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             Journal of Aerospace, Defense Industry and Veteran News
                                                                                                       and Review
                                                                                                       and Review
          Flight Test Foundation seeks to do STEM right




          by Larry Grooms                      calls, “the appropriate place for the most sig-
          special to Aerotech News and Review  nificant aerospace educational location in the
                                               United States.”
           PALMDALE, Calif. — The Aerospace Val-  Thompson said that as of midday May 6, he
          ley’s Flight Test Museum Foundation is staking   hadn’t received responses from Palmdale city
          its claim to receive an estimated $1.2 million in   hall officials.
          assets expected to be salvaged from the discred-  The outreach began the week of April 26 af-
          ited and shuttered AERO Institute in Palmdale.  ter a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered
           In response to an inquiry from Aerotech   the AERO Institute funds to be unfrozen, fol-
          News and Review on May 5, Art Thompson,   lowing former Palmdale mayor Jim Ledford’s
          chairman of the Flight Test Museum Founda-  guilty plea to one count of perjury. Ledford,
          tion Board of Directors, said the volunteer-led   67, was sentenced to formal probation for two
          nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is qualified and   years and ordered to pay $189,800 in restitution
          positioned to meet and exceed educational roles   to NASA, or a NASA-affiliated entity.
          tasked to AERO Institute.              It was reported that while the L.A. County
           Thompson, chairman of the foundation exec-  District Attorney’s office said NASA was en-
          utive board and founder/CEO of Sage/Cheshire   titled to about $1.8 million in restitution from
          Aerospace, said the foundation is already reach-  remaining AERO Institute assets, AERO In-
          ing out to elected city, county, state and federal   stitute attorney Russ Petti stated there was no
          officials to declare their support for what he   court determination that NASA is entitled to







                                                                                                                                                  Courtesy photograph
                                                                                     The now-defunct AERO Institute in Palmdale, Calif. The Aerospace Valley’s Flight Test Museum
                                                                                     Foundation is hoping to gain an estimated $1.2 million in assets expected to be salvaged from the
                                                                                     discredited and shuttered AERO Institute.

                                                                                     AERO Institute funds.                  “The mission of the Flight Test Museum
                                                                                      After settling debts, remaining unfrozen   Foundation is to raise funds to support the de-
                                                                                     AERO Institute assets are estimated to total   velopment of the Air Force Flight Test (AFFT)
                                                                                     about $1.2 million for donation to an “appropri-  Museum at Edwards AFB, California and the
                                                                                     ate charity,” believed to be a nearby, 501(c)(3)   museum’s Blackbird Airpark Annex at USAF
                                                                                     non-profit whose mission involves aerospace   Plant 42 in nearby Palmdale.
                                                                                     education with emphasis on science, technol-  “The Foundation’s fund-raising efforts fo-
                                                                                     ogy, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).  cus primarily on museum improvements, new
                                                                                      According to Thompson, the Flight Test Mu-  construction, exhibits, aircraft acquisition and
                                                                                     seum Foundation, which recently completed the   restoration, and educational programs.”
                                                                                     foundation for the new museum building, needs   Thompson told Aerotech News and Review in
                                                                                     about $350,000 to quickly complete the build-  a May 6 telephone interview that timing of fund
                                                                                     ing’s shell. The project involves moving the   distribution can provide a force multiplier in
                                                                                     Flight Test Museum from its 8,500-square-foot   achieving multiple benefits.
                                                                                     space on Edwards AFB to a 75,000-square-foot   Thompson said he envisions the Flight Test
                                                                                     location just outside the West Gate. There will
                                                                       Courtesy photograph  be more space for the current aircraft collection,   Museum Foundation “doing for education
          Concrete is poured for the foundation of the future of the Air Force Flight Test Museum in June 2020.   a STEM Education Center, and easier public   what Barnes & Noble bookstores did for pub-
          When complete, the project will include a 75,000-square-foot building just outside the Edwards   access.        lic libraries.” Browse the bookshelves, have a
          Air Force Base West Gate that will include more space for the current aircraft collection, a STEM               cup of coffee and good conversations. Beyond
          Education Center and easier public access.                                  In bold print on the home page of the foundation
                                                                                     website is the following Mission Statement:            See MUSEUM, Page 2







                                                    AlwAys free Access!




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            May 14, 2021 • Volume 36, Issue 9                  Serving the aerospace industry since 1986      Use your smartphone to connect to
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