The Museum of Flight
May
Wells Fargo Free First Thursday
Thursday, May 5, 5 to 9 p.m.
Once a month, the Museum stays open late-for free! Enjoy the Museum’s Great Gallery, Airpark, Personal Courage Wing, Space: Exploring the New Frontier exhibit and more from 5 to 9 p.m., courtesy of Wells Fargo. Museum Store and Wings Café will also remain open for the extended hours on this night.
Special Events
Space Day
Thursday, May 5, 5 to 9 p.m.
Since 1997, Space Day has celebrated the extraordinary achievements, benefits and opportunities specific to the exploration of space. This year the Museum’s celebration of Space Day coincides with the 50th anniversary of the day NASA astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American to fly into space. The Museum offers space-related activities during Wells Fargo Free First Thursday
from 5 to 9 p.m.
Family Activity
Magic Flying Carpet Storybook
May 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29; 10:30 a.m.
Children and parents can sit on our magic carpet and listen to stories of flight from around the world. Stories will reflect the theme of the family workshop that follows.
Family Activity
Bank of America Weekend Family Workshop: Splashdown!
Saturdays and Sundays
May 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29; 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Be a part of an Apollo astronaut recovery mission. Make your own space capsule then
reenact a re-entry and splashdown!
Lectures/Aircraft Flight Demonstrations and Static Aircraft Displays
Naval Aviation Day
Sponsored by Honeywell
Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Museum launches its celebration of the U.S. Navy’s 100th year of aviation with a full day of special activities sponsored by Honeywell. Events include lectures, vintage navy aircraft flights and fly-in static aircraft displays. The lectures are free with admission to the Museum. Two vintage Grumman navy fighters, a F7F Tigercat and an F8F Bearcat, will fly past the Museum at 10:30 and will on view for free in the Museum parking lot from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Naval Aviation Lecture – Grumman Big Cats-Navy Fighters from Hellcats to Bearcats
David Lednicer
Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m., William M. Allen Theater
Aeronautical engineer David Lednicer’s presentation looks at the evolution of land- and sea-based Navy aircraft in the 1930s and during World War II, culminating with the awesome piston-powered airplanes that entered service shortly after World War II, including the Tigercat and Bearcat. Program attendees will have exclusive access to the Museum’s second floor viewing balcony to watch the Grumman aircraft fly-bys following the lecture. Program free with admission to the Museum.
Navy Fighter Aircraft Flight Demonstration
Saturday, May 14, 10:30-11 a.m.
Representing two of the ultimate piston-powered U.S. Naval aircraft, a Grumman F8F Bearcat and a Grumman F7F Tigercat will arrive at Boeing Field for aerial demonstrations in front of TheMuseum of Flight. Based at the Historic Flight Foundation at Paine Field in Everett, Wash., the classic planes make multiple passes by the Museum, followed by static display in the Museum’s parking lot until 4:30 p.m. The pilots will be stationed by the aircraft until noon for autographs and visitor questions.
Naval Aviation Panel Presentation – World War II Navy Fighter Aces
Saturday, May 14, 2 p.m., William M. Allen Theater
Three U.S. Navy fighter pilots who became aces flying combat missions during World War II will share their experiences during this Navy Day presentation. Lt. Tilman Pool scored six aerial combat victories, Lt. Col Charles “Billy” Watts scored 8 3/4 victories and Lt. Cmdr. Fred Dungan achieved ace status with seven victories. Watts and Dungan are holders of the Navy Cross. Program free with admission to the Museum.
Lecture and Book Signing sponsored by The Royal Aeronautical Society
787 Dreamliner – The Story Behind the Story with Journalist and Author Guy Norris
Tuesday, May 17, 7 p.m.
Guy Norris is the senior editor of Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine and the author of “Boeing 787 Dreamliner.” Norris will share his behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and unexpected problems associated with recording the evolving history of Boeing’s newest twin aisle airliner. His talk will include an overview of the development of his book, including the characters behind the tale, and the ups and downs of research.
New Permanent Exhibit Opens
Holtgrewe World War I Model Aircraft Collection
Saturday, May 21, World War I Gallery, Personal Courage Wing
Dr. H. Logan Holtgrewe spent seven years meticulously making over 400 scale models representing virtually all of the aircraft flown in World War II. Following the installation of this exhibit in the Museum’s Personal Courage Wing World War II gallery in fall 2007, Holtgrewe began work crafting a comparable collection of the aircraft of the First World War-resulting in 153 astonishingly detailed models in 1/48 scale. The permanent exhibition of the collection opens in the World War I gallery of the Personal Courage Wing on May 21. The centerpiece of this collection is a 13-foot model of the L-30 Zeppelin dirigible, complete with interior lighting in the crew gondolas.
Lecture
The History of Lighter than Air in War and Peace with Airship Historian Dr. Horst Schirmer
Saturday, May 21, 2 p.m., William M. Allen Theater
In conjunction with the opening of the Dr. H. Logan Holtgrewe World War I Aircraft Model Collection exhibit, airship historian Dr. Horst Schirmer will give a presentation on the history of Zeppelins in war and peace. Schirmer partnered with Holtgrewe in the making of a 13-foot scale model of the World War I L-30 Zeppelin for the new exhibit. Schirmer has nurtured a life-long interest in airship history, and he is possibly the only person still alive who flew on the ill-fated Hindenburg.
Schirmer was born in the heart of Zeppelin country, in the city of Friedrichshafen at Lake Constance, Germany. His father was an aerodynamic physicist involved in the design of two of the most famous airships–the Hindenburg and the Graf Zeppelin. Schirmer has been a repeated lecturer for the Lighter than Air Historical Society in Lake Hurst, N.J. He is an internationally known surgeon, and currently associate professor of Urology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.
Outdoor Aviation Event
Aluminum Overcast: The EAA B-17 Bomber
Thursday, May 26 through Monday, May 30 on the Museum Ramp
The Museum of Flight will host the Experimental Aircraft Association’s B-17 bomber, Aluminum Overcast, for rides and ground tours during the last week in May.The Flying Fortress will arrive on May 23, and will be open to the public May 26-30. For costs, reservations and more information, please call the EAA at 1-800-359-6217 or visit www.b17.org.
Media flights are available on May 23 at 1 p.m. Contact the Museum of Flight Public Relations Dept.
The Seattle-born, Boeing B-17 bomber played an important role in World War II and aviation history. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps in May 1945, Aluminum Overcast was too late to see action in World War II. Sold for $750 as military surplus, the airplane served as a cargo hauler, an aerial mapping platform and in pest control. Now, Aluminum Overcast carries the wartime colors of the 398th Bomb Group, and is flown around the United States as a living tribute to World War II aviation.
Outdoor Aviation Event
Cascade Warbirds Fly-In
Saturday, May 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Museum of Flight hosts the annual Cascade Warbirds Fly-in of vintage military airplanes on Saturday, May 28. A wide variety of restored planes representing several nations’ armed forces from World War II through the Vietnam conflict will be on view in the Museum parking lot 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The pilot/owners of the planes will be on hand to answer questions and share their enthusiasm for these vintage warbirds. The aircraft will arrive between 8 and 9 a.m. Viewing the planes is free.
Operating under the motto “keep ’em flying,” the Cascade Warbirds work to preserve history by maintaining important aircraft. Planes scheduled to participate in the fly-in include a North American T-28 Trojan, de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk, Cessna O-2 Skymaster and a Douglas AD-4 Skyraider.
Panel Discussion
Tuskegee Airmen Panel
Sunday, May 29, 2 p.m., William M. Allen Theater
Three of the first African-American pilots in the U.S. military will share their experiences during a May 29 panel discussion at The Museum of Flight. These Tuskegee Airman veterans include Capt. George Hickmann, Lt. Col. LeRoy Gillead and Lt. Col. Ed Drummond. Gillead was a member of the first class of Tuskegee Airmen (1941), while Drummond was a member of the last class (1946). Drummond and Hickman are residents of Lakewood, Wash. The program is at 2 p.m., and is free with admission to the Museum.
Nine hundred and ninety-six pilots graduated at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, during the 1940s, receiving commissions and pilot wings as America’s first African-American military airmen. Black navigators, bombardiers and gunnery crews were trained at selected military bases elsewhere in the United States. Mechanics were trained at Chanute Air Base in Rantoul, Ill., until facilities were in place in 1942 at TAAF. Four hundred and fifty of the pilots who were trained at TAAF served overseas in either the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later the 99th Fighter Squadron) or
the 332nd Fighter Group.
Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday, May 30, noon, Side Gallery,
The Museum of Flight honors military service with patriotic music and ceremonies on Memorial Day, May 30. The Boeing Employees Concert Band will set the stage by performing patriotic music, beginning at noon. At 1 p.m. Museum President and CEO Doug King will preside over a ceremony with City of Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton. Other special guests include Tuskegee Airmen veterans Capt. George Hickmann, Lt. Col. LeRoy Gillead and Lt. Col. Ed Drummond.
Blue Star Museums Program Begins at The Museum of Flight – Active Military Receive Free Admission for the Summer
Blue Star Museums is a partnership among Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts, and more than 1,000 museums in all 50 states that will offer free admission to active military personnel and their families from Memorial Day, May 30, 2011, through Labor Day, September 5, 2011. Veterans admitted free to The Museum of Flight on Memorial Day and Veterans Day only (unless otherwise specified).
For more information about Blue Star Museums, see: http://www.nea.gov/national/bluestarmuseums/index_ongoing.php
June
Wells Fargo Free First Thursday
Thursday, June 2, 5 to 9 p.m.
Once a month, the Museum stays open late-for free! Enjoy the Museum’s Great Gallery, Personal Courage Wing, Space: Exploring the New Frontier exhibit and more from 5 to 9 p.m., courtesy of Wells Fargo. Museum Store and Wings Café will also remain open for the extended hours on this night.
Family Activity
Magic Flying Carpet Storybook
June 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 25, 26; 10:30 a.m.
Children and parents can sit on our magic carpet and listen to stories of flight from around the world. Stories will reflect the theme of the family workshop that follows.
Family Activity
Bank of America Weekend Family Workshop: The Super Space Shuttle!
Saturdays and Sundays
June 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 25, 26; 11 am. and 1 pm
What flying machine launches like a rocket, flies like a space ship and lands like an airplane? That’s right – a space shuttle! Learn about the stages of a shuttle mission. Then make your own space shuttle model.
Lecture
The Concorde – Flying in the Fast Lane
British Airways Concorde Captain John Hutchison
Saturday, June 4, 2 p.m., William M. Allen Theater
John Hutchison is one in a rare group of pilots who have flown supersonic airliners. Before his retirement in 1992, “Hutch” spent 15 years at the controls of British Airways Concordes. Hutchison will share his experiences as a Concorde captain and from a flying career that spans over five decades. Following the program he will conduct a “walk-around tour” of the Museum’s Concorde in the Airpark.
Live Theater Production
“Mars Is Heaven!,” 1950s “Live Radio” Drama
Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12, 2 p.m., William M. Allen Theater
Experience Ray Bradbury’s short story “Mars Is Heaven,” the way it was adapted for radio in the 1950s. Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound (REPS) will recreate the radio drama with live sound effects and actors reading multiple roles. The story, “Mars is Heaven!” was included in Bradbury’s classic “The Martian Chronicles,” published in 1948.
For more information about Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound, see:
http://repsonline.homestead.com/
Outdoor Aviation Event
American Heroes Air Show
Saturday, June 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. East Parking Lot
Come to the Museum for a day full of heroes and helicopters. Learn how helicopters play an important role in law enforcement, fire service, public safety, communications, national defense and homeland security. The American Heroes Air Show features static displays, special presentations and entertainment.Representatives from many organizations including local flight schools, Border Patrol, Search and Rescue units, and the U.S. Coast Guard will be available to answer questions. See helicopters like the Blackhawk flown by the U.S. Border Patrol, as well as those flown by Airlift Northwest, KING 5 TV and many others. The helicopters will arrive between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. Come early to see them land.
For more information on the event, visit www.heroes-airshow.com
Special Event
Father’s Day Celebration
Sponsored by Dunn Lumber and Master Builders Association
Sunday, June 19, Museum-wide
Free admission for all dads. Family activities throughout the Museum.
Outdoor Event
Fire Department Day
Friday, June 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. East Parking Lot
The King County Fire & Life Safety Association is hosting the 14th Annual King County Fire Department Day at the Museum. On this day, kids of all ages can view fire equipment on display and meet the men and women who serve them. Kids (and adults too) will have the opportunity to climb aboard a fire engine, see how tall an aerial ladder extends, talk with firefighters and department personnel, and learn fire and life safety skills through fun activities. The Safety Zone will teach children safety skills, while providing adults with life-saving information. This exciting summer event is fun and educational!
Outdoor Aviation Event
Wings of Freedom World War II Bomber Tour
Friday, June 24 through Sunday, June 26, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour lands at Boeing Field, providing Museum visitors the unique chance to experience both of the American heavy bombers that helped win World War II. Flights and ground tours are available on the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress and the Consolidated B-24J Liberator. Flight training is offered in a P-51C Mustang.
For flight reservations, call 800-568-8924 or visit www.collingsfoundation.org.
New Temporary Exhibit Opens
Spirit of Flight Photography Exhibition
Saturday, June 25, T.A. Wilson Great Gallery
Selected prints entered in the Museum’s annual Spirit of Flight juried photography exhibition will be displayed in the T.A. Wilson Great Gallery from June 25 to Dec. 10.
The non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest independent air and space museums in the world. The Museum’s collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the William E. Boeing Red Barn® — the original manufacturing facility of the Boeing Co. The Airpark includes outdoor displays with the first jet Air Force One, a Concorde airliner, and the first Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The Museum aeronautical library and archival holdings are the largest on the West Coast. The Education Office offers weekend family programs, programs for students and educators, and overnight camps for children. McCormick & Schmick’s Wings Café is on site.
The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $13 for active military, $9 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit
www.museumofflight.org