NASA displays highlight 100 years of flight at EAFB open house

NASA News
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Dryden Flight Research Center
P.O. Box 273
Edwards, California 93523
Phone 661-276-3449
FAX 661-276-3566

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Oct. 21, 2003

Leslie Williams
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif.
(661) 276-3893


NOTE TO EDITORS: 03-55

NASA DISPLAYS HIGHLIGHT 100 YEARS OF FLIGHT AT EDWARDS OPEN HOUSE

NASA Dryden Flight Research Center highlights this year's Centennial
of Flight with exhibits and aircraft at the Edwards Air Force Base
Open House and Air Show this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25 and 26.
NASA is an official Centennial Partner approved by the United States
Centennial of Flight Commission.

A key part of the NASA Dryden display in Hangar 1600 this year will
be portions of the NASA Centennial of Flight exhibit, which showcases
NASA's historic and current contributions to aeronautics and space
technology. The national exhibit that has been traveling around the
country to different air shows and celebrations commemorating the
100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first powered flight on Dec.
17, 2003.

NASA's revered B-52B carrier aircraft that has launched many research
vehicles such as the historic hypersonic X-15 rocket plane and the
modified Boeing 747 Space Shuttle carrier aircraft will be on display
on the Edwards flight line. In addition, NASA's F/A-18 Active
Aeroelastic Wing research aircraft will be on display in Hangar 1414
adjoining a replica of the Wright Flyer and an Air Force F/A-22.

A Space Shuttle cockpit mockup used to train rescue personnel in
emergency evacuation of shuttle astronauts in case of a mishap will
be on display. Two other mockups, a full-sized, 12-foot-long X-43A
and 80 percent scale version of the X-37 reusable space access
technology demonstrator, will also be in view. The NASA Dryden
exhibit will also feature one of the center's F/A-18 mission support
aircraft and the historic M2-F1 prototype lifting body.

The exhibit will also include a gift shop where NASA aeronautics and
space memorabilia can be purchased, a photo booth where visitors can
have a photo taken of themselves superimposed over a NASA space suit,
and a demonstration of a pressure suit and life-support equipment
used by pilots on high-altitude flights. Several NASA Dryden research
pilots will be available to discuss their research projects and sign
autographs both days of the event.

- NASA -



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Jacques :-)

Editor: www.spacepatches.info