A while back, the San Diego Air & Space Museum completed the construction of a 1932 Boeing P-26 “Peashooter” fighter plane. Built exactly to Boeing plans, it is authentic in every respect. This interesting airplane is unique in that it was the first all metal military airplane, the first monoplane (single wing) fighter, the last to have fixed gear (non-retractable), and the last to have an open cockpit. It truly was the design bridge between old and new.
Leading up to the "To the Moon and Back," the Museum’s blog will take a look at each of the evening’s invitees, starting today with Buzz Aldrin.
Science and Environment reporter Gary Robbins recently featured the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s “To the Moon and Back: An Evening with America’s Space Heroes” event on June 23 in the San Diego Union Tribune. From the article: “The celebration, which is open to the public, is designed to honor Walt Cunningham (Apollo 7), Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), Al Worden (Apollo 15), Charlie Duke (Apollo 16), and Gene Cernan (Apollo 17).” Robbins goes on to note that three flight directors from the Apollo program – Gerry Griffin (Apollo 12, 15 and 17, as well as a key figure in Apollo 13), Glynn Lunney (Apollo 13), and Milt Windler (Apollo 13) – will also join the tribute.
A star-studded group of astronauts, including Buzz Aldrin and Gene Cernan, and ground personnel will share in-depth personal experiences from NASA’s legendary Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs during a rare special event, “To the Moon and Back: An Evening with America’s Space Heroes,” at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park on Thursday, June 23.
UTTV recently spent a day with the San Diego Air & Space Museum's Francis French for its popular series “Welcome to My World.”
The Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) and its predecessor groups, the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) and the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) were pioneering organizations of civilian female pilots employed to fly military aircraft under the direction of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
Fran Bera started flying in December of 1940 at Grand Rapids Michigan while she was in high school--skipping school to take lessons. Inspired by a dollar plane ride at the local fairgrounds, she saved her school lunch money to pay for these lessons. By the age of 16, she had flown her first solo flight...
Patty Wagstaff was first introduced to flying by her father, a captain with Japan Airlines. One of her fondest memories is a long ago flight with him, as she took the controls of his DC-6 for the first time. As a child, Patty was particularly intrigued with aerobatics. She would often ask her father, “What’s it like to do a loop?”
Louise McPhetridge Thaden, a famous American female pilot of the golden age of aviation, was one of the first women to win major flying events and awards, and set world performance records. She took her first flight in 1919; a $5 ride with a barnstormer.
Orphaned at an early age, the exact date of “Jackie” Cochran's birth is unknown. However, we do know that her most distinguished aviation career began in 1932 when she obtained her pilot's license after only three weeks of instruction. From this point on, she dedicated her life to aviation.
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