The Membership Newsletter for The Military Aviation Museum Spring 2014 INSIDE THIS IssUE: Wings of Valour By Jonathan R. Lichtenstein Leading Edge Circle 2 Museum Visitors 2 Golden Eagles 2 Skyhawk Association 3 Summer Camp 3 Hangar Happenings 4 Fairchild P-19 4 Eagle Scout Project 4 Aerodrome Classic 5 Plane Rides 5 17-18 May, 2014, will see the 6th-annual Warbirds and Axis troops at their encampments, featuring vehicles, Over the Beach at the Military Aviation Museum. artefacts, arms, and armour. Look skyward to observe our Museum Exhibits 6 collection of Warbirds in their native element! Besides Among the stars of the show will be the world’s first and, Pearl Harbor 6 members of the Museum’s collections, this year’s air show to date, only de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito to fly since 1996! will again feature guests from the Canadian Warplane Women in Aviation 6 Schedule yourself a ride in an airplane from the Second Heritage Museum, including one of only two airworthy World War, satisfy your hunger at our assorted food vendors, Avro Lancasters in the world. Keep your eyes and ears open or shop our military flea markets. Enjoy continuous musical for regular entertainers Theresa Eaman and the Victory entertainment, from 10:00am on Saturday and Sunday, Belles, along with Frank Sings Frank and the Ultimate plus a steak dinner and hangar dance Saturday night. All Military Aviation Museum Abbott and Costello. The Mark Michielsen band will serenade www.MilitaryAviationMuseum.org five of our hangars will be open for guided tours. dancers on Saturday night. Tickets to this year’s steak dinner Virginia Beach Airport With over 300 re-enactors on site, representing all may be purchased by making a donation to the Military www.VBairport.com theatres of WWII-era operations, you will feel as if you Aviation Museum. Go online to www.VBairshow.com or Fighter Factory have stepped back in time. Interact with friendly Allied telephone (757) 721-7767 for further details. q www.FighterFactory.com Warbirds Over the Beach www.VBairshow.com Just a Song at Twilight By Jonathan R. Lichtenstein Saturday, 7 June, 2014, the setting sun glinting off polished brasses, varnished hardwoods, expertly tensioned strings, and finely tuned instruments can herald but one thing: the return of the “Flying Proms” to the Military Aviation Museum. As dusk settles over the aerodrome, we shall be expectant of another evening’s entertainment by the Museum’s collection of piston-engine thoroughbreds, in concert with a live performance by Virginia Beach’s Symphonicity. “Prom” is short for “promenade concert”, a term whose origins may be traced back to the 18th- century pleasure gardens of London. In 1895, the first of a series of indoor promenade concerts was Now in its fourth installment at the Military inaugurated. Today the BBC Proms are among the Aviation Museum, this year’s Flying Proms holds will once more lend his voice to the proceedings. most well-known in the world; the Royal Albert the prospect of a few surprises, on and off the stage, Surmounted by some of the latest additions to Hall hosts annually more than 70 concerts, but the in keeping with the spectacle’s British heritage. the MAM, the consonant chords of Rolls-Royce outdoor component is continued through Proms in Imported from the UK in 2011 this is the first Merlins shall ring forth, before a twilight concert the Park performances. The popularity of the BBC and, so far, only authentic Flying Proms in North performance and pyrotechnic display. Go online to Proms inspired Great Britain’s Shuttleworth Collection America. Lending an air of authenticity, Mr. Mark www.militaryaviationmuseum.org or call (757) 721-7767 to create the original Flying Proms in 1997. Whall, commentator for the Shuttleworth Proms, to reserve your seats. q PAGE 2 VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1 MUSEUM VISITORS The Eagles Have Landed By Jonathan R. Lichtenstein The Museum has inaugurated a program this year, The Leading Edge Circle, to recognize our donors who help support the Museum and its operational aircraft. The sight and sounds of these historic aircraft taking to the sky bring a crucial part of our nation’s history to life. Donations to this program helps keep the great Warbirds maintained for flight and display On Saturday, May 3rd, the Military Aviation condition and also add artifacts to our growing Museum played host to a fraternity of noted US collection. We have future growth planned Naval Aviators called “The Golden Eagles”. They including a reconstruction of the Goxhill toured the museum as part of their annual reunion RAF Control Tower later this year. The annual held that week in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 120 “Golden Eagles” came for a 2-hour visit Warbirds Over the Beach Air Show takes place to the Military Aviation Museum. Twelve The association was formed by a group of this year, May 16-18, with many of our WWII WWII-era veterans participated in the outing. early Naval Aviators, guests of the United States aircraft conducting flight operations including The most noted among them was Ace Lt. Cdr. Navy, on a cruise aboard USS Forrestal (CVA-59) the world’s only Flying Mosquito. Fred Dungan, holder of the Navy Cross and from 16-18 September, 1956. veteran of 44-missions in the Grumman Wildcat, The donor levels are Silver ($500+), Gold Their ranks include pioneers in Naval Aviation. in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Also included ($2,000+), Platinum ($5,000+) and Corporate. Designated as Naval Aviators, most early members was Capt. Zeb Knott, who flew 50-missions in the All four groups are recognized on the donor represented the first 1,900 cadets ever to have Second World War, with subsequent combat tours board at the Museum’s entrance. Silver member- qualified for their wings. The membership was in Korea and Vietnam, and who later served as ship includes free general Museum admission later expanded to include helicopter and jet leader of the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team. for donors and members of their household, pilots, and aviators who had qualified for carrier 10% discount in the Museum shop, two adult Following a hearty lunch, our distinguished landings in the time when USS Langley (CV-1) one day tickets for the Warbirds Over the guests undertook a tour of all five of the Museum’s was the only American aircraft carrier. The “Eagles” Beach Air Show and an invitation for two to an hangars. Our red 1962 double-decker Routemaster also include a limited number of Naval Aviators annual dinner with a notable aviation speaker. omnibus served as a shuttle between the main who, during their tour of duty, were pioneers in Gold members are offered the above and, in buildings and satellite structures. The visit by the the development of new concepts, received special addition, lawn tickets to the Flying Proms, a “Eagles” culminated in a successful demonstration citations for unusual or outstanding performance, 30-minute flight in the Museum’s 1941 Boeing by Chief Fighter Factory Pilot, Mike Spalding, or who otherwise warrant special consideration. Stearman biplane and reserved parking for the of the MAM’s FG-1D Corsair, on gull-wings of Honorary members include author Barrett Tillman, Warbirds Over the Beach Air Show. Platinum Navy blue and gold. q H. Lawrence Garrett, III, former Secretary of the members may upgrade the Stearman flight to Navy; and Capt. Eric “Winkle” Brown (RN ret.), a 30-minute trip in the 1940 North American credited with the standing world record for carrier SNJ-2 Navy Trainer and have a 10% discount on landings. one rental of the Museum facilities. Corporate members qualify for all the above, with general admission entrance tickets for eight employees and a corporate table for eight at the Valentine’s Hangar Dance or the Annual Donor Dinner. Additional benefits and sponsorship opportunities are available through Mr. David Hunt, Museum Director. Dr. Glenn Carwell President, Board of Directors VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3 MUSEUM VISITORS MAM Rides Program Takes to the Air By David Hunt On April 5th the museum’s “Ride With Us” background we can tailor the flight for maximum program took off, offering 15 and 30 minute flights enjoyment. We will ask before going. Answers in our 1941 Boeing Stearman and our 1940 North have ranged from experienced pilots; folks who American SNJ-2. To book flights call the museum have not been in a single engine airplane, or an at (757) 721-7767. open cockpit; to those who have never flown at all. What does a Military Aviation Museum pilot 5. Is the guest properly briefed? Do they know how think about when scheduled to fly for the “Ride to work the intercom? How to fasten the seat belts? With Us!” program? When they may handle the controls and when to 10. The weather. Will it be flyable? Rain, fog, low keep hands off? How to get out in a hurry should clouds are obviously bad. Unlike airlines or the that be necessary? Safety is always our concern. military, conditions to fly valuable, older aircraft are limited. 4. Is the airplane in good shape? The technicians at the Fighter Factory do superb work in keeping 9. The weather. Will the winds be within limits? There is nothing more difficult than explaining our fleet in great condition, but airplanes are not why the flight won’t go on a beautiful sunny day cars. What would be a minor problem on the road with crystal clear skies, but with tail-wheel airplanes, could be a major one in the air. Safety first.