The Dallas community, including leaders in aviation and business,will gather to honor F-16 Pilot Col. Dan Caine at the Frontiers of Flight Museum Haddaway Distinguished Award Luncheon on noon Thursday, May 12 with the VIP reception starting at 11.a.m.

“As soon as we watched the second airplane enter the screen and fly into the South Tower we instantly realized that we were a nation under attack. After only a moment, which seemed like an eternity, our training kicked in and we began to respond.”  These were the words Col. Caine used to first describe his experience as the airborne on-scene commander coordinating the nation’s fighter defense resources over Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001.

Caine will be recognized with the Museum’s prestigious Haddaway Award for his heroic actions on 9/11, his military service and his aviation business acumen. He continues to serve as a Colonel and part-time National Guard F-16 pilot and is the COO of RISE, a Dallas-based aviation company.

“Dan Caine embodies the essence of the George E. Haddaway Award which is awarded to those who have distinguished themselves by their accomplishments in the realm of flight as pilots, aircrew members, corporate or political leadership, engineering, education, or literature,” says Museum President and CEO Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones.

The Frontiers of Flight Museum Haddaway Distinguished Award Luncheon celebrates accomplishments in aviation and supports the Museum’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs, which reach more than 12,000 students each year.  Visit: http://www.flightmuseum.com/haddaway-award-luncheon/.

Individual tickets sales for this exclusive event are $150, which offers guests a rare opportunity to meet the remarkable F-16 pilot and hear Caine’s first-hand story about the mission he and his fellow 121st Fight Squadron pilots were tasked with on that morning. 

Caine will also share his passion for the Museum’s STEM education programs. “As far back as I can remember I have been blessed with the wonderful gift of aviation focused STEM related educational programs.  Programs like those offered here at the Frontiers of Flight Museum set me on a course that prepared me for the many challenges of life.  One of my primary goals as a citizen of North Texas is to work with the Museum in support of its STEM education initiatives that prepare students for opportunities in aviation and space,” says Caine.

Some of those initiatives include:

• A series of recently received grants that have allowed the Museum to expand its educational and outreach programs to over 12,000 students and develop and expand the STEM content and leadership programs for young women. 

   

• Ongoing community sponsorships that support the Museum’s Flight School at Dallas Executive Airport.  “This provides high-quality scientific instruction and introduction to career opportunities in the aviation industry to economically underserved children living in Dallas,” says Caine.

   

• A successful partnership with Blue Sky Education Foundation and Dallas ISD that introduced a hands-on six-week Science of Flight program to fourth and fifth graders in 14 DISD schools.  The program has been expanded to more than 25 DISD schools.

   

  The Museum is a learning laboratory using aviation and space flight to encourage and promote student excellence in STEM education.  In addition, the Museum has over 30 aircraft from the Wright Flyer to the one-of-a-kind Flying Pancake, the Apollo 7 spacecraft, 13 galleries, and over 35,000 historical artifacts on display. The Living History program features the portrayal of historical aviators by Museum volunteer performers who present both on-site and in the community. 

Thanks to RISE, the presenting sponsor of the Frontiers of Flight Museum’s 2016 VIP Experiences Series, including the Haddaway Distinguished Award Luncheon, guests will have an opportunity to purchase a limited number of raffle tickets for a chance to win RISE flights. RISE is a premium membership-based air travel experience on private aircraft. The Haddaway Distinguished Award Luncheon is the first of three in the 2016 VIP Experiences Series offered at the Frontiers of Flight Museum that invites supporters, donors and friends to engage with the aviation and business community. Upcoming events include the celebration of the end of WWII with big band swing music at the Spirit of ‘45 Hangar Dance on Aug. 13 and an exclusive Black Tie Reception on Sept. 26 with celebrity VIPs including special guest Former Governor of Texas Rick Perry.     

Sponsors of the Frontiers of Flight Museum 2016 VIP Experiences Series include:

$35,000 Presenting Sponsor

RISE

 $25,000 Sponsors

Gena & Dan Hamilton

$10,000 Sponsors

The Alinda Hill Wikert Foundation

Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP

$5,000 Sponsors

Corgan

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Dallas Love Field

Stewart & Averille Dawson

Dickie+Associates

Herbert Minerals Ltd.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones & Ron Jones

Purewater Baths

Signature Flight Support

Southwest Airlines

UPS

UT – Dallas History of Aviation

Dr. & Mrs. David Webb, Jr.

Cindy & Tony Weber Foundation

Four sponsorship levels are available. For more information contact: Jess Hall at (214) 350-3617 or email at hall@flightmuseum.com or visit http://www.flightmuseum.com/haddaway-award-luncheon/. Individual patron tickets are $150 and based on availability.