F-15 Streak Eagle 40th Anniversary Celebrated by Missouri Aviation Historical Society

By Carmelo Turdo

The Missouri Aviation Historical Society continued it's string of anniversary celebrations by marking the 40th anniversary of the F-15 Streak Eagle time-to-climb record-breaking flights flown between January 16 and February 1, 1975.  The pre-production McDonnell Douglas F-15 was stripped of paint and internal systems that were determined non-essential for the climb performance and single-pass approach and landing at Grand Forks AFB, ND.  Eight records were broken, three in one flight, previously held by the F-4 Phantom II and Soviet MiG-25 (which was often accused of using rocket boost during critical portions of the climb).  Missouri Aviation Historical Society President Dan O'Hara opened the meeting and welcomed members and guests:

 












Special guests at the meeting included the leadership from the St. Louis Science Center: President and CEO Bert Vescolani, Chief Institutional Advancement Officer G. Patrick Williams, Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Patti LaBrott and Commissioner Kent Schien.  Mr. Vescolani and Mr. Schien addressed the group, expressing their appreciation for what the Missouri Aviation Historical Society does for the aviation community and discussing the future programs, including the  acquisition of an F-15 Eagle fighter on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force for the St. Louis Science Center's budding air park.     

St. Louis Science Center President and CEO Bert Vescolani (L) and Commissioner Kent Schien

As an introduction to the Streak Eagle's flights, the following video (here in two parts) was shown to provide context for the meeting's discussion:




    
Following the video, several authorities on the program were present to give a presentation on the flights and provide expert and eye-witness accounts of ground and air activities.  Among them were Eric Garrison, son of McDonnell Douglas Test Pilot Charles "Pete" Garrison, John Roberts, Bob West, test pilot Joe Dobronski and other McDonnell Douglas retirees.  

Eric Garrison introduces the F-15 Streak Eagle presentation

John Roberts describes the flights

Eric Garrison with Joe Dobronski

Eric Garrison, Joe Dobronski, Bob West, John Roberts, Dan O'Hara
 and F-15 Aerodynamicist Jack Abercrombie

John Roberts cuts the 40th Anniversary cake

EAA Chapter 64 Celebrates Fiftieth Anniversary

By Carmelo Turdo

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 64 celebrated its fiftieth (as of November 30, 2014) anniversary on Saturday in style - by flying Young Eagle and Eagle flights during the unusually warm day and hosting an anniversary dinner that evening.  The chapter has a rich history dating back only eleven years following the founding of EAA Chapter 1 in 1953 in Riverside, CA.  EAA Chapter 64 serves the Madison and St. Clair Counties of southwest Illinois, and is presently located at St. Louis Downtown Airport. 

EAA Chapter 64 Young Eagles Coordinator, Bob McDaniel, arranged to fly 35 Young Eagle and 7 Eagle Flight participants in six aircraft.  For more on the flights, see our previous feature, "EAA Chapter 64 Gives Young Eagle Flights on Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration."    

Past Chapter President Paul Voorhees flies Young Eagles

Museum member Trent Duff ready for another flight

Paul Visk with happy Young Eagles

The chapter's Pietenpol Air Camper was also on hand as a tribute to the chapter's team of aircraft builders.  The aircraft was also on display later that evening during the celebratory dinner program.

 

The chapter members, along with family and friends, celebrated that evening with a dinner program at the St. Louis Downtown Airport's resident restaurant, The Hangar.  Following the meal in the main dining room, the guests gathered in the meeting room for the presentation of awards, greeting from special guest EAA Director of Chapters Pat Webb, and a presentation by our friend Fred Harms on his service in Vietnam as a U.S. Army Huey gunship pilot. Some of the highlights can be seen here:

 

EAA Chapter 64 members and guests at The Hangar restaurant

EAA Chapter 64 President Brad Jones is Emcee

Al Bane receives Chapter Service Award for Newsletter publishing 

Brian Kissinger with Chapter Service Award as Flight Advisor

Paul Voorhees receives Chapter Service Award as Past President

Past President Paul Voorhees addresses guests

Past President Paul Voorhees with Paula Voorhees

EAA Director of Chapters Pat Webb welcomes guests

EAA Director of Chapters Pat Webb presents chapter award

EAA Chapter 64 50th Anniversary Award

Bert Hampton displays EAA Chapter 64 Charter

EAA Chapter 64 Charter from 1964

EAA Chapter 64 shirt, William Laurie founding member

EAA Chapter 64 50th Anniversary cake

Cake is served at The Hangar restaurant

Brian Kissinger with Christine Marrah

Fred Harms talks about his U.S. Army aviation service

EAA Chapter 64 Gives Young Eagle Flights on Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration

By Carmelo Turdo

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 64, based at St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia, IL held a Young Eagles rally  Saturday as part of its 50th Anniversary celebration.  It was fitting that the chapter marked its longevity by working to pass the love of aviation to a new generation by flying 35 Young Eagles and 7 Eagles in two hours using six aircraft and pilots: Paul Voorhees, Paul Visk, John Haas, Woody Gray, Trent Duff and Eve Cascella.  Nick Turk and Travis Roberts handled registration and coordinated ground escorts for each flight.  Other chapter members and volunteers from the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, host of the flights, made the flying activities safe and fun for everyone.  EAA Director of Chapters, Pat Webb, was also attending the Young Eagle rally (and the following anniversary dinner celebration to be featured in a later post) as special guest.      Special thanks to Ideal Aviation and St. Louis Flight Training for their generous support of our flights.  Both provided a Cessna 172 for the Young Eagle flights and Ideal Aviation provided a generous fuel discount.  Thanks also to the chapter's Young Eagles Coordinator, Bob McDaniel, for making this event run smoothly and for providing the information for this feature.

Aircraft are prepared for the day's flights:

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Pilot Paul Visk with happy passengers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pilot and Past Chapter 64 President Paul Voorhees takes a flight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Museum member Trent Duff flies Young Eagles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pilots John Haas, Woody Gray and Eve Cascella go flying