbia from Spaceports  | A tiny scroll made it through the Holocaust and made it into space on the Space shuttle Colombia. This Film tell its story and the story of the first Israeli Astronaut Col. Ilan Ramon.

Space Shuttle Columbia: A New Beginning and Vision from NASASpaceFlight.com | April 12, 1981: the 20th anniversary of the first manned spaceflight in history. On that morning, a new generation of spaceship stood poised for launch from complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Representing a completely new and innovative approach to spaceflight, the Space Shuttle program embarked on its first mission that mid-April morning. Utilizing pioneer orbiter Columbia, the world’s first ...

Shuttle Carrier Aircraft from Latest Vlog  | Today' video is a short 31 second clip showing a takeoff and landing of a 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. ...

Indy Transponder 05-JAN-2011 2330z

Miami air show's takeoff needs clearance from grant funds traffic controllers - Miami Today
The hope is to put together the North American equivalent of the Paris air show, Le Bourget, or the Farnborough Air Show. Planned as a five-day event, ...

Another Hot Bird Coming Through - MIG 21 from Windsor International Air Show 2011 
William Ward is a 14,000 hour ATP and currently  the Captain of an Airbus A-320.  Will also flew an MD-80 for the same commercial airline company.  Will has been flying for 24 years and graduated from the University of North Dakota aviation program.   While at UND Will lead the UND Flying Team to a first place finish in Regional and National Competition.  He also received the Jeppson Outstanding Team Member Award.
Will is extremely knowledgeable on a wide variety of Soviet aircraft capabilities  and considers the MiG-17 ...

Pioneering air show statue is flight where it belongs - Glasgow Evening Times
A century may have passed since Lanark Airshow was staged … but the innovative event is today marked by a statue which is soaring in popularity. ...

Airspeed LPA Part One - The Tradition of Military Challenge Coins from Airspeed 
As I’ve produced this show over the past five years, I’ve found that, although many in the audience love military aviation, most don’t have a deeper knowledge or appreciation of the customs, traditions, and insider information that go along with it. So I’ve come up with an occasional series that’ll help to fill in those gaps. ...

Your Best Airshow Crossing Shots from FenceCheck Forums

Images From the 2010 Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow by Randy Rothhaar
Making my way through editing the last 2010 airshow images before the 2011 season begins. Here are some from the 2010 Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow. ...

Five to be inducted into women’s hall of fame from General Aviation News
Women in Aviation, International has unveiled the new members of its Pioneer Hall of Fame, who be will inducted into the hall during the association’s annual conference in Reno Feb. 24-26. ...

Museum to celebrate Bessie Coleman from General Aviation News 
On Saturday, March 12, the International Women’s Air & Space Museum at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio, will celebrate the achievements of Bessie Coleman, the first African-American woman to earn a pilot’s license at the museum’s sixth annual family day. The event is free and open to the public. ...

'Hero Miles' program supports families of fallen, wounded from Air Force Link Top Stories 
A popular program that turns donated frequent-flier miles into free airline tickets for wounded warriors receiving medical care as well as their families will expand this year so families of the fallen and combat wounded can participate in two upcoming events. ...

Historic Flight Foundation Provides a Unique Glimpse Into Aviation's Golden Age - NYCAviation
HFF's B-25 Grumpy and two friends, including the museum's P-51 Impatient Virgin, fly in tight formation over Western Washington. ...

War Time London (1944 – 1945) from Calgary Recreational and Ultralight Flying Club 
Some scenes around London during the war taken from archival film about a B-17 Bomber called Bit O’ Lace and it’s crew. ...

Bit O’ Lace (1944 – 1945) from Calgary Recreational and Ultralight Flying Club 
This series consists of moving images shot by pilot John H. Bauman in flight on the B-17G “A Bit O’ Lace,” K identifier, bomber of the 709th Bomb Squadron of the 447th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, late in World War II. Included are bombing missions flown over Germany, American pilots in flight training at Lodwick Aeronautical School in Lakeland, Florida, and views of the B-17G and other aircraft at the base in Rattlesden, England. ...

A New Year And New Displays from RAF Museum London News
As in previous years we will closing our London site from Monday 10th January until Friday 14th for our annual Spring Clean. This will entail the movement of some of our aircraft in various halls and the refurbishment of various areas within the Museum. The Museum will open again on Saturday January 15th at 10am sharp with the 1st of our Spring shows, RAF Photographer of the Year, which will be situated in the RAF Today Area of our Milestones of Flight Gallery. Other displays that will open during Spring 2011 include  ...

Curtis P-40 Kittyhawk from You Fly, Girl 
January 5 on my Golden Age of Flight desktop calendar is the Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk.
"The unusual Curtis P-40 landing gear retracted to the rear, with the wheel revolving to lay flat in the wing. Six .50-caliber machine guns provided the firepower. Curiously enough, the "fiddy-cal" is still the preferred weapon today in Iraq." ...

Shopping on the highway in a Iliushin 18D - Passionate about aviation
You've probably already bought an airplane in flight perfume, a watch or a carton of cigarettes "Duty Free", but have you ever stopped at a highway rest area to board a plane old four-to buy a road map, a can of ice cream or candy dish? That is what you can do if you take the E65 motorway leading from Prague to the north-eastern Czech ...
   
Mountain Home natives travel on flying adventure - Baxter Bulletin
At 23, he was the youngest flight instructor to earn the designation of Master Aerobatic Flight Instructor with the International Aerobatic Club, ...

Navy launches first aircraft using EMALS - McGuire Air Force Base
"It was very exciting to knowingly be a part of naval aviation history. Petty Officers 1st Class Hunsaker and Robinson, Petty Officers 2nd Class Williams, ...

Today in Aviation History – January 3 - Calgary Recreational and ...
In 1496… Leonardo da Vinci unsuccessfully tests a flying machine. In 1905… In efforts to interest the U.S. government in the use of airplanes for the military, Wilbur Wright speaks to ...

Expanding the Envelope: What GA Pilots Can Learn from USAF Proficiency Flying
from Let's Go Flying by Steve Tupper
I know what it takes to stay current and proficient in the aircraft that I fly.  And I work hard at it.  I fly two similar kinds of aircraft for the Civil Air Patrol.  I fly them frequently, both looking out the window and with a view-limiting device to hone and maintain my instrument skills.  And I fly tail-dragging aerobatic aircraft upside down.  It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. But I wondered what it was like maintaining currency when your flying has a little bit more riding on it than mine usually does. ...

U.S. downplays Chinese stealth fighter status - Vancouver Sun
Armed soldiers gaurd this US F117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter at the Abbotsford International Airshow in ...

The Mystery Behind the Chinese Stealth Plane J-20 from ASB.tv 
Photos of China’s new J-20 fighter jet, also known as the Black Eagle, have recently emerged onto the web.  Although the Chinese government has kept their lips sealed, the plane was noted going through a variety of ...

VIDEO: Watch China's J-20 stealth fighter in high-speed taxi from The DEW Line 

Is the Chengdu J-20 an F-22/YF-23/Mig-31 hybrid? by David Cenciotti
When I first saw the leaked images of the Chinese Chengdu J-20 a fifth generation stealth aircraft prototype developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) I could not notice a resemblance to at least three other type of aircraft: the F-22 Raptor, currently operating with the  ...

Heartland Warrior - Grissom Air Reserve Base
The new year is here and with that brings the January edition of the Heartland Warrior, which is now available online. The official E-Paper of the 434th Air Refueling Wing includes seven pages of stories, photos and features pertaining to Grissom and the U.S. Air Force.
Top stories include:
--Home for the holidays: Grissom firefighters return from deployment
--Grissom's economic impact
--Force Support Squadron stands up
--Winter safety tips
The 434th Air Refueling Wing is equipped with KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft is a key unit in the Air Force Reserve Command and plays a vital role in the Air Force's aerial refueling mission.
To read this issue of the Heartland Warrior, click here.

All-in-One: Solar Eclipse, ISS, Sunspots! - How I Am Becoming An Astronaut
Belgian astrophotographer Thierry Legault's picture of Tuesday's partial solar eclipse also shows the International Space Station passing over the sun's disk.

Indy Transponder 24-DEC-2010 1130z

The Paris Air Show 2011 Marks 103 Years Of Aviation Exhibition ... by kanguu - Held at the Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, the Paris Air Show is an international trade fair for the entire aerospace business. This commercial show takes place every odd year and caters to the military, corporations and private ...

Young flier elected president of aviation group South Fork junior passionate ... - Redwood Times | While at the show Locke met and had her picture taken with Burt Rutan, designer of SpaceShipOne, the first privately-owned spacecraft, and Sean Tucker, ...

Two Wilcox Brothers Meet In War-Torn England - Jamestown Post Journal | He flew missions into Germany flying in B-17 bombers out of Nuthampstead Field just north of London. Leo's younger brother Allen was too young to enlist at ...

Wartime letters shed light on couple's love affair during World War II - Baltimore Sun | More than 1000 letters that Vincent dePaul Gisriel Sr., a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress bombardier, ...

Austin Watson from Flight To Success by Karlene Petitt | Friday's Fabulous Flyer! - Each week, I write about a fabulous person in Aviation. Today, Christmas Eve, I wanted to write about Austin because he is the essence of giving.  The man who heard about our Fly-It-Forward challenge to take women into the sky, and embraced it as a mission of love. He's coordinated, communicated, and gathered people to fly-- and donated his time and plane, too! He's given so much…

Take flight for trip of fun over Camden - Macarthur Chronicle Campbelltown | Or get aboard a Pitts Special aerobatic aeroplane and enjoy a combination of speed and aerobatics. Pitts Special apparel and souvenirs are also available. ...

Santa visits the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum - Alaska Dispatch | Santa Claus visits with a young museum supporter at the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum's annual membership appreciation dinner. ...

Holloman fighter jets to escort Santa's sleigh on gift-giving run - Silver City Sun News | The F-22 Raptor will serve as an escort - or wingman - while the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, remotely piloted aircraft, will provide Santa with "special ...

Santa's Balloons and Arctic Airships from AirSpace by Allan Janus | X-Mas Greetings - Success, Prosperity, Good Will. Chromolithograph postcard, c. 1910. Although the reindeer-powered sleigh is the form of transportation most usually associated with Santa Claus, the right jolly old elf displays an unexpected interest in lighter than air flight by launching festive fire balloons over the North Pole while a polar bear watches admiringly.

Air Force Week in Photos Holiday Edition from Air Force Link Top Stories by afnews@dma.mil () This holiday edition of photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in seasonal celebrations while supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force. View the slideshow.  more...

Today In Aviation History – December 24 from Calgary Recreational and Ultralight Flying Club by bikeal

Old Mig 21 Fighter Jet Parked On Pedestrian Lane from Aviation Humor | So what else can you meet on streets of ex-USSR? For example in Moldova, the ex Soviet Moldavia, you can see sometimes old jet fighters standing on a pedestrian lane. And passers-by dont express much interest in it:

Indy Transponder 20-DEC-2010 0200z

National Aviation Hall of Fame reveals 2011 inductees from AviationDayton 
Dayton, Ohio – The National Aviation Hall of Fame Friday night revealed the names of the four individuals elected for enshrinement in July 2011, along with the recipient of its 2011 Milton Caniff “Spirit of Flight” Award. ...

Thunderbirds for Waddington! from Classic Aviation Worldwide 
It has been confirmed that the USAF Thunderbirds display team have been confirmed for the entire weekend at Waddington International Airshow 2011! This stunning formation aerobatic team fly the iconic F-16 Fighting Falcon in immaculate Red, White & Blue schemes. A true American hero tribute team, they will be well received on these shores!

VIDEO: Tribute to the Patrouille Suisse - Cavok/Translated
An excellent video with great soundtrack, the squadron of Air Force aerial demonstration of Switzerland, the Patrouille Suisse, which flies to six fighters Northrop F-5E Tiger II, painted in white and red, and was founded on 8 August 1964. His name was designed based on the Patrouille de France French Air Force. The team has its home base in Emmen.
All members of the Patrouille Suisse are military professionals from various wings of ...
   
Rod Hightower to take over for Poberezny - Oshkosh Northwestern
I'm a lifelong aviator. I've been flying since I was 16. Who wouldn't want to have that much fun? Some EAA members feel there is a rift between EAA's ...

Airshows of the Past: RAF Displays 2005-2010 from Flightline UK 
The retirement flypasts by Joint Force Harrier earlier this week marked the end of an era of V/STOL flight in the RAF that has lasted 40 years, and 50 years since the first flight of the revolutionary Hawker P1127. But it was perhaps the most high profile aircraft of a number which have been retired over the last five years that have long been a feature of UK airshows. A look back at the archives over the last five years reveal a number ...

Air Force 1 Pilot speaks about 9/11 via ExpressJet Forum 

Relentless mayday 9_14_2010.mp4 - YouTube
Here is a view of what an engine starved of oil can do in a split second, Pilot Kevin Eldredge had a catastrophic failure which caused his prop to spin up to what sounded like turbine speeds and literally explode off the front of the airframe. For more on the story you can check Kevin's blog here ht...

Martin B-26C Marauder from Planeshots
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Flyboy, 72, is honored - Meriden Record-Journal
Bernardi was recognized by the Experimental Aircraft Association in October for flying 100 children and teens in the Young Eagles program. ...

San Diego museum accredited from General Aviation News 
The San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) has been awarded accreditation from the American Association of Museums. ...

Museum offers winter break fun from General Aviation News 
The International Women’s Air & Space Museum’s (IWASM) Aviation Education Center at Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) in Cleveland will be open to the public Monday through Friday Dec. 20–Dec. 31. Admission is free to both the museum and the aviation education center. The museum will have two craft hours every day, at 11 am and 1 pm, for visitors to enjoy. ...

RA-3B Skywarrior rare expose at Castle Air Museum of California - Cavok/Translated
A rare reconnaissance aircraft RA-3B was rescued from a junkyard and placed on display at Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California. Only three aircraft Douglas RA-3BS existed and two were killed in Vietnam. The aircraft that survived the Vietnam War, participated in the missile crisis in Cuba and now survived longer a threat, to be turned into scrap.
The Castle Air Museum has recently acquired the aircraft Douglas RA-3B Skywarrior in long-term loans from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. He was taken from where ...

Mobile Kalashnikov - Fox 2/Translator
...Three record broke the MiG-21 photo, called E-166. Two speed record and a record of 22,670 meters. The E-166 at the Museum of Russian Air Forces in Monino. ...

Harrier (Harrier, Sea Harrier, AV-8 etc) from FenceCheck Forums

U-2 Chase Cars “Chasing The Dragon Lady” from AIRBOYD.TV 

December 19 from Cut and Paste Aviation 

December 19 - This Day In Aviation History from Aviation Earth
December 19, 1908 - The world’s first aerodrome, Port-Aviation, is opened 12 miles outside of Paris. December 19, 1968 - The Boeing Company receives its first order, from Israeli airline El Al, for a long-range version of the 747 Jumbo Jet, production of which was announced just under a month ago. December 19, 1978 - The first [...]

GA and rotorcraft experts scrutinize the SESAR Concept of Operations from Roger-Wilco 
A working group with a wide representation of operational expertise from the general aviation (GA) and rotorcraft communities commenced a study to enhance the SESAR Concept of Operations (ConOps) from a specific GA and rotorcraft perspective. The task of the group is to ...

TOP GUN 2 in the Works; Tom Cruise Will Return for a Small Role from "David Ellison"
Vulture reports that the impetus behind the project is David Ellison, who was three years old when Top Gun hit theaters. Yet Ellison wore out VHS copy, which inspired him to become an aerobatic pilot and instrument-rated commercial ...

Dowload the 2011 calendar (both Italian and English versions available) by David Cenciotti
The 2011 calendar is available for download (and print up to A3 size). Two versions available: one for Italian readers (with Italian festivities) the other one for foreign readers. ...

Paths of Flight from A mile of runway will take you anywhere by Steve
Found this video while browsing online this afternoon. Such an incredible job was done editing the individual captures into a continuous composite! It's interesting to see just how precise airliners fly their approaches. Enjoy!

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