Apollo 13 and Apollo 7 Pilots Join Former Stars Goalie to Unveil New Exhibit and Support Museum’s Space Education Program

The stars will come out at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, 6911 Lemmon Ave., when NASA astronauts join a former Dallas Stars player to launch a new exhibit and an out-of-this-world space education initiative staring at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24. Visit:   http://www.flightmuseum.com/exploration-space/

This celestial evening reception, titled Exploration Space, will feature guest speaker Capt. Fred Haise, the Lunar Module Pilot ofApollo 13.

Col. Walter Cunningham, the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 7, and Marty Turco, CEO of C5 Youth Foundation of Texas, NHL All-Star Goalie and former Dallas Stars #35, will join Capt. Haise for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Museum’s new planetarium, “SPace Odyssey Capsule,” also known as “SPOC.”

Exploration Space is a fundraising event that will include a VIP reception with Capt. Haise, Col. Cunningham, and Mr. Turco. The ribbon-cutting ceremony of SPOC will be followed by an opportunity to enjoy viewing the stars in the planetarium.

SPOC is a portable digital planetarium system which uses innovative nightshade simulation and visualization software for teaching and exploring astronomy, Earth science, and related topics. This 6-meter dome planetarium features a unique fisheye lens and allows guests to have a 360-degree visual experience offering perfect viewing from any position. 

“Since SPOC is so versatile, it’s sure to dazzle our budding astronomers as they are taken on a tour of the Solar System,” says Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, Frontiers of Flight Museum CEO.  She explains attendees will enter the dome and be introduced to a "star filled" sky. SPOC’s software is extremely powerful and allows guests to visit the moon and planets in our Solar System, or even leave the Milky Way galaxy.

“Our amazing SPOC planetarium is a vibrant addition to our space exploration initiative at the Museum,” says Sutterfield-Jones. “Thanks to this new exhibit, students will learn how to identify every planet in our solar system in dramatic "flights" towards each world. They will also be introduced to Greek mythological characters and see how these heroes of the past can be found in the stars. Visitors of all ages will witness the night sky in different seasons and from different global perspectives.”

The Museum aims to increase students’ understanding of space exploration as part of the new space education initiative. “SPOC is particularly exciting because of its potential to encourage youngsters to consider careers in aerospace,” says Sutterfield-Jones.  “The North Texas community as a whole and the aerospace industry in particular will benefit from more young people pursuing STEM careers and aerospace jobs. The Frontiers of Flight Museum hopes to inspire kids beyond the classroom and encourage them to explore a new world of possibilities.”

The Museum offers its thanks to RISE, presenting sponsor of the Frontiers of Flight Museum’s 2016 VIP Experiences Series, including the Exploration Space reception.   Exploration Space is the final event 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. Previous events included the Haddaway Distinguished Award Luncheon and the Red Hot Rhythms Casino and Dance.

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

Presenting VIP Sponsor, RISE

Gena & Dan Hamilton

The Alinda Hill Wikert Foundation

Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP

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

DETAILS: EXPLORATION SPACE @ Monday, Oct.  24

5:30 PM VIP Reception

6:00 PM General Reception

6:30 PM Ribbon-Cutting CeremonyAttire: Business

Individual tickets: $100; various sponsorship packages available.  For info visit: http://www.flightmuseum.com/exploration-space/or call (214) 350-3600.

BIO BRIEFS

Fred W. Haise

Fred Haise began his 20-year NASA career as an Aeronautical Research Pilot at NASA’s Lewis Research Center in 1959.  After being named Outstanding Graduate of the Air Force’s Aerospace Research Pilot School Class 64A, he served as a research pilot at the NASA Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base before being selected as an Astronaut in 1966.  Mr. Haise served as backup crew for the Apollo 8, Apollo 11, and Apollo 16 Missions.  He flew as the Lunar Module Pilot on the aborted Apollo 13 Mission in 1970 that was dramatized in the Hollywood movie titled Apollo 13.  He also flew five flights as the Commander of the Space Shuttle Enterprise in 1977 for the Approach and Landing Test Program at Edwards Air Force Base.

Among his awards are the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Haley Astronautics Award, the General Thomas D. White Space Trophy, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots Kinchloe “Test Pilot of the Year” Award, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Award, the NASA Special Achievement Award, the Aerospace Walk of Honor and the US Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Walt Cunningham

Walter Cunningham has enjoyed careers in the military, civilian government service and private industry. He holds a Master’s Degree in Physics from UCLA and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Business. He began his flying career as a Marine Corps fighter pilot, flying night fighters in Korea (VMF-513) in 1954.

The remainder of his flying career was in active and reserve day fighter squadrons. He retired after 24 years with the rank of Colonel and 4,500 hours of flying time.

He was selected as an Astronaut in 1963, where he served on the primary crew of Apollo 2 (cancelled) and backup crew for Apollo 1 (cancelled due to a disastrous fire during a launch pad test).  In October 1968, he was the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 7, the first manned test of the Apollo Program. Apollo 7 is still the longest, most ambitious and most successful first flight of any new flying machine. Cunningham's last assignment at the Johnson Space Center was as Chief of the Skylab Branch of the Fight Crew Directorate.

Marty Turco

Marty Turco, Former Dallas Stars goalie, currently serves as CEO of C5 Youth Foundation of Texas.  Turco spent the first nine of his 11 NHL seasons as the starting goaltender for the Dallas Stars and currently holds the franchise record for regular season games played, wins, and shutouts.

He is a three-time All Star and won the Dallas Stars community service award six of the nine seasons he was with the team. Turco also earned the Eighth Annual NHL Foundation Player Award in 2006 for his charitable impact and contributions. Since retirement, Turco has turned his attention to various business ventures and continues his charitable work with C5 Youth Foundation of Texas.

The Frontiers of Flight Museum’s Moon Day 2016, sponsored by Beal Bank, blasted off with galaxies of family fun on July 16.  As the biggest annual space exposition in Texas, the event featured kids talking live to an astronaut aboard the International Space Station and guest speaker Apollo 7 Astronaut Walt Cunningham.

In 2009, Moon Day was created in Dallas by Frontiers of Flight Museum and the National Space Society of North Texas as an annual event to celebrate space exploration on or near the anniversary of the first Moon landing. The festival was a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) focused space-themed public event, which continues attract participants across North Texas and beyond. Moon Day 2016 commemorated the 47th anniversary of the first lunar landing, which took place when Apollo 11 touched down on July 20, 1969.

Visitors enjoyed a full day of activities featuring space-related displays from three dozen exhibitors. During Moon Day 2016, more than 380 students earned a Moon Day Patch, 120 Girl Scouts earned a STEM Center Patch and the Museum distributed 55 Boy Scouts Work Books.

One of the highlights of the community event was a live question-and-answer session between local students and International Space Station Expedition 48 Commander Jeffery Williams, who answered the students’ questions and interacted with the audience.  

Moon Day’s featured guest speaker was Col. Walt Cunningham, Lunar Module Pilot of the 1968 Apollo 7 Mission and the sole surviving crew member.  Cunningham talked about the incredible accomplishments of the Apollo program to a capacity crowd.

“While the anniversary of the first Moon landing serves as a reason to celebrate, the Frontiers of Flight Museum and the National Space Society of North Texas created this annual event to showcase the present and future of space exploration,” said Bruce Bleakley, Museum Director of the Frontiers of Flight Museum. “Our extensive content was provided by local, regional, and national space-related organizations, who work—as we do—to inspire all ages to embrace a scientific and technological future.”

About the Frontiers of Flight Museum

The Frontiers of Flight Museum is conveniently located just north of downtown on Lemmon Avenue at the southeast side of Dallas Love Field Airport, north of Mockingbird Lane. Housed in a modern 100,000- square-foot facility, the Museum provides a focal point to explore the history and progress of aviation, as mankind continues to pursue going higher, faster and farther. Hours of operation: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults $10; Seniors (65+) $8; Youths/Students (3-17) $7 and children under 3 are free. For more information, visit http://www.flightmuseum.com/

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.

Tour Features WWII Bombers and Fighter Aircraft; Highlights Interactive Displays, Unique Flying Experiences and Special Guests 

The Frontiers of Flight Museum, 6911 Lemmon Ave. at the southeast corner of Love Field Airport, will host an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime flying experience and exhibit that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser for the whole family! The museum will feature the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour in Dallas March 23-27 in honor of our WWII Veterans.

The Wings of Freedom Tour, Presented by the Frontiers of Flight Museum, will bring extremely rare bomber and fighter aircraft to North Texas for a local living history exhibit as part of 110-city nationwide tour. Best of all, visitors at the Frontiers of Flight Museum will not only get a chance to view the interactive display, they will actually have an opportunity to “fly into history” aboard these legendary aircraft.  Visit: http://www.flightmuseum.com/event/wings-of-freedom-tour-2016/.

Aviation enthusiasts of all ages will be “flying high” when they see the vintage Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” Nine-O-Nine WWII Heavy Bomber, Consolidated B-24J “Liberator” Witchcraft, the B-25J “Mitchell” Tondelayo and the P-51C “Mustang” Betty Jane, known as one of the greatest piston-engine fighters ever built.

The Wings of Freedom Tour at the Frontiers of Flight Museum will offer participants bragging rights to explore these majestic aircraft inside and out and learn more about these unique and rare treasures of aviation history. The B-17 is one of only 10 in flying condition in the United States, and the B-24J is the sole remaining example of its type flying in the world.

This year, the B-25 will join the collection of restored vintage bombers to soar over Dallas skies more than 50 years after its service life. The B-25 gained a lasting place in aviation history as the aircraft used in the Doolittle Raid, the first American attack made on the Japanese mainland after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Special Guest Appearances

As part of the Wings of Freedom festivities, the Frontiers of Flight Museum will host special guest appearances with Staff Sergeant Homer Hogues, an original Tuskegee Airman; Elinor Otto, one of the original Rosie the Riveters; and WWII pilot Captain Jerry Yellin

Wednesday, March 23 @ Noon

Staff Sergeant Homer Hogues, an original Tuskegee Airman, will be at the Museum on Wednesday, March 23 as the Collings Foundation’s aircraft arrive at approximately noon.  Visitors will be able to meet Sgt. Hogues on this special day, one day after the 75th anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen’s founding, and hear about his experiences with this famous organization.”

Saturday, March 26 @ 2:30 p.m.

Elinor Otto is one of the original “Rosie the Riveters” who answered the nation’s call for women factory workers during World War II. After WWII ended, Otto worked in other jobs before returning to aircraft factory work.  She continued to build airplanes at Boeing for almost 50 years, working on the C-17 “Globemaster II” airlift plane down to the final one to roll off the assembly line. She retired at the age of 95, and is known as the “Last Rosie the Riveter.”

Sunday, March 27 @ 2 p.m.

Captain Yellin  has the unique distinction of having flown the final combat mission of World War II on August 14, 1945 – the day the war ended.  Tragically, his good friend and wingman 2nd Lt. Phillip Schlamberg lost his life on their final mission–the last American combat casualty of WWII. Schlamberg is the great uncle of actress Scarlett Johansson, who takes every opportunity to support veterans of WWII. Capt. Yellin was inducted into the U.S. Air Force Hall of Fame with the late Louie Zamperini in August 2014 at the age of 90.

Admission to the Museum is $12 for adults and $7 for children under 12 and includes access to up-close viewing and tours through the inside of the aircraft. Some adventurous fans will have an incredible opportunity accomplish one of their “bucket list” goals by actually taking a 30-minute flight aboard these rare aircraft. Flights on either the B-17, B-24J or B-25 are $450 per person. P-51 flights are $2,200 for a half hour and $3,200 for a full hour. The P-51C flights give would-be pilots a chance to get some “stick time” in the world’s greatest piston-engine fighter!

The Wings of Freedom Tour, Presented by the Frontiers of Flight Museum, will arrive at Dallas Love Field at 1:30 PM on March 23 and will be on display at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field until the evening of March 27. Hours of ground tours and display are: 2:00 PM through 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23; 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Thursday, March 24 through Sunday, March 27. The 30-minute flight experiences are normally scheduled before and after the ground tour times above.

For more information call: 214-350-3600; email info@flightmuseum.com; or visit www.flightmuseum.com. To reserve a flight experience call the Collings Foundation: 1-800-568-8924.

Museum Shares Artifacts of African American History and Culture Online

Starting today, the Frontiers of Flight Museum’s Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit is viewable online by people around the world, due to a new partnership between the Google Cultural Institute and the Museum. Thanks to this new virtual exhibition, users can journey through the history of America’s first African American World War II combat aviators known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

The Museum is proud to join with cultural organizations across America in an exploration of African American history and culture. This and many other treasurers of the Museum are just a few clicks away at  https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/exhibit/wwii-tuskegee-airmen/UwICPDc69EwsLQ.

Virtual Tour with Street View

Viewers can explore the Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit and other aviation artifacts through the virtual Street View feature. People can move around the entire Frontiers of Flight Museum virtually, selecting works that interest them and clicking to discover more or diving into high-resolution images, where available. By stitching together the 360-degree images from the specially designed Street View trolley, virtual visitors can navigate the entire state-of-the-art 100,000 sq. ft. Museum.

Digital Exhibit

A specially curated virtual exhibit of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II invites visitors to explore the story of how African American pilots and crews overcame racial prejudice at home to become one of America’s elite fighter units in history. Often misunderstood and looked down upon because of their race, American heavy bomber crews soon came to respect the Tuskegee “Red Tails” as they escorted them deep into the heart of Nazi-occupied Germany.

This digital exhibition tells the story of these brave airmen. Included is an authentic World War II Tuskegee Airmen’s uniform, a Rolls Royce Merlin aircraft engine, detailed aircraft models, unique lithographs, and interactive geographical maps of Tuskegee Airmen missions in the European Theater of World War II.

Frontiers of Flight Museum CEO Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Google Cultural Institute and make our Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit available for all to enjoy. We recently lost a dear friend of the Museum, Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Calvin Spann, whose medals and commendations are a vital part of our exhibit. This opportunity will allow visitors from around the world to read about his incredible story of perseverance and courage over the skies of Europe during World War II.”

About the Frontiers of Flight Museum

The Frontiers of Flight Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate located in Dallas, Texas, introduces visitors of all ages to the rich diversity of aviation and space flight history. The significant collection includes over thirty aircraft and space vehicles and the stories behind them. The mission of the Museum is to educate, motivate, and inspire all ages through aerospace history and innovation with unique and excellent exhibits, collections, programming, and STEM curriculum.

About Google Cultural Institute  

The Google Cultural Institute and its partners are putting the world’s cultural treasures at the fingertips of Internet users and are building tools that allow the cultural sector to share more of its diverse heritage online. The Google Cultural Institute has partnered with more than 1,000 institutions giving a platform to over 250,000 thousand artworks and a total of 6 million photos, videos, manuscripts and other documents of art, culture and history.  

 For more information about the Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit at the Frontiers of Flight Museum visit: http://www.flightmuseum.com/exhibits/tuskegee-airmen-exhibit/ or call (214) 350-3600.

 More on the Frontiers of Flight Museum

The Frontiers of Flight Museum is conveniently located just north of downtown on Lemmon Avenue at the southeast side of Dallas Love Field Airport, north of Mockingbird Lane. Housed in a modern 100,000- square-foot facility, the Museum provides a focal point to explore the history and progress of aviation, as mankind continues to pursue going higher, faster and farther. Hours of operation: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults $10; Seniors (65+) $8; Youths/Students (3-17) $7 and children under 3 are free. For more information, visit http://www.flightmuseum.com/.