One small step...

Forty-five years ago today, July 20, 1969, I watched astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin land and walk on the moon, as astronaut Michael Collins orbited the space capsule above. My family, with my grandmother, all crowded into the family room to watch the astounding historic images on TV. My grandmother, who at the time was 87 years old, was perhaps the most stunned of all of us watching the event. She noted that in her lifetime, as a little girl, she read by candlelight, as did Julius Caesar, but she also lived long enough to see Americans walk on the moon. That has stayed with me ever since. A day to remember and celebrate American engineering and technology, and use our vision and innovation for the quests and challenges to come.

Aerial Acrobats!

I know, I know, it is already July 19! The summer is zooming, but not so fast as to miss out on some great aerial entertainment. I refer, of course, to "The Flying Circus Airshow", at The Flying Circus Aerodrome, in Bealeton, Va. Held every Sunday from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m., the show features skilled feats and stunts with Stearman open cockpit aircraft, and more. The events recall the Barnstormers of a century ago, and offer viewers a lively way to step back into history and experience the thrills of that then-new technology, aviation. For those who want a close up and personal adventure, open cockpit rides are also available. Happily, the Airshow continues through October, so for those of you who may miss it this summer, September and October provide great flying, and viewing, weather. Blue skies!

Roll of the Dice

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of D Day, it is worth noting that today marks the 47th anniversary of the 1967 war between Israel and the Arab states. Israel determined the outcome early with a pre-emptive massive air strike against the Egyptian air force, partly due to a difference in time zones. For more on this, see Michael C. Dunn's entry in the Editor's Blog, Middle East Institute.

"We Don't Need No Stinking Airpower!"

In an early post, I mentioned the fact that both then Air Commodore Arthur Harris and Major General Bernard Montgomery were posted to Palestine during 1938-1939, in the midst of the Arab Revolt. In his memoir, "Bomber Offensive," Harris recounts his first meeting with "Monty" to discuss military strategy for dealing with the rebels. "Aircraft, aircraft? This is no job for aircraft. It's a job for policemen," he decreed to Harris. Conceding that it was a task more suited to police, Harris averred that owing to the will and fierceness of the rebels, and the insufficient numbers and arms of the police, the situation called for the use of all assets, including aircraft. He proposed that any aircraft Monty did not want for his operations be diverted to those British officers who did, realizing that they saved the lives of ground forces.

Fairly speedily, Monty came around to the utility of aircraft in joint operations against the rebels, and Harris noted, "I always pride myself that Monty, who is only too willing to learn anything new and learns at speed, got his first real understanding of air co-operation from me, during his ...term of office in Palestine in 1939." In true Monty fashion, this little vignette does not appear in his own autobiography, "The Memoirs of Field-Marshal The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, K.G."

Best wishes for a happy Mothers Day to all the Moms in aerospace and aviation!

Stargazing in New Mexico

As you are making plans for summer vacation, why not head for New Mexico? Not only is it one of my all time favorite states, but there is one more lure to attract visitors in addition to its rich multicultural and historical setting. Chaco Culture National Historical Park has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), making it a premier site for stargazing. Located northwest of the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area, it is accessible by dirt roads, but the rugged trek is well worth it.

ANZAC Day Greetings 2014

Happy ANZAC Day to all of our RAAF and RNZAF forces! Hard to believe we are coming up on the century mark for Gallipoli: the keystone event that marked the nations of Australia, New Zealand, and Turkey.