Page 6 - Aerospace Valley Heritage - Aerotech News and Review, October 15, 2021

MUSEUM, from 4
F-101, F-102, F-104, F-105 and F-106.
“In the new location, the Flight Test Museum
seeks to not only preserve and protect the history
of flight test but also be the conduit to connect
it to a new generation,” said Thompson. “The
developments at Edwards have always reached for
the future and the Museum seeks to do the same by
inspiring the next generation with the new STEM
center.”
More recently, the Flight Test Museum
Foundation has partnered with the Society of
Experimental Test Pilots to host the SETP archives,
oral histories and artifacts. This continues the
foundation’s mission to preserve the history of flight
test and educate the public about the tremendous
advancements in aerospace engineering, air and
space exploration, and human imagination in flight
test. Through the generous donation of the SETP
Foundation, the Flight Test Museum will have the
funding for the building of the Bob Hoover Library
and SETP STEM Classrooms.
“Donations of artifacts keep pouring in,” said
Welsh. “We now have the personal collections of
several former Test Wing and Test Pilot School
commanders, and both staff and volunteers are
processing the material into the collection. Much
of it will be on display once the new building is
completed.”
While access to the museum itself is currently
restricted, that does not mean the museum
or foundation are not continuing with STEM
education efforts.
The museum offers the Junior Test Pilot Summer
Program each year. It is a free program hosted at
Blackbird Airpark in Palmdale, offering classes that
are focused on STEM. The classes include hands- Photograph by Evelyn Kristo
on activities and presentations from aerospace A visitor checks out a Lockheed A-12 aircraft at Blackbird Park in Palmdale, Calif. The park, located at 2503 E. Avenue P, is open Friday-Sunday
professionals. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The program is designed for 3rd through 6th
graders to learn about STEM principles in flight and Joe Davies’ Heritage Park,” said Lisa Sheldon Gathering of Eagles aircraft that pitted the Boeing X-32 against the
test and engineering, framed by the experiments Brown, Director of Education and Community Raising funds for the new museum building is an Lockheed Martin X-35.
and advancements in aviation and aerospace Outreach for the foundation. “We’re on a mission on-going effort, and one of the major fundraising This year’s Eagle honorees are:
development in the Aerospace Valley.
For more information on the program, visit to educate the children of this valley about the events is the annual Gathering of Eagles. Fred D. Knox Jr. — X-32 Chief Test Pilot
www.afftcmuseum.org. phenomenal advancements in aerospace that are Each year, aerospace professionals gather to Joseph Sweeney — X-35C Project Pilot
The Foundation is also expanding their education the hallmark of our home.” remember and honor those people and teams Dennis P. O’Donoghue — X-32B Project Pilot
programs at Blackbird Airpark. Blackbird Airpark is located at 2503 E. Avenue P who have made major contributions to aerospace, Simon Hargreaves — X-35B Project Pilot
“We are excited to expand our Education in Palmdale and sits adjacent to Joe Davies Airpark. aviation and flight test. Addison Thompson — X-32 Test Director
program this coming year with additional tours, It is currently open 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday and This year’s Gathering is Oct. 23 at Antelope Dick Burton — X-35 Director of Flight Test
field trips for local schools, and an educational Sunday. Aircraft on display include the Lockheed Valley College. The theme for 2021 is Battle of the For more information on the Gathering of
app that will allow for children to go on ‘missions A-12, the Lockheed D-21B, the Lockheed SR-71 X-Planes, which celebrates the 20th anniversary Eagles, visit https://www.afftcmuseum.org/
in aerospace’ as they explore Blackbird Airpark and the Lockheed U-2D. of the Joint Strike Fighter Concept Demonstration goe2021

Gathering of Eagles

Battle of the X-Planes

Photograph by Evelyn Kristo
Joe Reynaldo, left, of Palmdale, with wife Rosa and son Vinnie, 5 , checks out a D-21 Lockheed Courtesy photograph
Drone on display at Blackbird Airpark in Palmdale, Calif. The drone was an unmanned ramjet- The theme for this year’s Gathering of Eagles, scheduled for Oct. 23, is ‘Battle of the X-Planes,’
powered craft designed to be air launched from atop an A-12 mother ship. It was conceived as a marking the 20th anniversary of the Joint Strike Fighter Concept Demonstration that pitted the
reconnaissance platform that would fly over high threat targets without endangering a pilot. The Boeing X-32 against the Boeing X-35. For more information on the Gathering of Eagles, visit https://
park, located at 2503 E. Avenue P, is open Friday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.afftcmuseum.org/goe2021.

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