Thursday, Sept. 5, 5 to 9 p.m.
Wells Fargo Free First Thursday
Once a month, the Museum stays open late – and admission is free! Enjoy the Museum’s Great Gallery, Charles Simonyi Space Gallery, Airpark, 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.
Saturday Sept. 7, 1 to 4 p.m.
Aircraft Exhibit Dedication
Lockheed YO-3A Dedication Ceremony and Program
The Museum will formally dedicate its permanent exhibition of one of the Vietnam War’s rarest aircraft, the Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star. There will be a 1 p.m. ceremony at the exhibit with Museum of Flight Curator Dan Hagedorn, followed by a 2:30 p.m. lecture and discussion about the Quiet Star featuring veteran YO-3A pilot retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. George Walker. The events are free with admission to the Museum.
Check the Museum Website for more information about the YO-3A.
Saturday, Sept. 14, 6 to 10 p.m.
Special Event
American Fighter Aces Banquet
The Celebration of Heroes banquet and reception honoring the year’s largest gathering of American fighter pilot aces will be held at The Museum of Flight on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 6 to 10 p.m. The formal, ticketed event is part of the 54th Annual American Fighter Aces Association Reunion hosted by the Museum Sept. 12-15. Up to two dozen Aces from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War are scheduled to attend. The keynote speaker will be Vietnam War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Bruce P. Crandall, whose experiences as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam are featured in the book “We Were Soldiers Once…and Young,” and portrayed by Greg Kinnear in the film “We Were Soldiers.”
Admission includes a reception and dinner with AFAA members, and viewing of the Aces collection in the Museum’s Personal Courage Wing. Tickets are $60 general/$55 Museum Members. Tickets can be purchased online at museumtix. Formal dinner attire required.
Monday, Sept. 16, 5:30 to 8:15 p.m.
MIT Enterprise Forum
Space: Are We There Yet? – Tourists, Entrepreneurs and Miners in Orbit
The Museum of Flight will host a networking symposium with commercial spaceflight leaders on Sept. 16. Speakers at “Space: Are We There Yet? – Tourists, Entrepreneurs and Miners in Orbit,” include Virgin Galactic’s vice president for special projects Will Pomerantz; Planetary Resources’ president Chris Lewicki; Space Angels Network managing director Joe Landon; and The Museum of Flight president and CEO Doug King.
The event is organized by the MIT Enterprise Forum Northwest, and will look at many sides of “the second space age,” including the commercial space economy, investor opportunities, government support, and new ventures for entrepreneurs, scientists and teachers. The event is from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. in the Museum’s Charles Simonyi Space Gallery, with a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets $40 advance/$60 door/$30 students.
Tuesday, Sept. 17, 6 p.m.
Royal Aeronautical Society Lecture
Kenmore Air
Craig O’Neill, Director of Marketing and Sales at Kenmore Air, talks about the history of the famous seaplane airline based on Lake Washington. Kenmore Air is among the best-known and most respected seaplane operations in the world, landing passengers on glaciers, lakes and harbors among the mist-shrouded fjords and islands of the U.S. and Canadian northwest.
Friday, Sept. 20, 7 to 11 p.m.
Concert
Speed of Sound Concert with the Moondoggies and the Maldives
The Museum of Flight becomes Seattle’s newest music venue with the Speed of Sound Concert Series. The first concert is Sept. 20 with the Moondoggies and the Maldives. The Speed of Sound aims to provide a unique club setting with top Northwest bands at modest prices. Food and drink will be sold at the age 21+ event. Tickets $20 general advance, $25 day of show, $15 Museum Members. Tickets available at the Museum and online at museumtix. Doors open at 7 p.m., music begins at 7:45 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21, Noon
Fly-In Event
Lockheed Model 10-E Electra Fly-In
The Museum’s 1935 Lockheed Electra fly-in arrival is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. The rare, twin-engine airplane is the same type as Amelia Earhart’s famous plane, and it will be the centerpiece of a permanent Earhart exhibit opening in October. In celebration of the Electra’s landing, there will be a noon program about the airplane, followed by outdoor welcoming festivities. Museum admission will be half-price for visitors dressed in the style of the 1930s.
Friday, Sept. 27, 7 to 10 p.m.
Special Event
Golden Age of Aviation Gala
Inspired by the glimmering silver 1935 Lockheed Electra, the Museum’s annual fundraising gala celebrates the golden age of aviation during the 1920s and 1930s. Funds support the Museum’s education mission.
Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free Admission with Smithsonian Ticket
Museum Day Live!
This annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine offers free Museum admission to one person plus a guest with printed ticket downloaded from: smithsonianmag.com/museumday
Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Special Event with Lecture and Booksigning
China’s Wings
The Museum celebrates the history of aviation in China during the 1930s and 1940s, with lectures, book signings and more. The event’s honorary guest is Chinese-American aviation pioneer Moon Fun Chin. Chin was born in 1913 (yes, 100 years ago!), became a commercial pilot in 1932, and the next year he moved to mainland China – and later to Taiwan – where he spent the next 50 years as a pilot and airline executive. The Museum event also features a lecture and book signing by Gregory Church, author of “China’s Wings.”
The independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, attracting more than 500,000 visitors annually. The Museum’s collection includes more than 160 historically significant air- and spacecraft, the original manufacturing facility of The Boeing Co., and the world’s only full-scale NASA Space Shuttle Trainer. The Museum’s aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 100,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum’s on-site and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Association of Museums, and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
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 $18 for adults, $15 for seniors 65 and older, $15 for active military, $10 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. McCormick & Schmick’s Wings Café is on site. For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org
