Eagle's Lair
Members Roster

June 3, 2006

Ladies & Gentleman:

Less then a mile from the famous Lockheed Skunkworks in Palmdale California is one of the finest display of aircraft in the world. Palmdale Plant 42 Heritage Airpark was the first stop on the North American Eagle™ El Mirage test session.  The park contains aircraft flown, tested, designed, produced or modified at United States Air Force Plant 42.

John Drury and Jon Higley arrived in the middle of the night with the NorWest Trucking / LevX Tractor, less then 10 hours before the park opened; at 2:30 AM.  While they slept in Saturday morning, the rest of the team, consisting of Bernard McVay, Tim Finley, Sean Rondesvedt, Von Armstrong, Steve Wallace, Libby Wallace, Russ Garlow, DiDi Boyington, Rich Pengelley, Tom Pengelley, Keith Zanghi, Rob Martinson, Mike Hulk, Rachel Shadle, Alex Shadle, Elaine Shadle, Ed Shadle, and Meeko "the Moocher" began the process of unloading the 56 foot long, 42, 500 hp Eagle.

The Heritage Airpark volunteers the day before moved a F-101 Voodoo outside the hangar and gave the entire spot to the team. It was nice because it was out of the sun and the Palmdale breeze continually flowed through the large half-circle covering, making the otherwise hot day more bearable. Some of us north westerners weren't used to the hot temperatures of the south west climate.

A half hour before the gates opened, residents from the surrounding Palmdale, Lancaster and Victorville area started to arrive. Mayor Jim Ledford and Councilmember Steve Knight stopped by. Mayor Ledford is excited about the Heritage Airpark. His goal is to “fill the place up” with aircraft. The park is getting ready for the arrival of a Lockheed 1011 in the next couple of months.

Councilmember Steve Knight has a connection with 56-0763. His father, Pete Knight, was one of the greatest test pilots of all time, and flew 56-0763 when it was at Edwards AFFTC.

The media covered the all day event. Karen Posada (above), from KTTV Fox Channel 11 out of Los Angeles, did an extensive interview with many of the team members. Local newspapers and radio stations were on hand also.

Sunday June 4th

We arrived early ready to load, but decided to take advantage of the covered space and perform some last minute tasks. We ended up spending most of the day. Although not advertised as being at the park for Sunday, visitors to the park shared the same enthusiasm as the hundreds the day before. We had a great time meeting all the folks. By 5 pm the Eagle was packed away safe in the trailer as the team headed out East to El Mirage dry lake bed.

When we arrived at the home of George Callaway, many of the team members headed onto the lakebed and were given rides on one of many of the land sailors flying up and down the 5 mile long dry lake bed.

After a few hours of bench racing with the Mayor of El Mirage, the team headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest.

Special Thanks

We would like to thank all the volunteers that helped the team Saturday and Sunday at Palmdale Plant 42 Heritage Airpark. Most of the volunteers were former Lockheed Employees and it was great history lesson for each of the NAE™ team members as we heard stories of the some the greatest aircraft ever built. Many of them worked on 56-0763. 

One individual was Jerry A. Sterk, who brought in photos of him and his crew standing in front of 56-0763 when he worked at GE® Engines. It was a great thrill to listen to his story and see the pride in his face as he told the early history of the aircraft that would one day challenge the 763 mph world landspeed record.

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