{"id":67605,"date":"2015-10-29T10:30:48","date_gmt":"2015-10-29T17:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theavtimes.com\/?p=67605"},"modified":"2019-02-07T13:52:38","modified_gmt":"2019-02-07T21:52:38","slug":"local-aviation-legends-supporters-flock-together-for-gathering-of-eagles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/2015\/10\/29\/local-aviation-legends-supporters-flock-together-for-gathering-of-eagles\/","title":{"rendered":"Local aviation legends, supporters flock together for Gathering of Eagles"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_67606\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67606\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67606\" src=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-1.jpg\" alt=\"This year\u2019s Eagle panel held honorees Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tony Bevacqua, U-2 and SR-71 instructor\/test pilot; Lt. Col. (Ret.) David Kerzie, U-2 chief test pilot for Lockheed Martin; Col. (Ret.) Robert Rowe, U-2 chief test pilot for Lockheed Martin; Col. (Ret.) Louis Setter, U-2 instructor\/test pilot; and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ed Yeilding, SR-71 instructor\/test pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rebecca Amber)\" width=\"624\" height=\"381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-1.jpg 624w, https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-1-300x183.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67606\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This year\u2019s Eagle panel held honorees Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tony Bevacqua, U-2 and SR-71 instructor\/test pilot; Lt. Col. (Ret.) David Kerzie, U-2 chief test pilot for Lockheed Martin; Col. (Ret.) Robert Rowe, U-2 chief test pilot for Lockheed Martin; Col. (Ret.) Louis Setter, U-2 instructor\/test pilot; and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ed Yeilding, SR-71 instructor\/test pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rebecca Amber)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>LANCASTER \u2013 The Flight Test Historical Foundation honored U-2 and SR-71 pilots during the annual Gathering of Eagles dinner at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds Oct. 24. This year&#8217;s theme was commemorating the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the U-2 and the 25th anniversary of the SR-71 Smithsonian Speed Run.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of the night, pins and certificates were presented to this year&#8217;s Eagle honorees. This year&#8217;s Eagles are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lt. Col. (Ret.) <strong>Tony Bevacqua<\/strong>, U-2 and SR-71 instructor\/test pilot<\/li>\n<li>Lt. Col. (Ret.) <strong>David Kerzie<\/strong>, U-2 chief test pilot for Lockheed Martin<\/li>\n<li>Col. (Ret.) <strong>Robert Rowe<\/strong>, U-2 chief test pilot for Lockheed Martin<\/li>\n<li>Col. (Ret.) <strong>Louis Setter<\/strong>, U-2 instructor\/ test pilot<\/li>\n<li>Lt. Col. (Ret.) <strong>Ed Yeilding<\/strong>, SR-71 instructor \/ test pilot<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67607\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67607\" style=\"width: 307px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67607\" src=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-2.jpg\" alt=\"The 2015 Gathering of Eagles was held at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. (Rebecca Amber)\" width=\"307\" height=\"292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-2.jpg 307w, https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-2-300x285.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 307px) 100vw, 307px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67607\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 2015 Gathering of Eagles was held at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. (Rebecca Amber)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe efforts of the men we honor tonight provided the United States and many of our allied nations with imagery and intelligence data that kept our nation safe. U-2 and SR-71 missions put U.S. eyes in the sky keeping tabs on those who would do us harm; keeping them honest and engaged in diplomacy rather than war,&#8221; said Lisa Gray, Flight Test Historical Foundation Board of Directors chairwoman.<\/p>\n<p>The annual Gathering of Eagles dinner is also about raising funds that will ultimately contribute to moving the Air Force Flight Test Museum outside of the Edwards AFB west gate, which would provide easy access for the public.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67608\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67608\" style=\"width: 307px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-67608\" src=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-3.jpg\" alt=\"Airman 1st Class Cory Bond, 412th Communications Squadron, shows a poster of the SR-71 during the live auction at the annual Gathering of Eagles. (Rebecca Amber)\" width=\"307\" height=\"304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-3.jpg 307w, https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-3-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Gathering-of-Eagles-3-300x297.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 307px) 100vw, 307px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67608\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Airman 1st Class Cory Bond, 412th Communications Squadron, shows a poster of the SR-71 during the live auction at the annual Gathering of Eagles. (Rebecca Amber)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>During the evening, Gray announced that due to a $300,000 matching grant from the Conrad Hilton Foundation, the Flight Test Historical Foundation has raised enough to break ground.<\/p>\n<p>One large pledge of $50,000 came from the Glen and Lois Jamieson Family Fund.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There have been more first flights of aircraft at Edwards AFB than any place in the world. That is just incredible. Furthermore, there have been more speed records of aircraft at Edwards AFB than any place in the world,&#8221; said donor Keith Jamieson. &#8220;Every airplane that we have [in the Air Force inventory] flying now has had some engine, some control system, or some design partially developed at Edwards AFB.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Edwards&#8217; history and legacy has touched everybody in this room and around the globe, and I&#8217;m going to tell you, it is imperative that we continue with the history and legacy of Edwards for all the generations to come.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the night, money was raised through gift shop sales and auctions.<\/p>\n<p>Volunteers, Staff Sgt. Christopher Porter and Airman 1st Class Cory Bond from the 412th Communications Squadron, along with Capt. Lien Tran and Senior Airman William Walker from the 412th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, showed items during the live auction and helped Little Rock High School JROTC cadets with the silent auction.<\/p>\n<p>Each year the foundation announces the recipient of the C. Gordon Fullerton Memorial Scholarship. The 2015 scholarship in the amount of $2,000 was awarded to <strong>Joseph Lopez<\/strong>, a senior in mechanical engineering at California State University Long Beach who is enrolled in the university&#8217;s accredited Antelope Valley Engineering Program.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bill Flanagan<\/strong> was also recognized as the FTHF volunteer of the year. Flanagan, who flew the SR-71 as well as the B-2 for Northrop Grumman, now volunteers at Blackbird Airpark at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale. The park is an extension of the AFFT Museum and is run entirely by volunteers.<\/p>\n<p>The 2015 Eagles were able to offer their personal experiences with the U-2 and SR-71. Guest speaker Melani Austin, Lockheed Martin Skunkworks U-2 program manager, was able to speak about the U-2 today.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Sixty years of operational excellence really has more to do than just putting a plane in the air,&#8221; Austin said.<\/p>\n<p>The first flight of the U-2 occurred in 1955 and it was re-designed in the 60&#8217;s. According to Austin, the U-2 is considered a sunset program, scheduled to retire in 2019. At the same time, she said they are funded with prudent actions to continue to develop radar technologies and other warfighter needs. The newer platform is 30 percent larger than the original with four times the payload, twice the range and a glass cockpit that &#8220;incorporates the newest technology.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The last one rolled out the door in Palmdale in 1989. That fleet of aircraft is actually operational today and is actually younger than most fourth generation aircraft,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We know for a fact the structural integrity of that platform is incredibly stable. That&#8217;s how we can absolutely, with great confidence, say that plane will be operationally capable through 2045 and beyond.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Every Eagle that is honored during a Gathering of Eagles event is remembered in the program booklet each year that follows. A special video montage was shown this year in memoriam of Eagles who had died within the last year. One of those Eagles who passed last June, Charlie Van Norman, worked at Edwards for 34 years with his last civil service position as a senior technical advisor in 1998.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I experienced a flood of emotions during the recognition of his passing. Charlie was so influential in my life and the development of the Air Force Flight Test Center,&#8221; said Thomas Berard, who retired from the former Air Force Flight Test Center in 2011 as the executive director.<\/p>\n<p>Darcy Painter, 412th Communications Squadron added that, &#8220;Charlie was a leader who saw size, color, age and disability as pluses for individuals competing and completing Edwards&#8217; jobs. He felt that our differences gave us the valued perspective of difference with respect to solving problems creatively and cost effectively.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The night ended with a panel discussion where the 2015 Eagles shared their experiences in the SR-71 and U-2.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LANCASTER \u2013 The Flight Test Historical Foundation honored U-2 and SR-71 pilots during the annual Gathering of Eagles dinner at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds Oct. 24. This year&#8217;s theme was commemorating the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the U-2 and the 25th anniversary of the SR-71 Smithsonian Speed Run. At the end of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":67608,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1494],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67605"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67605"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67605\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}