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July 25, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Keith and I had the great pleasure of being guests of Joe Kittinger at the National Aviation Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this July 17/18 in Dayton, Ohio. Little did I know what I was in for. I arrived Thursday night about midnight. Keith met me at the airport and we put in to one of the hotels near the airport. We were up early and headed straight for the Air Force Museum. We spent most of the day there, then went into town to get into our suits for the Presidents Dinner back at the Museum. We met the Kittinger's for a quick happy hour drink at the hotel then out to the museum.  We were seated with friends of the Kittinger's at one of the near front tables. We were seated with and surrounded by people that had been inducted into the hall of fame. Keith sat next to Dawn Seymour, a WASP who delivered B-17's during 1943-44. Sally Crossfield presented the annual Crossfield Award to a teacher selected from many nominees that teach the STEM subjects, "Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics". After other awards were handed out the finale was David Hartman sitting on stage moderating a group of 12 Apollo Astronauts' telling various stories and answering his questions about their Apollo flights. It was quite an evening! Afterward, Keith and I had time to visit with several of the astronauts, one-on-one, and visited with Dick Reutan.

Saturday morning, while searching for a cup of coffee in the VIP lounge, in walks Arnold Palmer. Being the shy one that I am, I asked him if he "plays a little golf from time to time". He said he does a bit of golfing. I then asked him how he is associated with flying and he told me he has 18,000 hours, mostly in jets but started out in a Cessna 172 in 1955 as a 16 year old golfer who needed to get around. We wrapped that up with stories about our NAE™ project, then Walt Cunningham (Apollo 7) stepped into the conversation. David Hartman was nearby so he engaged us with a little more discussion about F-104's on wheels. After that coffee stop, Keith and I headed off to breakfast at the Cracker Barrel, then back out to the Air Force Museum. In the afternoon we went back to the hotel to get ready for the evening cocktail hour and Hall of Fame ceremonies. I was dressed in my tuxedo a little early so I stepped into the VIP lounge to get a cold drink. Sitting at a table was Neil Armstrong. I asked if I could join him and he said "of course".  Neil and I sat together for about a half hour discussing Apollo stuff, X-15 stuff and North American Eagle™ stuff. What a great moment in time! Keith showed up and he was lucky enough to get some time with Neil too.

Keith and I walked over to the reception in the convention center and met many interesting people. We chatted with Joe Engle and his wife, Sally Crossfield and her husband, James McDivett (Apollo 9) and Fred Haise (Apollo 13), Gene Cernan (Apollo 17), Gene Tinsley and Betty Mosley. What a reception! The dinner was fantastic and the presenters were wonderful. Rich Little was the presenter for inducting Jimmy Stewart and did many impressions including Jimmy Stewart. Ed White, Russell Meyer Jr. and Eileen Collins were inducted into the hall of fame that evening. David Hartman and I were talking after the event and I asked him how anyone can describe the grandeur of this event back home and he said it is just not possible. It is the Academy Awards of Aviation. Keith and I were also invited to the "after party" and spent more time with celebrities. I was able to get some one-on-one conversation with Eileen Collins, the first woman to command an American space mission. Joe Engle (X-15/Apollo 17/twice shuttle commander) took my photo's of the NAE™, spread them onto a table and told a bunch of the other test pilots/astronauts about the F-104 and the land speed record. Boy were Keith and I flying high! What a wonderful evening we had.

On Sunday morning, Keith dropped me and Tom Tart (a friend of the Kittingers) off at the VIP gate at the Dayton Airshow. We were taken into the hospitality suite of the Oracle Aerobatic team of Sean Tucker. Next thing I know, I'm recruited to be a pole holder for Sean's aerobatic routine. Tom and I held our poles straight and true when Sean came through at 225 MPH and cut the ribbon. During most of the air show, except for holding the poles for Sean, we were seated at show center and treated with the greatest hospitality by Team Oracle. What a way to spend the day!

All in all, I can say that this was the best birthday present I've received in many years. It was fantastic and I can say I owe a great big thank you to my wife for letting me do this and to Joe and Sherry Kittinger for inviting Keith and me and being the greatest of hosts. Now its back to taking out the garbage and picking up dog poop..............Ed 

On Television

We continue to talk with a half dozen television production companies interested in doing a documentary on our upcoming test session.

The North American Eagle™ has been featured in over eight television shows and every major television network.  Recently NBC / Universal film the team for a possible pilot.

On the Newsstands

This week the project made the front cover of Desktop Engineering magazine.   You can read the David Cohn story describing the engineering behind the Eagle, and some of the people who make it happen.

Also this week was a story in the local South Pierce County Dispatch Newspaper.

On the newsstands is an article on the project in the June 2009 issue of FLY RC magazine. The very popular magazine can be found at most grocery stores and all book stores.

We know a lot of our fans are on facebook.  Now the North American Eagle™ is on facebook!   In fact many of our team members are also!  It is just another great way to let everyone know what we're up to.  We have many of our latest Power-On systems test videos up on the site.  Just type in North American Eagle and you will find us!  Tell your friends! It's fun!

We invite you to add a comment, or remark, about our program or the site.

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