Pacific Aviation Museum Home To Historic Lessons This Fall

A number of great events are planned over the next few months at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, which aims to serve the community in an educational capacity and preserve Pacific aviation history.

* Oct. 18 — Visitors can climb into the cockpit of a historic aircraft and speak with pilots from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Open Cockpit Day. There’s no need to go out and buy a flight suit, as they will be provided, along with helmets and fun.

* Oct. 30 — To observe the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, the museum will host a “Misty” panel discussion at 3 p.m. featuring guest speakers Gen. Lori Robinson, commanding general of Pacific Air Forces, Misty 40 pilot Dick Rutan, and Air Force Maj. Gen. Don Shephard. The program includes a book signing in Hangar 37. Then at 5 p.m. in Hangar 79, Col. George “Bud” Day, a Vietnam POW and Medal of Honor recipient, will be on hand at the dedication of the museum’s North American F-100F Super Sabre plane.

All October events are free to museum members and free to all others with museum admission.

* Nov. 6 — The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopter will be retired on this date, and the public can join in the farewell (free with museum admission) from 3 to 6 p.m. Hawaii Marines will then officially retire the old workhorse, and Kahu Kordell Kekoa will bless the helicopter, which joins the museum’s 46 other aircraft.

* Nov. 9 — The documentary With Their Voices Raised screens at 2 p.m., retelling testimony of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima survivors. A brief Q&A follows. This event is free with museum admission or costs $5 for the performance only.

* Nov. 11 — In honor of Veterans Day, museum admission is free for veterans.

* Dec. 6 — Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor hosts its eighth annual anniversary gala dinner, “Destinations & Dreams,” from 6 to 10 p.m. at the battlefield hangars on Ford Island. Planned for the evening are cocktails, entertainment and prize opportunities that benefit the museum’s restoration and education programs. Guest speaker for the evening will be Capt. Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger of Hudson River landing fame. Tickets cost $250 and can be purchased online at PacificAviationMuseum.org.

* Dec. 7 — Dr. Hiroya Sugano, Zero Fighter Admirers’ Club director general, heads to Hawaii from Japan for the commemoration of peace and reconciliation at 11:30 a.m., marking the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. Sugano will pour bourbon from a WWII-blackened canteen into the water from the USS Arizona Memorial in symbolic recognition for those who have passed.

For more information on upcoming events, visit the museum’s website or call 441-1007.