Lieutenant General Thomas Patten Stafford

(USAF, Retired)

2011 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy Winner recipient

click here for press release

In his long and distinguished career, General Stafford has been a fighter pilot, flight instructor, distinguished test pilot, pioneering astronaut, aerospace record setter, an author, an advisor to federal agencies and U.S. Presidents alike. He established a successful pattern that leads directly from the Gemini missions to the International Space Station. His Apollo X mission was a pathfinder that laid the foundation for the successful lunar landings. Today's international cooperation and partnership in space was forged upon the historic handshake he offered his (then) Soviet counterpart during the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975. As an advisor to NASA, he had a profound influence on the team that successfully repaired the Hubble Space Telescope, thereby providing a treasure trove of data and spectacular pictures, forever altering our understanding of the universe. While Commanding General at Edwards AFB, he presided over the development of some of the most important military aircraft in recent history including the B-1A, and F-15. As the US Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisitions, he conceived of and urged the development the stealth aircraft technology which later led to the F-117, B-2 and F-22 Raptor. (from the NAA press release)

” Since 1948, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy has been presented to honor the memory and spirit of Orville and Wilbur Wright. The trophy is awarded annually to a living American for “significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States.” The Aero Club's Wright Memorial Dinner takes place each year on the Friday night prior to or on the anniversary of flight, December 17. This year, the dinner is schedule to take place on Friday evening, December 16th."

A few Images from the evening...

Gen. Stafford and Neil Armstrong

Gen. Stafford and Eugene Cernan

John and Annie Glenn

Gen. Stafford and Jonathan Gaffney, NAA

Aero Club President Monte Belger

Members of the 2011 Aero Club of Washington Board of Governors at the Wright Memorial Dinner.

Aero Club Foundation teams with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) to get TransTech Academy students (Cardozo High School, DC) up in the air in Winchester.

To see all of the images, follow the link below.

WinchesterAirportTrip_Apr2011

ACW Community Activities

Cardozo Trans Tech Academy Kids FLY!

A group of students and staff from TransTech Academy flew from Washington Dulles to New York’s JFK airport and back to Dulles on June 10, 2010, courtesy of JetBlue Airways, to visit JetBlue’s facilities at JFK. The group saw the airline’s control room, air traffic tower, and new aircraft hangar and shops. They also toured JetBlue’s new 26-gate Terminal Five, including baggage and passenger service areas. TransTech’s coordinator, Shirley McCall, called the trip “phenomenal and a once-in-a-lifetime experience!”

The Aero Club of Washington Foundation worked with local EAA pilots to get these eager Cardozo HS students up in the air. Here's a few shots from an exciting day!

On Friday, May 7th, a group of fifteen students went flying in small single engine airplanes. These flight opportunities were made possible through the EAA Young Eagles program; and with the help of Jim Roberts, a member of the Aero Club of Washington Foundation’s executive committee, and the Front Royal Airport, these students were able to experience something truly amazing. There is nothing quite like flying, especially in a small single engine aircraft.

High Flying Board Member, Dik Daso, Helps Bring Tuskegee Stearman to DC.

Dik Daso, National Air and Space Museum liaison to the Aero Club of Washington, has been working for more than two years to find a World War II aircraft flown by the famous Tuskegee Airmen. On August 2nd that airplane, a PT-13D Stearman that flew at Moton Field, Tuskegee, Alabama, arrived in DC. The links below will take you through the entire story. The aircraft is now part of the collections of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and will be on display at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport until 2014.

IMAGE LEFT: Dik Daso and USAF Captain Matt Quy before strapping on this PT-13D Stearman for the trip from Moton Field to Washington DC

RIGHT: Tina Quy, Dik and Matt at the Hazy Center after their final flight in Spirit of Tuskegee (NASM, Dane Penland)

CLICK ON THESE

http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2011/07/

http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2011/08/06/spirit-of-tuskegee-arrives-at-andrews-afb/

CUT AND PASTE THESE

http://www.warbirdradio.com/2011/08/spirit-of-tuskegee-makes-it-final-journey-warbird-radio-live-wednesday/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIBfmpgD9LY

 

For more information about the Aero Club please write us at: Aeroclub1@verizon.net

Founded in 1909, the Aero Club of Washington is a professional organization of individuals interested in the promotion of aviation and aerospace issues. The Club organizes many networking opportunities throughout the year, sponsors major industry awards and administers educational programs through its Foundation. For more information about our organization and its history, visit the About Aero Club page.

Throughout the year, the Aero Club of Washington hosts many events at which key Washington, DC aviation and aerospace community members gather. The highlight of each year is the Aero Club’s Wright Memorial Dinner, one of American aviation's premiere events, held every December.

The group also holds monthly networking luncheons featuring noteworthy speakers and honors industry leaders with its awards. To learn about upcoming Aero Club events, awards, or past award winners, visit the Events and Awards pages.

The Aero Club Foundation sponsors educational initiatives for students and interns seeking careers in aviation. For details, visit the Education section.

New, current, and former members may join/renew at any time during the year.