Learn about unique and historic aviation experiences during the Aviation Adventure Speaker Series, conducted by passionate aviators with a unique story to tell. Presentations take place in the Founder's Wing at the EAA Aviation Museum. All presentations start at 7:00 p.m.
Enjoy a beyond the barrier cockpit climb in various World War II aircraft immediately following the presentation.
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May 21, 2020, 7 p.m. – Flying the Goodyear Blimp – CANCELED |
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IMPORTANT UPDATE - MAY SPEAKER SERIES CANCELED: Because of the latest information from the CDC, who recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more, we will be canceling the May Speaker Series. We apologize for any inconvenience these cancellations may cause. Join us for a fun evening that takes us behind the scenes of the Goodyear Blimp with two of its lead pilots. |
June 18, 2020, 7 p.m. – The F-4 Phantom Over Vietnam – CANCELED |
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Join us for a great night as Col. Richard Graham takes us through the air war over Vietnam. Col. Graham flew both air-to-air missions in the F-4 as well as later flying the SAM suppression missions better known as “Wild Weasel” flights, and later in his career he also piloted the SR-71 Blackbird. |
August 20, 2020, 7 p.m. – Christina “Thumper” Hopper and the F-16 |
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As we roll back in to the speaker series after the big show, F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot Christina Hopper will take us on her journey to become one of the nation’s first African American female fighter pilots. Her story is truly inspirational. |
September 11, 2020 – TBD |
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September 17, 2020, 7 p.m. – Sharon “Betty” Preszler and Kate “Jiga” Lowe Discuss Life in the United States Air Force |
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Sharon “Betty” Preszler was hand-picked as one member of the initial cadre of women fighter pilots in the United States Air Force. She was the first woman to fly the F-16, the first woman to fly it in combat, and the first woman to instruct in the F-16. Kate “Jiga” Lowe earned a highly coveted pilot training slot in the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program, a direct pipeline into fighter aircraft. She flew the T-37 and T-38, earning her wings and the opportunity to fly the F-16 Viper. |
October 15, 2020, 7 p.m. – Melissa May |
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Melissa “Shock” May is one of only a handful of women to ever earn a Distinguished Flying Cross. Melissa earned her combat time in Iraq in operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom, and in Libya in operations Unified Protector and Odyssey Dawn. Her Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded during a night mission over Baghdad where her flight of four was under heavy fire from anti-aircraft artillery and guided missiles. The weather was extremely poor and her flight was tasked to bomb missile sites that were actively targeting them. |
November 19, 2020, 7 p.m. – Miss America Race Team |
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For decades, the P-51 Miss America has been a common sight turning the pylons of Reno. We are fortunate to have Doc and Greg from the team joining us to talk about what it takes to race this amazing airplane. |
