Train garden is back!

It's that time of year again when the Museum expands its scope to include ground transportation, mainly trains! Come see our evolving Christmas garden that includes both land and air facets. This year, the layout boasts more references to the Martin Company in Middle River.

The garden is included with regular admission to the museum, Wednesday through Saturday 11 AM to 3 PM.  You also get to see the big planes at Strawberry Point!

Buz Carpenter wows the crowd

Buz Carpenter, right, talks to board member Ted Cooper after the meeting.

Air Force Academy grad and retired Col. Buz Carpenter was the Museum's guest lecturer Nov. 7 as part of the Monday Speaker Series. He answered a barrage of questions from the audience and after giving a first-hand look at the exotic bird. He gave a special tribute to "Kelly" Johnson, the engineer behind the Blackbird and many other iconic aircraft.  Buz logged nearly 700 hours in the SR-71 as a pilot and instructor.  The "Blackbird" cruised at 2,100 miles per hour as the nation's premiere reconnaissance aircraft. The SR-71 he flew is now on display at the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia. Buz also flew the C-141, RF-4C, and T-38 aircraft, while flying 150 combat missions in Vietnam.
Before the talk, the took a tour of the museum's flight line at Strawberry Point and pointed out all the aircraft he had piloted or had taken a ride in.

Buz Carpenter at the Museum

Air Force Academy grad and retired Col. Buz Carpenter will be the Museum's guest lecturer Nov. 7 as part of the Monday Speaker Series. He logged nearly 700 hours in the SR-71 as a pilot and instructor.  The "Blackbird" cruised at 2,100 miles per hour as the nation's premiere reconnaissance aircraft. The SR-71 he flew is now on display at the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia. Buz also flew the C-141, RF-4C, and T-38 aircraft, while flying 150 combat missions in Vietnam.
The 7 PM talk is FREE and open to the public at the Lockheed Martin auditorium, 2323 Eastern Blvd. Middle River 21220. You need a photo ID and those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Thousands attend Festival

The Museum's Vietnam-era Huey got a lot of attention.

Ground crew salutes the Blue Angels as they leave for the show over Fort McHenry.

The F-35 thrilled the crowd with its flyovers when it returned from the show.

The Museum's A-7 was at the center of the show grounds.

Thousands enjoyed spectacular Fall weather to attend the  Maryland Fleet Week Air Show  at Martin State Airport the weekend of October 15/16. Several aircraft participated in the air show besides the Blue Angels. Visitors at the airport could see a number of aircraft up close, including the museum's Huey, T-33, F-4 and A7.

There was plenty of food and vendors to satisfy everyone,

The Blue Angels may return in two years.

The next generation

The Monday Speaker Series featured a presentation by Massimo Stiavelli, mission head of the James Webb Space Telescope. "Massimo Stiavelli is a world-renowned astrophysicist in the area of the high-redshift universe, which JWST is specifically designed to probe," according to the Space Telescope Science Institute.

Massimo detailed some of the areas where the Webb will be focused. Scheduled launch is October 218. A European Space AgencyAriane rocket will lift the telescope into a location about a million miles from Earth.  An appropriate U.S. rocket would not have been ready and tested in time for the planned liftoff. Although the Webb is bigger than Hubble, its mass is less because of developments in new materials and  systems.  The Webb telescope's mirror is 6.5 meters, almost three times the 2.5 meter mirror on the Hubble. The maximum size of the mirror was dictated by the launch vehicle's limit.  

Thanks again to Lockheed Martin for use of its auditorium.

Tons of fun in Hangar One

Attendees enjoyed the food and music.

Partyers filled Hangar One for the annual Dinner Fund-raiser for the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum on September 17.  Lockheed Martin received a special award for its many years of support for the museum. Also honored for their contributions to the museum were volunteers "Ernie"  Pascal, Debi Wynn and Joe Corteal. Maryland Public Television supplied giant photos of those who appeared in its documentary saluting Vietnam-era veterans, a theme of the dinner.
Thanks to all those whose attendance helps supports the museum and its scholarship program.

Monday Speaker Series

Maj. Gen. Brereton played a key role in the mission.

Retired Air Force historian Roger  Miller was our guest September 12 when he discussed the air raids on the Ploesti oil fields in World War II. Roger interviewed  participants of the raid and wanted to set the record straight on the controversial mission.

Elaine Harmon buried at Arlington

Elaine Harmon, wearing her WASP
 leather jacket in 1944.

Elaine Danforth Harmon, pioneer aviator, was finally buried with honors Wednesday at Arlington National Cemetery.
She earned her private pilot license with the Civilian Pilot Training Program in College Park. In 1944 she became an Women Airforce Service Pilot, where she ferried aircraft, including P-51 Mustangs, and taught men to become military pilots.
Her wish was to be buried at Arlington, but was denied the honor. Elaine's family, especially her granddaughter, started a campaign to get the rules changed.  Congress passed a law last year to open Arlington to women who served in World War II. The legislation was spearheaded by Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), who was the nation's first female combat pilot.
The Baltimore native, who died last year,  participated a few years ago in the Monday Speaker Series.

First Flight takes off

Students study material before class.

Eleven middle and high school students showed up for the Museum's inaugural First Flight program on Saturday. First Flight is designed to give young people an introduction to the world of aviation and give them a look at possible careers and careers paths.  The day included a flight in a Cessna, a first for all of the students.  A special thanks to the Grumman Corp., and others who made the event possible, including our dedicated volunteers.

Remembering Rosies

Rosies gathered at the museum to remember what it was like 70 years ago. 

A few Rosie the Riveters gathered at the Museum for their regular get-together. They enjoyed telling what it was like working or "surviving" during World War II.  As one Rosie put it: We didn't think we were special or would be honored 70 years later for doing what we thought was our part to help win the war. On Labor Day, Sept. 5, people across the country will ring bells far and wide at 1 PM to remember the working women of World War II. If you would like to participate, contact the museum or your local Rosie the Riveter organization.

Last Open Cockpit of season

Family gets ready to have their girls's photo taken in Museum's Huey.

Saturday, August 13, was the last Open Cockpit event this season and nearly 200 people braved the scorching heat to visit the Museum and sit in historic aircraft. A breeze helped mitigate the torrid temperatures somewhat. The State Police MedEvac team opened its hangar to allow visitors a shady respite and chance to see its latest helicopter up close.

Because of the heat, the Museum arranged for an ice cream truck to park nearby to allow visitors access to a cool treat after visiting Strawberry Point.

Thanks to all the visitors and many volunteers who braved the heat to make this another successful event!

Long-time supporter Harvey Hodgin dies

Harvey enjoyed meeting pilot Bob Coolbaugh at the 100th anniversary celebration of the Martin Company in  2012.

Harvey (Victor) Hodgin, 102, long-time Museum member and a Martineer for a number of years, has died. Harvey was a regular fixture at the Museum and enthralled volunteers and visitors with his stories about his years in aviation, beginning with his first airplane ride with his father in the 1920s, to his working association with Glenn Martin and other famous personalities. He was still consulting on aviation well into his 80s.

Harvey was very generous to the Museum with his time and knowledge and his weekly visits with an offering of cookies are missed.  For an enlightening look at Harvey's life. click HERE to read an interview that appeared in the Winter 2007/8 issue of the Museum's Newsletter.

July Open Cockpit

Students get ready to jump in the cockpit of T-33.

Scores of families braved the heat and humidity on Saturday to enjoy another Open Cockpit at Strawberry Point.  As  a bonus, people got to tour the State Police MeEvac helicopter and the airport's fire truck.  Everyone seemed to emnhoy themselves
, despite the heat.
There is only one more Open Cokpit this season planned August 13, so plan ahead.

Sen. Kathy Szeliga (from left), Museum chair Jane Michael, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Sen. J.B. Jennings and Museum archvist Stn Piet stand in front of B-26 replica used for education.

The Museum hosted state officials Friday and gave them a quick tour of the museum and Strawberry Point static line. Comptroller Peter Franchot, whose father was a WWII airman, got a close-up look at all the things the Museum is doing.  Joining him were state Sens. Kathy Szeliga and J.B. Jennings.  All were impressed what the all-volunteer organization had accomplished and offered encouragement for its future.

Thanks for attending LZ Maryland

Hundreds of visitors checked out the Museum's Huey.

The Museum's Huey got a lot of attention at the State Fairgrounds in Timonium for LZMaryland this weekend. We got a chance to talk to hundreds of people interested in aviation and scores of veterans who flew in Hueys.
 http://vietnam.mpt.org/lzmaryland/

Author Robert Dorr dies

Robert F. Dorr

Robert F. Dorr, a prolific book author and military columnist who wrote about his passion for aviation, died June 12 after a long battle with brain cancer.
An Air Force veteran, Bob was a strong supporter of the Museum and was a regular lecturer at the Monday Speaker Series, where he invariably had a new book to describe. He submitted the last of his hundreds of magazine articles only weeks before his death.
Bob generously donated much of his aviation research collection to the Museum's archives and word quickly spread worldwide that his life's work was available to researchers. His collection is open, by appointment.

Open Cockpit hosts hundreds

Visitors line up to sit in cockpit of Museum's T-33.

Nearly 400 people took advantage of good weather for a chance to sit in several aircraft at Strawberry Point at the June Open Cockpit Saturday. Also there were several units from the airport fire company. As a bonus, visitors also got a chance to see Take Me Home Huey, which is making a stop at the Museum to promote veterans and awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The next Open Cockpit is July 9, weather permitting.

Open Cockpit this week

Get a chance to sit in a historic Huey.

The museum has scheduled its third Open Cockpit event of the season this Saturday, when visitors get a chance to see historic aircraft up close and sit in a fighter, bomber or 1950s-era airliner. Admission is $5 for those 12 and over, $1 for others. As always, the event is weather dependent, because cockpits cannot  be open in the event of rain.  Check back or call for the latest and hope for sunny skies Saturday. We have extended the hours to 10:30 AM to 3 PM.  Be sure to arrive early.

Special Huey is here

Artist Steve Maloney’s mixed-media sculpture Take Me Home Huey takemehomehuey.org is a transformed boneyard U.S. Army Huey that served as an air ambulance during the Vietnam War.  The helicopter was shot down in 1969 during a medical rescue in Vietnam and put back together by Light Horse Legacy. The aircraft arrived Friday and will stay until June 17. Stop by the museum and see this historic exhibition. 

Crowd enjoys Open Cockpit

Future pilots check out cockpit of Huey, one of the most popular stops. 

Visitors enjoyed better-than-predicted weather.

Over 500 people of all sizes took advantage of the first Open Cockpit of the season to enjoy beautiful spring weather and aircraft at Strawberry Point. Among the most popular craft was the T-34 "Shark" trainer and the UH-1 "Huey."  If you missed this chance to sit in historic fighters, bombers and 1950s-era airliner, join us June 11, weather permitting, for the next event.

A tree grows in Aero Acres

Grace Henninger gets ready to help with planting of white dogwood.

Aero Acres in Middle River was the site of a special tree planting My 14 to honor Rosie the Riveters. Aero Acres was a development built by Glenn Martin to house WWII defense workers.  With the help of the Aero Acres Community Association a donated white dogwood was planted in a park on Fuselage Avenue. The event mirrors a tradition started in the Netherlands last year and planned to  be copied in communities across the county.

A special day for members

Bo and Ryder got to try out the reproduction B-26 at the museum for the special event.

Several members and their families took advantage of the beautiful weather to tour the museum on Member-Only day. Areas that the public rarely sees, including the archives and C-Building basement restoration center, were open. Volunteers led tours and answered questions. Some people took the opportunity to join on the spot and a few brought their grandchildren to explore the museum and its aircraft on the Strawberry Point static line.  Everyone enjoyed the leisurely atmosphere and attention they got on the personal tours. Join now so you don't miss the next special day!

Museum springs into life

Speaker Series Returns

Veteran astronaut and Essex native Tom Jones was the first guest as the Monday Speaker Series returned for its 14th year on April 4. Tom answered questions from the audience, such as his response above food in space.  Tom also highlighted some questions from his latest book, Ask the Astronaut: A Galaxy of Astonishing Answers to Your Questions on Spaceflight. The book is aimed at readers 11 to 17, but anyone can learn from  it.

Museum visits the Guard

Museum volunteers get a display ready for viewing.

Museum volunteers got a chance to share their passion as they took part in Drill Weekend at the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard at the Warfield Air National Guard Base.  Several people took time to hear about the museum and its volunteer programs.

Building a B-26

Young visitors put together the fuselage of a Martin B-26.

In February, dozens of 5th through middle school family member assembled a student-sized portion of the fuselage of a Martin B-26. The "work shifts" ran 11AM to 2 PM. The program was designed to foster teamwork and teach how aircraft were assembled during World War II. Now that the program has had its test flight, it will be returning as a regular feature for school groups. The museum can always use volunteers to help with the program. Contact the museum, if interested.