The 4-O-4 gets a scrubbing

Saturday wash crew takes a break fom giving the Martin 4-O-4 a much needed bath.

The heat and threat of rain didn't deter a dedicated
crew of volunteers who gave the Martin 4-O-4 a wash to take off years of dirt and pollution.  The cleaning was part of a long-range plan to restore the airliner to its former luster.  What's next?  Probably sprucing up the interior.  The 4-O-4 and other planes will be open to the public August 18 as part of the festivities for the centennial of the Martin Company. Also coming in for the event is a Curtiss Pusher, which Mr. Martin used as a model for his own early plane.

Open Cockpit Day

What started out as a damp day turned sunny as over 200 visitors came out to tour the museum and get a chance to see the Strawberry Point flight line up close.  People were to experience what it was like to fly first class as they say in the 1950s airliner, the Martin 4-O-4.  They marveled at the roomier seats passengers enjoyed then.
Also open were the Martin B-57 Canberra and the TA-4J Skyhawk.  People squeezed into the tight quarters of the bomber and were able to fantasize they were fighter pilots in the film "Top Gun." It was hard to say who had more fun -- the kids or adults.
The kids also got to try their hands at building rockets and seeing if their creations could hit a target. They all came away with smiles, thanks to the hard work of education coordinator Debi Wynn.
Of course, the day would not have been such a success without the support of the museum's volunteers.
The next Open Cockpit Day will be August 18, with added festivities to mark National Aviation Day and the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Glenn L. Martin's first airplane company.
See you then!

Mary Cleave talks about her time at NASA

Mary Cleave is joined after her talk by Don Thomas (left) and Tom Jones.

Retired Shuttle astronaut and NASA administrator Mary Cleave talked about her time in space and on the ground to a large audience at Monday's Speaker Series. She entertained everyone with her stories about the astronaut selection process, her time in orbit and some of the important work she has done since.  In the audience were retired astronauts Don Thomas and Tom Jones.

Museum shows holiday spirit

Museum plane takes a spin around Wilson Point.

The Museum took a very visible place in the annual Wilson Point Fourth of July Parade with a float carrying a plane from its collection. The large model was a hit with parade-watchers and afterward children got a chance to sit in the cockpit when it was taken off the truck bed.  A big hand should go to the Museum's Aircraft Committee, headed by Jeff Michael, for making the holiday a high-flying success.