The Smithshonian's National Air and Space Museum will be hosting it's annual 'Become a Pilot' day June 18th this year. The event will be held at the Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va., near Washington Dulles International Airport. (Google Map of the Center)
The 2011 'Become and Pilot' day is the museum's seventh event of it's kind and continued growing the event to what should be one of the best events yet. There are 50 airplanes scheduled for static display, including a mix of vintage, recreational, military and home-built aircraft. The airplanes will be flown in to Dulles International Airport (KIAD) and taxied into position outside the center's Boeing Aviation Hanger. There, visitors will be able to examine the aircraft and possibly even sit behind the controls. The owners and pilots of each aircraft will be present to answer any questions and to discuss their airplanes with visitors. The museum has a stock pictures of a few of the types of aircraft that will be present on the event's Aircraft Display page.
The military will have a modest presence as well, with static displays of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, E-2C Hawkeye and the MH-60S Knighthawk and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters. Also slated for a performance are the Navy's internationally renowned Navy Ceremonial Drill Team and the Navy Jazz Ensemble.
The outside activities and displays will be weather dependent. If inclement weather is present, participating aircraft may not be able to arrive and outdoor activities may be canceled. Even in the case of bad weather, there are plenty of indoor activities scheduled throughout the event.
Inside the hanger, there are plans for multiple family friendly events including access to the usual museum exhibits. There will be numerous book signings and even a 'Flights of Fancy' storytime for 'young pilots.' The 'Flights of Fancy' storytime is regularly held at the National Mall Building of the National Air and Space Museum and for reference of the types of stories that may be read to the young pilots you can see the National Mall storytime schedule here.
Visitors will have the ability to participate in educational hands-on activities as well as opportunities to learn about multiple aviation related topics. Rear Admiral Ted N. Branch, Commander of the Naval Air Force Atlantic, will be speaking in honor of the Centennial of Naval Aviation.
This year will also feature the delivery and dedication of a Fleet Model 2 "Plane/Jane," the only surviving Roosevelt Field Fleet trainer. Per the museum, the aircraft is 'designed by Maj. Reuben Fleet as a smaller version of the military PT-3 trainer, the compact and relatively inexpensive Fleet filled the gap between the grass-roots Piper Cub and more expensive, heavier biplanes or the sophisticated military trainers of the 1930s. The Fleet was also a popular sport aircraft; veteran pilot Paul Mantz set a record of 46 outside loops in another Fleet. Completed at the Fleet Aircraft Co. (solely owned by Major Fleet) in Buffalo, N.Y. on May 14, 1929, the Fleet is a two-seat, dual-control, open-cockpit biplane with a steel-tube frame, spruce-wing spars, aluminum ribs and fabric covering. The restored "Plane/Jane" coming to the museum’s collection is an 18-time medal winner at fly-ins around the East Coast.'
The acceptance ceremony will occur at 11:30 and will be attended by the donors, Gene Breiner and his daughter, Joyce.
The museum will also host it's first 'Tweetup' during the event. 25 of the museum Twitter followers will be given an opportunity to experience special presentation and behind the scenes look at the museum and days events. For more on the tweetup and to register, you can visit the Tweetup website here.
The days events are free; however, there is a $15 parking fee on site and the facilities are open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
See HERE for the original press release.
Comments