3rd of December, 2022
It's been a great year for "Hangar Talk" in 2022 - lots of informative and fun topics and it's quickly becoming an audience favorite. Here's the line-up for our December 3, 2022 event. Doors to the Museum will open at 9:00am and Hangar Talk will begin at 10:30am in the Maloney Hangar.
Most combat veterans will tell you that surviving warfare is a combination of having the right skills, being in the right place at the right time and simple "good luck." This is equally true of aircraft that have survived past conflicts.
The Museum's Mitsubishi A6M5 "Zero" aircraft, which will be featured in our "Flying Demo" on Saturday, is an example of a combat aircraft that survived World War II due to its technology, skilled aviators, and good fortune. Ken Saltgaver of the Museum will walk us through the unique history of this aircraft - from its manufacture to its preservation by Planes of Fame. Along the way, you'll see the role that timing and luck played in the survival of this very rare aircraft.
Eighty years ago, in 1942, the United States began building up its arsenal of heavy bombardment aircraft and crews in England. These men and machines would spend the next three years flying incredibly dangerous missions to help defeat the Nazi war machine and liberate the peoples of Europe. One of the first to arrive, and ultimately one of the most highly decorated Bomb Groups (Heavy) of the European Theater of Operations was the 91st Bomb Group. The Museum's Jim Llano will present the first in a series of upcoming presentations dedicated and honoring the men, machines, and missions of the 91st.
The Second World War was a complete war - meaning that in addition to combat units overseas, the entire nation on the homefront was impacted. Brian Finnegan of the Museum will present a new series entitled, "Hooray for Hollywood" showcasing the many ways the film industry and the men and women who worked in it, helped the war effort. First up, we'll profile several performers who donned uniforms and served in the combat zones.
Ted Mount returns to the podium with another of his unique insights into the men, women, and events that have helped shaped aviation history in ways that continue to impact our lives today. Ted's topic for Saturday is the number one P-51 "Mustang" ace of World War II, George Preddy. Ted will share with us, using the words and acts of Mr. Preddy, some keys to living a full life that still resonate today.
Over 11,000 Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" aircraft were built during World War II. Today, only a handful remain and just five remain airworthy. The Museum's "Zero" has the distinction of being the only "authentic" example in that it still flies with its original Nakajima Sakae radial engine. When it takes to the sky on Saturday during our Flying Demo, visitors to the Museum will not only see a rare sight, they will hear the actual sound of a Japanese Zero from World War II. The Flying Demo will begin at 12:15pm with a short outdoor presentation by David Willis. Then, pilot John Maloney will start up the 14-cylinder, 1,130 horsepower radial engine directly in front of our visitors and then taxi away. John will then fly over the Museum for twenty minutes. Upon his return, guests may ask questions of John to find out what it's like to fly this aircraft and other historical aircraft in the Museum's collection.
In addition to these events, we'll have Food Trucks on-site. Your admission sticker also gets you a 10% discount at Flo's Airport Cafe, located on the airport. Our Youth Programs team will be on-hand for some fun projects for our younger visitors, and our Museum Guides will be around to answer questions. The Gift Shop has plenty of "stocking stuffers" available for the upcoming holidays.
Please note - road construction adjoining the airport has begun so allow extra time to get to the Museum. See you Saturday, December 3 for "Hangar Talk" and our "Flying Demo!"