This Saturday, March 1, 2025 is another special Flying Day at the Museum with our “Flying Demo” of the very rare Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-15 – one of the important aircraft of the Korean War-era.

In addition, we’ve got a great line-up of presentations for “Hangar Talk.”

Doors to the Museum will open at 9:00am. Regular admission prices are in effect and Museum Members always get in free!
 
Hangar Talk Begins at 10:30am

From some of the smallest aircraft to one of the fastest, from high altitude flight to a thrilling story of deception and espionage, this month’s “Hangar Talk” has something for everyone. Check out this line-up:

The True Story of “Leo the Lucky”

It’s that time of year again – the time when Hollywood pats itself on its back by handing out awards for everything you can think of. In recognition of this, we’ll go back almost 100 years and look at one of the most iconic symbols of the Golden Age of moviemaking – the MGM Lion. In this short story, the Museum’s Brian Finnegan will tell a story of Jackie and a cross-country tour that turned into a fight for survival.

The “Joy of Aeromodeling” – Let’s Meet the Pomona Valley Model Airplane Club

Located just a few miles to the south of Planes of Fame Air Museum is the Prado Airpark – a remarkable airstrip where very unique aircraft take to the skies. The Pomona Valley Model Airplane Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the hobby of remote control aviation through public outreach and community engagement. We’ll be joined by representatives of the club as they explain the activities they conduct to create a welcoming environment for enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels.

TECH TALK – The High Altitude Flight Suit

The Museum’s Ken Saltgaver will provide another in his series of “Tech Notes” – this time looking at the development of the high altitude flight suit. As aircraft became more powerful, they could fly faster and higher. Higher altitudes means air pressures too low to sustain life. Ken will explain how early pioneers led to some of the most sophisticated advances in aviation technology.

Exploring the Limits of Speed – the X-15 Hypersonic Research Aircraft

The North American designed X-15 was a transitional aircraft that brought America to the threshold of space. The Museum’s Jim Llano will take us back to the late 1950s to explain the design challenges of creating an aircraft capable of exceeding six times the speed of sound. Jim will walk us through the historic flights of the three X-15 aircraft that were built and enjoyed a remarkable ten years of extraordinary flight that paved the way for America’s Space Program.

Ted TALK – From Double-Cross to Iron Cross: The Story of Agent ZigZag

Once again the Museum’s Ted Mount will thrill us with a true story from World War II. We’ll meet Eddie Chapman, a petty thief imprisoned on the isle of Jersey when it was captured by the Nazis in 1942. Seeing an opportunity, he volunteered to serve as a German spy. What happened next, and how the British successfully turned Chapman into a double-agent is the gripping story that Ted will relate during this episode of Ted TALK.

Flying Demo of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis

At 12:15pm, we present the “Flying Demo” of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, a Soviet jet that was flown by North Korea during the Korean War. We’ll talk briefly about the development and use of the MiG-15 and present the unique history of the Museum’s aircraft.

Following a brief presentation, our pilot Chris Fahey will fire up the Klimov VK-1 turbojet engine directly in front of the crowd. After Chris taxis the aircraft away, we’ll hold our Member’s Only Raffle Drawing for some great prizes, including a flight in one of the Museum’s training aircraft. Then Chris will delight us with an aerial demonstration of the MiG-15 through a flight over the Museum for twenty minutes. Upon return, guests may meet and ask questions of Chris and learn first-hand what it’s like to fly this historical wonder.

In addition to all of the above, we’ll have food trucks on hand, our Museum Guides will tell you the stories of the Museum and its world-renowned collection, they’ll be fun for the kids, and our B-17 will be open for visitors to tour the inside. A great way to spend the day at Planes of Fame!