- TRIBUTE TO TUSKEGEE HEROES-A famous squadron from the past will play a role in the future. The legendary 100th Flying Training Squadron was recently reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve out of Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. In 1942, the 100th FTS was known as the 100th Fighter Squadron and was one of the four original all black flying squadrons from Tuskegee Army Air Base, AL. With the reactivation, two former Tuskegee units will call Randolph AFB home.
- NASM DONATION LARGEST IN SMITHSONIAN HISTORY-The National Air & Space Museum’s expansion plans took a giant leap forward this fall when American businessman Steven F. Udvar-Hazy announced he would donate $60 million to help build a museum annex. UdvarHazy is giving the money towards an annex to be built at Dulles International Airport. The $60 million gift is part of a $130 million campaign to pay for the Dulles annex, which will house NASM’s largest spacecraft and airplanes.
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AVIATOR: Aviator Evelyn Johnson turned 90 years young on Nov. 4, 1999. She was honored in November by Woman Pilot magazine as a recipient of one of its annual Woman Pilot Awards. The award recognizes the unsung heroines who are doing extraordinary things for aviation. Evelyn is a long time personal friend of TxDOT Aviation Division Director Dave Fulton, having served on his state aviation board during his tenure as director of aviation in Tennessee.
- JOHN GLENN-THE THIRD AMERICAN IN SPACE: Our oldest space traveler has published his autobiography on the anniversary of his return to space at age 77. “John Glenn: A Memoir” hit the bookstores recently and offers his take on how a “straight arrow” may have cost him the honor of being “First American in Space.” When NASA asked the original seven astronauts to vote on who should be in the first in space if they couldn’t go, Alan Sheppard won- and Glenn says he lost because he’d been scolding his astromates about their skirt-chasing.
- YOUNG-AT-HEART PILOTS IS OLD NEWS: Pilot Ralph Charles is still in flyable condition, too. Charles, of Somerset Ohio, celebrated his 100th birthday in October. Happy Birthday, indeed!
- “MASTER MECHANIC AWARD” PRESENTATION: Charles Taylor, from Ranger, Texas, was honored this fall during a fly-in sponsored by EAA Chapter 956 at Ranger Airport. This award was initiated by the Federal Aviation Administration and which recognizes mechanics-unsung heroes of aviation- who have been in aviation maintenance for 50 or more years. Bernard Mullins, FAA representative, from the Fort Worth regional office presented the award.
- EAA AIRVENTURE ’99 GRAND CHAMPIONS & MAJOR AWARD WINNERS FROM TEXAS:
- l) Classic Aircraft-Best Custom Class D (236 hp & up): Dave Cole, Wilis, Texas, Cessna 195B (N195S); and Best Beechcraft: John Pinson, Harker Heights, Texas, Beech 35 (N3935N),
- 2) Contemporary Aircraft-Outstanding In Type-Beech Multi Engine: Ronald Hyde, Kennedy, Texas, 1959 Beech El 85S (N3 l 7MH) and Cessna 310: R. Dean Callan, Southlake, Texas 1958 Cessna 310 (N6644B),
- 3) Other Major Awards- Paul Poberezny Founder’s Award for Classic Homebuilt: T. R. Meyer, Lewsiville, Texas, Meyers Little Toot (N62TR), 4) EAA Aviation Foundation Scholarship AwardsTeledyne Continental Aviation Excellence Scholarship: Robert Rothman, Rockwall, Texas, and Spartan Scholarships: Phillip S. Hull, Canyon Lake, Texas; Roy Sagebiel , Willow City, Texas; Jeremy D. Spence, San Antonio, Texas; Alexander Rosado, San Antonio, Texas; Jackson Barroso, San Antonio, Texas, and John R. Rodriguez, San Marcos Texas.
- HARDIN COUNTY HAWTHORNE FIELD AIRPORT (Kountze/Silsbee): Southern Avionics Company of Beaumont donated and installed at no charge a nondirectional radio beacon which will emit a continuous identifier allowing planes to locate the airport. The beacon replaces a 20-year-old beacon.
- AERIAL FIREFIGHTERS: Carl and Carla Payne with their Air Tractor were recently staged at the Smithville Airport ready to respond to calls to drop retardant directly on a fire to help extinguish it, or in front of a fire to help prevent its spread. Their plane is classified as a “Single Engine Air Tanker,” which can carry 800 gallons of fertilizer and water mix that happens to work as a fire retardant. The Air Tractor was made in Olney by Leland Snow; it is powered by a 1,325 horsepower engine and a gross weight of 16,000 lbs.
- MASTER CFI-Carla Corrine Dedera of Giddings, Texas has been designated as a Master CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor) by the National Association of Flight Instructors. Congratulations Carla!
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
(979) 317-2000