End of the season

Visitors walk the Flight Line.

Nearly 200 people took advantage of the beautiful weather to attend the final Open Cockpit Saturday for the season.  People got a chance to sit in the 4-O-4 Mainliner or a number of military aircraft. Although the T-34C was open for display, it is not ready yet for people to climb in the cockpit.  It should be by next season.
When not outdoors, people could visit with a contingent of Rosie the Riveters, or ask aviation questions of the Ninety-Nines, an organization of women pilots. Children also got a chance to perfect their aeronautics knowledge by building their own planes.

Rosies and Ninety-Nines talk to Debi Wynn, who coordinated the activities.

Painting donated to museum

Artist Robert L. Hunt has generously donated a painting of an RB-57 and F-104 flying over mountains in Alaska.  Bob is well-know for his depictions of railroads and historic subjects and his work hangs in many collections.  He wanted to start painting airplanes and his first work now hangs in the museum.  If you would like to bid on a signed print of the beautiful picture, there will be one offered in the Silent Auction on September 28.

Museum awards scholarship

Karen Armacost, Museum board chair, greets Ashley Reinhardt, scholarship winner.

The  Museum is pleased to announce that Ashley Reinhardt, a recent graduate of Chesapeake High School in Baltimore County, has been awarded the museum’s first annual scholarship of $1,000.

Ashley lives in the Fullerton area of Baltimore County with her parents and twin sister, Sara. Ashley plans to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in the Fall and will major in photography. Faculty members describe Ashley as
outgoing, friendly, positive, determined, and a great role model for other students.

The museum initiated the scholarship in 2013 to demonstrate support for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education in the community.
Chesapeake High School has been designated a STEM academy. Ashley will be honored during the museum’s annual dinner and silent auction on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the Sparrows Point Country Club.

The aviation museum plans to offer the scholarship again next year. During the selection process, preference will be given to a high school senior who has volunteered at the museum for six months or more.

CAF Squadron arrives at Martin State

The Commemorative Air Force brought its B-29 FiFi, P-51, C-45 and Navy Helldrver torpedo aircraft to Martin State Airport on June 3-5.  Hundreds of people turned out to see the World War II vintage aircraft and some purchased rides on the planes.  Fifi made one flight on Wednesday and people were thrilled just to see the last flying B-29 takeoff and land.  The other craft flew all three days and the sounds of rotary engines often filled the air.

Work starting on new structure

First, you start with the footers.

Work has begun on the temporary structure at Strawberry Point that eventually will replace the trailers that have held tools and material for years.  The footers have been dug and, after a state inspection, the anchors will be placed. The 40-by-60 foot fabric-covered structure eventually will be used for storage and  some restoration work

Museum members visit museum

Tour group listens to docent Jane Michael talk about the C Building at Lockheed Martin Corporation.

About 50 members of the Baltimore Museum of Industry and their children got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum as part of an area exchange program.
Visitors got a personal tour of the main museum and those interested got a peek into the Museum archives, which contain over 100,000 images, a large collection of aviation books and numerous artifacts from the Glenn Martin Co. and Maryland aviation history.
Activities kept the children busy while adults got a chance to see the Museum's Gallery and Restoration Center in the basement of C Building at the Lockheed Martin Corporation. There they saw historic aircraft and two of the long-term project being undertaken: a full-size replica of the Martin MS-1 submarine sea plane and a World War II training glider being built by EAA Chapter 143.  Among the aircraft on display was "The Spirit of Maryland."
Everyone got a chance to visit the Strawberry Point flight line and look inside the Museum's TA-4J fighter and RB-57A bomber.
GLM members will get a chance to see the BMI when a members-only tour is scheduled for Sunday June 30.  If you're a GLM Museum member and want to go, contact the museum at 410-682-6122 or send  us an email at martinmuseum@gmail.com.  There is  no cost, but you have to provide you own transportation.

Museum takes program to Harford County

Harford County third graders have questions after presentation.

Thanks to support from the Dresher Foundation, the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum is offering its outreach education program “From Sand Dunes to the Moon” to third-grade classes at Harford County elementary schools at a discounted fee of only $1 per student. This interactive activity celebrating flight and Maryland's contribution to the pioneering days of manned space exploration is designed to inspire students to explore the future of aviation while they discover and learn to appreciate the technological wonders of the past. With rising gas prices often bringing bus transportation costs higher than Museum program fees, making field trip costs often unaffordable for students, the generosity of the Dresher Foundation has enabled the Museum to take aviation education into Harford County classrooms.

If you are a Harford County third-grade teacher who would like us to visit your school, click here.