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. 

Season finale

People enjoyed great weather and some special visitors -- a Med-Evac helicopter at left and ANG Warthog at right --  at October Open Cockpit.

An enthusiastic crowd enjoyed a balmy October day at the Museum's last Open Cockpit event of the season. Added attractions included a new State Police Med-Evac helicopter and a Maryland Air National Guard A-10 Warthog.  An airport fire pumper also provided a demonstration of its fire-fighting capabilities.  Some people also got to see the helicopter crew called to an emergency and take off.

See you next year, when we plan more exciting Open Cockpit days!