Saturday at Planes of Fame
We’re Going Flying!
Saturday, August 8, 2020
F4U-1A “Corsair”
Presentation begins at 11:45am
Wheels-up at noon
Watch from anywhere in the Museum
Planes of Fame Air Museum is presenting a “Live Demonstration” flight of its historic F4U-1A “Corsair” on Saturday, August 8, 2020. Presentation begins at 11:45 followed by Q&A session with pilot Rob Patterson who will then fly the aircraft over the Museum.
Come See the World’s Oldest Flying F4U “Corsair”
She flew in the South and Central Pacific for the US Marines during World War II. She’s appeared in movies, television shows and commercials. She’s a rare breed - the oldest of her kind still flying.
Now’s your chance to see her up close, hear a bit about her history, and then step back as she fires up her 2,000 HP radial engine, and flies over the Museum.
Doors open at 10:00am. Special discounted “Outdoor Experience” pricing applies.
See Some Pretty “Cool” Cars
The “Cobra Club of Orange County” is bringing twenty (or more) Shelby Cobras and Shelby GT-350 Mustangs to the Museum on
Saturday, August 8, 2020.
Built by automotive legend Carroll Shelby, the cars will be on display beginning at 10:00am. They’ll also be getting their picture taken with one of the Museum’s P-51 Mustangs.
Our thanks to the Cobra Club for their support and for allowing guests to see their cars up close.
Did You Know?
Carroll Shelby was a flight instructor and pilot with the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He taught multi-engine advanced training and later flew the B-25, A-26, and B-29 Superfortress.
Shelby had a highly successful career in auto racing, automotive design, and as a writer. He was played by Matt Damon in last year’s successful film,
“Ford vs. Ferrari.”
A Man and His Pole
Jerry Wilkins is a man beaming with pride.
“My pole is sure impressive,” he boasts.
It’s not a sentence one man usually hears from another so I bite my lower lip.
“Wanna see it?” he inquires. Respectfully, I decline.
“No, no, you’ll love it. Let’s sneak out back and let me show you my pole.”
Even on the walk through the Museum’s backyard he continues, “It’s long and sleek and built to last.”
I’m becoming very uncomfortable.
As we turn a corner, he wheels in front of me. “Ready to see it? Here you go.” He steps aside to show me his pole.
Jerry’s right, it is impressive.
At thirteen feet in length and several tons in weight, it is all he said it would be. It’s destined for the
Museum’s new Korean War Memorial
, where it will support a North American F-86 Sabre jet.
“Yep, made of one-inch thick, high grade steel,” Jerry said as he slapped a palm against the side of the pole. “Stainless steel welds too, so they won’t rust. And check out the end; see how it’s angled to hold the airplane?”
The end of the pole Jerry referred to is angled and pre-drilled with holes to accept the F-86, one of two aircraft that serve as focal points for this memorial to “America’s Forgotten War.” The other aircraft, a Russian-built MiG-15, already sits in its concrete cradle at the memorial site.
“You know,” Jerry said as he took a seat on the pole. “This pole is more than a pole, it’s a symbol. Oh sure, it’s built to suspend a Korean War airplane overhead, but it’s also symbolic of how we as a nation need to support our military.
“We sent thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines over to Korea. They went because their nation asked them to. They didn’t complain. They fought; many died, and three years later, those who survived simply packed up and went back home and got on with their lives.
“Sadly, their nation forgot all about their war. Forgot what they sacrificed, how they served. We can’t do that. We owe them more than that. That’s why this memorial is so important.”
Jerry’s points are well taken. In the 37 months of the Korean conflict, America deployed nearly 1.8 million troops to the Korean peninsula. Over 36,000 Americans died, another 92,000 were wounded, and nearly 5,000 are still missing in action. The war ended in stalemate, and disagreements between North and South Korea still fester. Sadly, ask most Americans about the Korean War and they’ll shake their heads. It didn’t end with victory parades. It’s not taught in the schools. It’s largely forgotten.
“I’m so proud of Planes of Fame with this project,” Jerry said. “Our Korean War Memorial will be a living tribute to all the men and women who served in this conflict, and especially those who died.”
The passion in Jerry’s voice speaks of his commitment to the project. There’s still much to do in the coming weeks to pull the memorial together, but clearly, he is the man who can do it.
I almost feel ashamed at my earlier misreading of his boastful comments about his pole.
Almost.
But as Jerry points over to the F-86 Sabre jet that will be a part of the memorial, he remarks, “Now I just need to figure out how to mount her on my pole.”
Once again, I bite my lower lip.
Jerry’s Pole.
Our thanks to Gary Johnson and all the gang at Ace Clearwater Enterprises for their generous sponsorship of the F-86 pole. You guys rock!
Be a part of this Living Tribute
Help honor those who served during the Korean War.
Make a $100.00 donation and you’ll receive a commemorative brick located inside the Korean War Memorial grounds. Each brick provides up to three lines of personalized text. Remember a loved one, a friend or veteran with this simple gesture that will endure long into the future. To make your donation, simply click here:
Visit us on
Saturday, August 8, 2020
to see the F4U-1A “Corsair” take to the skies!
Is It Safe?
Many of you are wondering whether you can stay safe and still enjoy the Museum.
The answer is
“Yes - Definitely!”
We’re taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of guests during the Covid-19 pandemic.
♦
All doors are left open to minimize touch points.
♦
All visitors are asked to wear a mask at all times
(just pretend you’re a supersonic jet fighter pilot wearing an oxygen mask)
.
♦
We’ve got plenty of room for everyone to stay 6-feet apart.
♦
We’re limiting the Restrooms to only two people at one time.
♦
We’ve got hand sanitizers in the Gift Shop, the Restrooms and at the B-17.
♦
Visitors to the B-17 sanitize their hands before going inside and we limit one household at a time.
♦
We wipe-down the B-17 after each visit.
♦
The truth is, we miss you,
(we think the planes miss you too).
So come out to the Museum, stretch your legs, learn from a Docent, and have some fun.
Kilroy is Going Digital
Calling all Veterans! The Kilroy Coffee Klatch
is coming back on September 4, 2020 on Zoom.
If you’d like more info on how you can participate, contact Liz Esparza at 909-597-3722.
All of us need something these days to take our minds off the news.
Here’s a Latitude & Longitude game we’ll call:
“Who Am I?”
Listed below are coordinates that pinpoint locations important in the life of a famous aviator (this first game is easy - we promise).
You’ll need access to the Internet to play. Simply go to a popular mapping website (
,
,
, or
) and in the apps’ Search Box, type
(or copy and paste)
the coordinates listed below.
Then piece together the clues that each location provides in order to figure out the identity of our “Secret Aviator.” We’ll tell the story in our next issue.
I was born here:
42
°
21’ 04.4” N
83
°
04’ 22.1” W
I learned to fly here:
40
°
50’ 50.2” N
96
°
45’ 19.5” W
I worked here:
38
°
44’ 50” N
090
°
21’ 41” W
I made an airplane here:
32
° 43’ 53.7” N
117
°
11’ 49.6” W
I took off from here:
40
°
44’ 17.8” N
73
°
36’ 53.4” W
And I landed here:
48
° 58’ 10”
N
002
° 26’ 29”
E
Tragedy struck here:
40
°
25’ 26.0” N
74
°
46’ 04.0” W
I escaped to here:
48
°
51’ 01” N
3
°
17’ 26” W
