Chino, CA - Fabulous Spitfires will be the theme of the monthly special event hosted by Planes of Fame Air Museum at Chino Airport on Saturday, September 6, 2008. The event will begin at 10 a.m. with a seminar describing what was certainly the most famous British fighter plane of all time and conclude with a flight demonstration by a Supermarine Spitfire currently on display at the museum. Conceived in the mid-1930s when biplanes were the order of the day, the Supermarine Spitfire boasted many innovations for the time, one of the most important of which was an eight-machine gun armament that provided four times the firepower available to most other fighter planes in service at that time. Described by many, especially the British, as the most beautiful fighter plane ever built, the Spitfire design was literally the last gasp of legendary designer Reginald J. Mitchell, who died of cancer shortly after the British Royal Air Force placed the first production orders for the airplane. Renowned for its exploits during the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire and its naval variant, the Seafire, remained in production until 1948, with a grand total of 22,890 having been manufactured.

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Chino, CA - With the Korean Air War as its theme, jet age air combat will be the subject of the monthly special event hosted by Planes of Fame Air Museum at the Chino Airport on Saturday August 2, 2008. The event will begin at 10 a.m. with a history seminar on the subject and conclude with a demonstration by the Planes of Fame North American F-86F Sabre, America’s premier jet fighter plane during that conflict. Beginning just five years after the end of World War II, the Korean War saw World War II vintage warplanes fighting side-by-side with then relatively new jet combat planes. Although jet warplanes first entered production near the end of World War II, they did not engage each other in air combat until Communist forces attempted to overrun South Korea in 1950. In many respects, the Korean Air War proved to be a learning experience in new techniques for aerial combat that ensued during the rest of the 20th century. That experience set the stage for the conduct of the subsequent Cold War aerial confrontations between the forces of democracy and communism.

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In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed an initiative endorsing the development of an American supersonic transport – SST for short – capable of flying three times the speed of sound. As part of that initiative, NASA’s Flight Research Center (today the Dryden Flight Research Center) at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., began flight experiments with a Navy A-5A Vigilante in 1963, exploring landing approaches of such a high-speed aircraft in a crowded air traffic environment. Pilots flew the aircraft on approaches to Edwards, but also into Los Angeles International Airport for more realistic simulations of integrating an SST into landing patterns in a high-volume commercial airport.

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At a Gala function in Parkes on Saturday night for the 2008 Inland NSW Tourism Awards, Temora Aviation Museum was announced as the winner of two categories and received an Award of Distinction for a third category. We went into the night knowing we were a finalist in three categories and came out as the Winner of Best Tourist Attraction and Best in Heritage and Cultural Tourism. We also received an Award of Distinction in the Festival and Events Category which recognizes the success of the Museum Flying Days. The Regional Tourism Organisations of New England North West, Central NSW, Riverina Tourism and Outback Tourism conduct the Inland NSW Tourism Awards. The Awards are an opportunity for tourism operators of attractions and businesses to gain an insight into their business, the industry, achieve recognition for their success and promote tourism within their region.

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On Tuesday, July 29 2008 in Prague, an Avia BH-5 in the company of a BH-1, leaves for a memorial flight direction Grimbergen. Pilot is Milan Mikulecky of the Czechoslovak Historical Flight. 85 years ago, especially on June 30 and 01 July 1923, the Royal Belgian Flying club organised an international competition for tourist aircraft. This game was played in various fields, such as manipulation and the (de) assembling the device by the pilot. The BH-5 was a new device that has never flown abroad. This was an excellent opportunity for the company Avia to promote this aircraft on the market. The pilot, Zdenek LHOTA, departed on June 28, 1923 in Prague, but had to land already after two hours because of fog at Cheb. The next day he departed again, but this time, due to bad weather, he had to land after 2hr45 in Mayence France.

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The summer was a very productive period for the aircraft restoration projects and the momentum carried us through the fall season. Special thanks to the dedicated volunteers who have donated many hours of their time to our endeavors. These volunteers include Pete Cea, Carmine Stoffo, PJ Aronica, Dina Ingersole, Vincent DiCostanzo, Juan Elle, and Dan Blaich. None of our accomplishments would have been possible without your hard work and dedication to the Intrepid. Thank you all. If you recall, I mentioned that we would be working on our MiG-21 over the summer. This aircraft is also completed and is now resplendent in a high profile NATO Tiger meet paint scheme of the Polish Air Force.

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This year, the Imperial War Museum Duxford is celebrating 90 years since the foundation of the historic airfield with a series of special events, the first of which, Remembering RAF Duxford, is this Sunday 1 June. Remembering RAF Duxford will give visitors the perfect opportunity to discover the heart of this historic airfield. The airfield has been part of the Imperial War Museum since the 1970s but its history dates back to the closing stages of the First World War. Says Tracey Woods, Marketing & PR Manager for Duxford “This day gives visitors that real something extra – the chance to find out more about some of the key moments in Duxford’s history, as well as talk to people who have been stationed here at various times during its operational life.”

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SEATTLE, July 23, 2008—The world-famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels once again star in the KeyBank Air Show at Seafair presented by Boeing. The Museum of Flight is proud to be the Blue Angels’ headquarters during their entire Seafair stay! Be sure to come inside the Museum for Blue Angels activities fun for the whole family! The Museum will have extended hours Thursday, July 31 through Sunday, August 3 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Indoor programs are free with Museum admission. While the Blues’ incredible aerial act is best viewed from the hydro pits at Seattle’s Genesee Park, there’s no better place to view the jets up close than the Museum! From Thursday, July 31 through Sunday, August 3 enjoy the precise pre-flight walkdowns, feel the thrilling formation takeoffs and meet some of the Navy’s finest pilots as they return from their practice sessions and show performances.

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SEATTLE, July 22, 2008—Celebrate the 80th anniversary of the King County International Airport at Boeing Field with a weekend full of fun events around the field! Festivities begin Friday morning, July 25 at the Airport’s Main Terminal Building with a short program featuring leaders of the King County Government and local aviation community. On Saturday, July 26 the Terminal is the center of an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring historic aircraft, visits to The Museum of Flight, paid scenic flights, and teams hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound will pull a 767 cargo jet! As part of the Boeing Field 80th anniversary celebration July 25-27, The Museum of Flight offers special programs fun for the whole family. Programs are free with Museum admission.

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Belgian Air Component’s Siai Marchetti SF.260M/D initial training aircraft are to receive a new larger canopy providing some more head and arm space for the pilot and the students. The first aircraft equipped as such has been seen at Beauvechain airbase. After this conversion the aircraft are identified by their serial number followed by ++. As such the first aircraft is identified as ST-34++.

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During a Macaronage ceremony organised by the French Armée de l’Air at base aérienne 705 «Jean et François Tulasne» at Tours-St.Symphorien, 24 pilots received their fighter wings (”Macarons”), three others their transport pilot wings while 5 navigators also received their certificate. Among them were three new Belgian fighter pilots, Adjt Aviator Crabbeels, Dechany and Wouters. The young pilots received their much desired certificate from General Stéphane ABRIAL, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force and Lieutenant General Aviator Gérard VAN CAELENBERGHE, Belgian Air Component Commander. After their training in Tours, the fighter pilots will join Cazaux airbase for the last phase of their training.

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Temora Aviation Museum is flying its warbirds this weekend on the 19th or 20th of July - another good reason to escape the crowds in Sydney during the World Youth Day events! The line-up consists of most of our warbirds. You will see the Spitfires, Dragonfly, Boomerang, Hudson, Wirraway, Cessna O-2A, and more! Museum gates open at 10.00 am and flying continues through until around 3.00 pm. Food and refreshments are available on site. Remember to bring along a light fold-up chair if you have one, and some warm clothing – you’ll need it!

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SEATTLE, July 15, 2008—World War II fighter pilots return to the Museum to share their personal stories of aerial combat in the skies above Europe. Three pilots with tales about flying three of the War’s most famous fighter aircraft are featured in a panel on Saturday, July 19 at 2 p.m. in the Museum’s William M. Allen Theater. The Museum of Flight is home to the American Fighter Aces Association, founded to recognize the 1,442 combat pilots that received a special distinction of becoming an ace by destroying five or more hostile aircraft. This month the Association is sponsoring a panel at the Museum called “Aces of the European Theater.”

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — (Farnborough International Airshow) When the restored Avro Vulcan XH558 thunders to the air in its planned public appearance July 18 as part of the 2008 Farnborough International Airshow, the “Vulcan to the Sky” project will be thanking a host of participants, including Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR). Employees at two Goodrich business units in the UK — Actuation Systems in Wolverhampton and Huyton, and Engine Control and Electrical Power Systems in Birmingham and Pitstone Green — worked on the seven-year project. When the Vulcan was originally produced Goodrich designed and supplied 84 products consisting of 341 parts to each aircraft. Five of these product-types restored by Goodrich were assessed as flight safety-critical and required refurbishment, including the engine chassis mounted fuel system, the constant speed drive unit, the engine AC generator, the powered flying control unit electrical motors, and the airborne auxiliary powerplant.

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Its not unusual to see helicopters landing at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare but this Saturday there was something of a first for the famous aviation attraction. “We see jet rangers here all the time” said Museum Manager Lee Mills “but we’ve never had a Power Ranger land here before!” The Red Ranger from the hit children’s TV show flew into Weston with a Film Crew to meet young Cameron Mitchell, who only last week entered a competition on the SKY TV Channel Jetix to meet his ultimate superhero. After watching the action hero land on the museums helipad the excited six year old from Friarn Avenue in Bridgwater was presented with a large bundle of toys and a signed plaque from his idol before getting the chance to test out his own fighting moves and stances with the Red Ranger.

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The 25th edition of the International Old Timer Fly-In will take place from August 15th till 17th 2008. Since Diest Aero Club organized the first fly-in in 1979, our Fly-In itself has also become an ‘old timer’ with a tradition of more than 20 years. History repeats itself at Schaffen airfield during this international meeting of Old Timer ‘flying machines’. Once again we expect hundreds of old timer airplanes to arrive on the airfield of Schaffen-Diest. As usual, the main-day of the Fly-In will be on Saturday August 16th, when the majority of the airplanes arrive. The first edition, in 1979, was looked upon with suspicion and disbelief. “Look at them, pilots and airplanes that barely can fly…” That first edition, 45 airplanes older than 25 years made it to Schaffen airfield. But year after year,the number of aircraft, vintage and modern alike, grew. New records were set, as the Fly-In of Schaffen became one of Europe’s major light aviation events. In 1996, 405 aircraft landed at EBDT, and one year later, 449 aeroplanes set a record that still stands today.

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Alphen aan den Rijn, July 3, 2008 — Avio-Diepen, a leading global stocking distributor of factory new parts, and Orcon Aerospace sponsored the Sally B with insulation blankets for her cockpit to help maintain this last remaining airworthy B-17 Flying Fortress in the UK. “We are extremely grateful for this important sponsorship,” said B-17 Operator Elly Sallingboe. “Maintaining this huge vintage aircraft is incredibly expensive and without help like this it would be impossible to keep this unique aircraft flying.”

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Wichita, KS. June 30, 2008 — While the name Rawdon isn’t exactly a household word in most of the aviation world, Herb Rawdon exerted a great deal of design influence at Travel Air, Douglas, Beech and Boeing. The complete story on how this aviation pioneer helped evolve the world of aviation by author/historian Daryl Murphy and other little-known aviation facts articles can be found at www.wingsoverkansas.com. Aviation enthusiasts and aviation history aficionado’s can also discover fascinating accounts on this website’s weekly update on Walter J. Boyne’s “World Aviation History” feature on The Evolution of Jet Fighters: A New Point of View, and an aviation history feature on Women Airforce Service Pilots.

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Chino, CA - Air Commandos will be the subject of the monthly special event hosted by Planes of Fame Air Museum at the Chino Airport on Saturday, July 5, 2008. The program will begin at 10 a.m. with a seminar describing the history of United States Air Commando operations and conclude with a flight demonstration by the Planes of Fame’s rare North American P-51A Mustang, one of the first combat airplanes used by the Air Commandos. The history of the U.S. Air Commandos dates back to the establishment of the 1st Air Commando Group in India on March 2, 1944. Initially, the 1st Air Commando Group provided logistical and combat aerial support to Allied commando ground forces, known as “Chindits,” operating deep behind the Japanese lines in Burma. Disbanded on October 8, 1948, the Air Commandos were revived in April 1981 to counter Soviet-sponsored insurgents around the world. Today, the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command employs 9,500 commandos to provide support where required with special infiltration helicopters, transport planes, aerial refueling aircraft and aerial gunships.

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SEATTLE, June 30, 2008 - The independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. The Museum’s collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the Red Barn® — the original manufacturing facility of the Boeing Co. The Museum’s aeronautical library and archival holdings are the largest on the West Coast. More than 100,000 children are served annually by the Museum’s on-site and outreach educational programs — the most extensive museum-based youth aviation and space education program in the country. The Museum is the only aviation museum in Washington State that is both nationally accredited with the American Association of Museums and a Smithsonian affiliate.

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Battle Creek, Michigan, June 18, 2008 – WACO Classic Aircraft Corporation and Centennial Aircraft Services, Inc. are pleased to announce a new owner and management team headed by Peter F. Bowers of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The new management team will continue to build upon a long history of traditional aircraft manufacturing, professional service and support of WACO aircraft and other vintage and historic planes, as well as maintenance and services for general aviation piston engine aircraft.

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“Reach for the Sky”, an education resource book produced by the Yorkshire Air Museum and the Royal Aeronautical Society received an enthusiastic endorsement from the Rt. Hon. Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State for Transport and Minister for The Yorkshire & Humber Regions, at a lively launch ceremony yesterday (Tuesday 24th June.). The event was held at the prestigious London headquarters of the Royal Aeronautical Society, at Hamilton Place on Hyde Park Corner. In her letter of acceptance to the invitation to launch this book, the Rt. Hon. Rosie Winterton, said: “I am delighted to see the diverse and innovative ways that the Yorkshire Air Museum is working with the Royal Aeronautical Society to promote interest in the aerospace industry using the rich history that this centennial year of British powered flight will celebrate.”

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Wichita, KS. June 23, 2008 — Long-time Wichita aviation enthusiast, Carl Chance, hopes to give aviation history a future with his website www.wingsoverkansas.com. The site celebrates and features the aircraft industry and it’s growth and development throughout the world. A major factor lending professional credence and significant value to the web site has been the support and content contributions of some of the nation’s major aviation historian’s and author’s. Their presence on www.wingsoverkansas.com exemplifies the mission and objectives that this site maintains in preserving aviation history. Major content contributors include, Walter J. Boyne, Frank Joseph Rowe, Edward H. Phillips, Lionel D. Alford, Jr., Daryl Murphy and Richard Harris. Each brings a unique blend of aviation history to the site with impressive credentials and accomplishments in the field of aviation.

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SEATTLE, June 5, 2008—Three historic World War II bombers and a rare, two-seat P-51 fighter aircraft will be at The Museum of Flight from June 20–22 for ground tours and flights open to the public. The aircraft are on a 110-city national “Wings of Freedom Tour” sponsored by the non-profit Collings Foundation. The general public will have the opportunity to visit, explore and learn more about these unique and rare treasures of aviation history. The aircraft are scheduled to arrive Friday, June 20 at 2 p.m. and will be stationed at the Museum’s ramp on Boeing Field. Tours and rides are available from 2-5 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

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SEATTLE, June 4, 2008—A major showing of new aerospace art, the American Society of Aviation Artists 2008 International Aerospace Art Exhibit, opens at The Museum of Flight on Friday, June 13. Running through Sept.14, this juried show features over 50 paintings and sculptures by artists from around the world. Many of the exhibiting artists will be attending the ASAA Annual Forum at the Museum from June 16-21. The Forum includes public workshops, panel discussions and a Youth Art Class. Museum visitors will have the unique opportunity of meeting and learning from some of today’s most talented aerospace artists. A panel discussion with five artists is open to Museum visitors at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.

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