JULY
Family Activity
Bank of America Weekend Family Workshop
Saturdays and Sundays
July 2, 3, 9, 10, 23, 24, 30, 31; 11:00 a.m.and 1:00 p.m.
“Spy in the Sky”
Can you keep a secret? You don’t need Top Secret Clearance to come to this program, but it would help! Learn about the SR-71, known as the Blackbird – the most amazing spy plane to ever take to the skies. Then make your own Blackbird model.
Family Event
VFW members tell the story of “The Twenty-Seven Flags”
Monday, July 4, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Members of Skyway Post 9430 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars honor the Nation’s 234th birthday with a salute to the American flag-all 27 versions that have officially represented the United States over the years. From the first 13 star flag authorized by Congress in 1777 to today’s 50-star flag, the presentation of each iteration is accompanied with the story of its symbolism in this moving and educational program for all ages.The program is free with admission to the Museum.
Wells Fargo Free First Thursday
Thursday, July 7, 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.
Family Activity
Bank of America Weekend Family Workshop
Saturdays and Sundays
July 16 and 17; 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Now You See It, Now You Don’t: Camouflaging Boeing Field
During World War II, Boeing Field and Boeing Plant 2 were camouflaged by a Hollywood scene designer. Learn about how he did it. Then make your own model of Boeing Plant 2 disappear!
Family Activity
Heroes of the Homefront – A Celebration of the B-17
Saturday, July 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Museum celebrates World War II’s iconic B-17 bomber and the 95th anniversary of the Boeing Company with a day of special activities including big band music, swing dancing, aircraft fly-ins and B-17 tours. The Museum’s B-17 Flying Fortress will be on display in front of the Museum, with exclusive tours of the aircraft awarded through drawings. Events include: World War II B-25 and P-51 fly-ins; World War II reenactment players; swing dance lessons and demonstrations; and special World War II exhibits and tours. The celebration continues into the evening with a swing-era hangar dance (separate admission) from 6 to 10 p.m.
Special Event
Hangar Dance with music by The Harry James Orchestra directed by Fred Radke.
Saturday, July 16, 6 to 10 p.m.
$17 pre-sale, $25 at the door.
The Heroes of the Homefront celebration continues with a swing-era dance party with big band music by The Harry James Orchestra directed by Fred Radke. Period attire is encouraged.
Panel Lecture
American Fighter Aces Panel
Saturday, July 23, 2 p.m.
The Museum of Flight is the home of the American Fighter Aces Association, founded to recognize the 1,442 combat pilots that received a special distinction of becoming an ace by destroying five or more hostile aircraft. The Association is honored to sponsor a panel of aces and combat pilots to share the stories of heroism from these remarkable men.
New Exhibit Opening
Soaring at Sea: 100 Years of Naval Aviation
Saturday, July 23
To recognize the 100th anniversary of U.S. Navy aviation, The Museum of Flight will open an exhibit July 23, 2011 examining the events, people and machines that shaped this legacy. The exhibit will include artifacts, photographs and video presentations with an emphasis on the long relationship between Naval aviation and the Pacific Northwest.
For more information about U.S. Naval Aviation’s 100th birthday, visit www.navalaviation100.org/
Family Event
Show & Tell Takes Flight
Saturday, July 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In this “Antiques Roadshow”-style event, the public is invited to bring their aviation-related antiques and artifacts to the Museum to have them identified and described by aerospace curators and experts. Free with admission to the Museum.
Centennial of Naval Aviation Fly-In and Lectures Sponsored by Honeywell.
Sunday, July 31, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Museum’s 2011 celebration of the U.S. Navy’s centennial of flight continues with vintage naval aircraft fly-ins and two lectures throughout the day.
Activities include:
Fly-In
World War II Navy Fighter Aircraft Flight Demonstration
10-10:30 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 The Museum of Flight. Based at the Historic Flight Foundation at Paine Field in Everett, the classic planes will 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 for autographs and visitor questions.
Lecture
U.S. Carrier Aviation in World War II – The Rise of the Fast Carrier Task Force
Author and historian Ted Young
12:45-2 p.m.
Aviation and military historian Ted Young looks at the development and use of aircraft carriers during World War II, with specific emphasis on the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, the Philippine Sea, and the final campaigns of the Pacific War.
Ted Young is the author of seven books on aviation and military history concentrating on the World War II era, and a frequent contributor to American, British and French aviation magazines.
Lecture
Today’s Naval Aviation
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. James Kelly
2:10 to 3:20 p.m.
Retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. James Kelly will provide an overview of today’s Naval aviation mission capabilities and operations. A native of Longview, Wash., “Jamie” Kelly has distinguished himself as a decorated Naval aviator and commander during the past 35 years. He has flown more than 4,000 flight hours, including 60 combat missions flown during Operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch.
A 1973 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Kelly was designated a Naval Flight Officer (NFO) in April 1974, following completion of A-6 training with VA-128 at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. After many key Fleet assignments he assumed command of Carrier Strike Group Five in July 2003, then the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed group. In September 2005, Kelly became Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Japan.
Kelly’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Award, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the individual Air Medal with Combat “V,” and various unit and campaign awards.
Aircraft Flights
Bearcat and Tigercat aircraft departures
4: 00 – 4:30 p.m.
The two U.S. Navy Bearcat and Tigercat warbirds will make dramatic departures from the Museum around 4 p.m.
AUGUST
Wells Fargo Free First Thursday
Thursday, Aug. 4, 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.
Blue Angels Week
Thursday, Aug. 4 – Sunday, August 7
The world-famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels star in the Boeing Air Show at Seafair’s Albert Lee Cup hydroplane races. The Museum of Flight is again Blue Angels’ headquarters during the team’s entire Seafair stay. Blue Angels family activities will be featured all week, with events inside and outside of the Museum. The Museum hours will be extended-opening one hour earlier – Friday Aug. 5 through Sunday, August 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Indoor programs are free with Museum admission.
Museum visitors will be able see the jets up close from Thursday, Aug. 4 through Sunday, August 7. Activities include the team’s precise pre-flight walkdowns, thrilling formation takeoffs and the chance to meet some of the Navy’s finest pilots as they return from their practice sessions and show performances.
Bank of America Weekend Family Workshop
August 5, 6, 7, Noon to 3 p.m.
Blue Angels Mania!
We’ve got the blues…but we’re happy about it! Once again the spectacular Blue Angels are visiting Seattle and The Museum of Flight. In celebration, all Blues fans are invited to stop by the Museum’s activity area to make fabulous Blue Angels souvenirs.
Lecture and Book Signing
Sled Driver
Blackbird Pilot Brian Shul
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Aug. 5-7, 2:30 p.m.
Photographer, author, pilot and showman Brian Shul shares stories and photos from his experience as a “sled driver” – an SR-71 Blackbird pilot. The presentation is based upon his book, “Sled Driver,” which features Shul’s dazzling photography and insightful prose to illustrate what it is like to fly the world’s fastest, highest-flying jet, the SR-71 Blackbird. Shul’s program includes riveting accounts of Mach 3 runs over hostile territory and star gazing at 80,000 feet. This marks the 18th year Shul has appeared at the Museum during Blue Angels week. Shul has also traveled the air show circuit with the Blue Angels for his book “Blue Angels: A Portrait of Gold.” The program is free with admission to the Museum.
Lecture
Fallen Heroes Project
Artist Michael Reagan
Saturday, Aug. 20, 2 p.m.
Artist Michael Reagan has created over 2,200 custom, hand-drawn portraits of service men and women killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Each drawing was done free of charge for the family of the fallen service person. Reagan, a veteran of the Vietnam War, will talk about what is now called the Fallen Heroes Project, and how “each portrait is intended to show our love and respect for these heroes and their families.”
Reagan is an internationally recognized artist who has assisted charities such as Seattle’s Children’s Hospital raise more than $10 million through his drawn and donated autographed celebrity portraits. Over a span of three decades, he has drawn some 10,000 portraits including more than 1,500 portraits of celebrities, professional athletes, U.S. presidents and other heads of state. Reagan and the Fallen Heroes Project have been the subject of numerous stories in the major media, and have been recognized by the Washington State Senate.
For more information about the project, please see: www.fallenheroesproject.org/
Lecture and Book Signing
Two Gold Coins and a Prayer
Author James H. Keefe III
Saturday, Aug. 27, 2 p.m.
Author James H. Keefe III will talk about his award-winning book, “Two Gold Coins and a Prayer – The Epic Journey of a World War II Bomber Pilot and POW,” the story about his father’s dramatic World War II experiences as a downed bomber pilot and prisoner of war. Keefe’s extensively researched book is based upon the first-person accounts of his father, U.S.A.F. Lt. Col. James H. Keefe, Jr. The presentation will include rare photographs and a look into the seven years it took to create the book.
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