Behind the Scenes Tour registration opens May 3

Behind the Scenes Tour registration opens May 3: "

You can see the aircraft restoration process first-hand by participating in the Behind the Scenes Tours at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Registration for Behind the Scenes Tours during the months of June through August 2010 opens on Monday, May 3. The free tours take place every Friday from 12:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. Space is limited, so advance registration is required.

During the tours, members of the public are guided through the museum's restoration hangars located on the historic Wright Field flight line in Area B of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, about one mile from the main museum building. Visitors will see a variety of aircraft in several stages of the restoration process, including the RQ-1 Predator and the famous World War II bombers, B-17F Memphis Belle and B-17D The Swoose.
more..."

May 11, 2010 Meeting Speaker: Dr. Marie Theobald

The Indianapolis Aero Club welcomes Dr. Marie Theobald, Principal of the Indiana Aerospace Junior/Senior High School as it's speaker for the May 11th meeting.

Location:  Marten House, 1801 West 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260
Date: May 11, 2010
Cocktails: 6:00 pm - Dinner: 6:30 pm - Speaker:  7:00 pm

Advance or Reservations - $20.00  At Door - $22.00
1st time guest - $10.00
16 or under $10.00

Please RSVP to: John Brill
H: 317-877-7777  C: 317-501-8610
Mail to:  107-A Knoll Ct,  Noblesville, IN 46062
email:  jwbrillsr@aol.com 

Below is a letter that was distributed last month that gives some details about the school:

On August 2, 2010, the second high school in the country devoted entirely to aviation and aerospace will open in Indianapolis.  The Indiana Aerospace Junior/Senior High School, a charter school sponsored by the Mayor of Indianapolis, will join the Aviation High School in Des Moines, WA as schools that offer students strong preparation in science, technology, engineering, and math with a focus on aviation and aerospace. 

Students will earn a Core 40 with academic honors diploma with opportunities to take dual credit courses.  Dual credit courses are college courses that apply to both college and high school requirements.  Students will be able to explore and specialize in such areas as pilot, air traffic controller, aviation administration, aviation mechanics, logistics, aerospace engineering, safety and security, and healthcare.

Through partnerships with the Challenger Learning Center in the MSD Decatur Township, Indiana State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Rolls Royce, Republic Airways, and other organizations, students will have opportunities outside of the classroom.  These opportunities include mentoring and internships.  Students will also have the opportunity to become licensed pilots.

The school will open in August 2010 with an initial class of 7th grade.  A grade will be added each year until the school covers grades 7-12.  Seventh graders will take one year of math, science, English/language arts, social studies, and reading/study skills and one semester each of health/physical education, music, art, and technology education.  Average class size will be 23 students. As a public charter school, there is no tuition and transportation will be provided.

For further information or an application, contact Marie Theobald at mtheobald@iahseagles.org or 317-605-2812 or Roger Tomey at rtomey@iahseagles.org or 317-605-4044.

April 2010 - Meeting Summary

We were happy to see quite a few visitors at the April meeting.  Our speaker, Billy Werth, invited John Fleck, who took most of the amazing photos Billy showed us during his presentation, and Tibor Beirbaum from Ft Wayne; Michele Stark and the Kohr's, Roland and Jan, all from Bloomington were guests of Jim Stark; and Austin Bayless from Indianapolis was a guest of Bob Campbell.  Michael and Colin Oberthur were back as well.  


Many commented at the end of the evening that they really enjoyed Billy's presentation. It was a pleasure to hear Billy speak about growing up around the Air Force (his father was a B-52 pilot) and share how he became interested in aerobatics after his training at Indiana State University.  We appreciated how Billy presented the mix of commercial, military and aerobatic flying that has brought him to this point in his career.  Not only was his presentation entertaining, but we all seamed to walk away with a little more appreciation of one our newest members:  Billy Werth.


We're looking forward to hearing more about Billy in the future.  We'll keep an eye on his website (Grayout Aerosports LLC) so we know what he is up to, and we all wish him continued success in his career and through the remainder of this air show season.  Oh, and we can't wait to hear a few more stories at future meetings when he's able to join us!

Dr. Henry Shirmer Riley

Dr. Henry Shirmer Riley had been a member of the Indianapolis Aero Club for more than 25 years. He was born on September 19, 1928 in Wheatley,  Kentucky and passed away on April 19, 2010. He died with his beloved Comanche 250  -  N5425P in a southern Indiana accident.

Shirmer Riley’s first flying lesson was May 11, 1945 in a Piper J3 Cub . During his senior year at Wheatley High School (as the only senior most of the time) he was able to slip away during study hall and get in a half hour, or so, solo. By graduation, he had accumulated a total of 18 hours.

Shirmer and Janis set up housekeeping in 1946 and after two children he went back to college. In 1960, Dr. Henry Shirmer Riley graduated from the University of Louisville Medical School.  After internship at the medical center in Columbus, Georgia,  he returned to practice in Madison, Indiana. During these years and until 1973 Dr. Riley was able to rent and share ownership in a variety of aircraft. In 1973 he purchased the Comanche 250 and flew it for 37 years.

On July 14, 2009, Dr. Riley (right, below) and his close friend, Jim Pirtle were the featured speakers at the Indianapolis Aero Club meeting. They told of their trip to the Malta Air Rally, via the Ice Cap and the North Atlantic route. In fact, they were the first Americans to do so. They have actually flown the Atlantic  three times and were guests at the Paris Air Show.

The big story, of course, was their flight around the world. It’s all spelled out in their new book, ‘Two Pilots – One Engine – In Their Own Words’.

Dr. Henry Shirmer Riley, you have done what most other pilots only dream of doing.

Thank you! We’ll miss you.

*********************
4/21 Update:  Jim called and said that the Funeral will be April 24 at 11:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church, Downtown, Madison, IN.

*********************
4/21 Update 2:  Jim also said the Madison Courier wrote a great article:

• He was the best of the best

Related Articles:

• Two Pilots, One Engine
• Dr. Riley Honored at KDH

********************* 
Update 3:
Found some more.  This post has video with Jim Pirtle talking about Dr. Riley. 

Saturday, May 15, 2010 - FKR Flyers Annual Armed Forces Day Pancake Breakfast, Frankfort, IN

Saturday, May 15, 2010 - FKR Flyers Annual Armed Forces Day Pancake Breakfast, Frankfort, IN: "Join us for Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 15 from 7:30-11:00 am. Enjoy pancakes, sausage, milk, juice, coffee. Your donation will assist the aviation enthusiasts' club with projects to improve the airport grounds. 765-654-6275, fkr@montgomeryaviation.net
* Trip Calculator! Print out a Flyer! Get more details! Can't fly? Get driving instructions!
"

Museum of 20th Century Warfare Opening at Ft. Harrison

I thought this might be of interest to some of the club members.  I learned about this at the Indianapolis Air Show meeting Monday night and meant to share this during announcements at the Aero Club Tuesday.  My apologies for not sharing this sooner.  Mike.

Defourneaux, Rene Sr.,

AS Ron mentioned in the meeting last night, here is the write-up from the Indianapolis Star on Rene Defourneaux.  Rene spoke to us just last year!

Rene' Julian Defourneaux Sr. Passed away April 1, 2010 after living a brilliant life. He was born on April 29, 1921 in Lebetain, France. Rene' may be gone, but his legend will live on for a very long time. He is

survived by his wife, partner and best friend, Virginia Ruth Edds Defourneaux. His six children and nine grandchildren who live in six different states and two European countries also survive him. Family and friends all over the world will miss Rene'. While a young man, Rene' emigrated to the United States with his mother, Emilie and his sister, Marcelle, in order for them to join his father, Ernest in New Jersey. Rene' was very proud to have been naturalized as an American citizen and he was proud to serve in the Army's Office of Strategic Services during World War II. He devoted over twenty years of his life to the United States Army both in Europe and parachuting behind the lines and in Southeast Asia, working with Ho Chi Minh to offer resistance help against communism in the region. He was definitely a member of the greatest generation. During Rene's lifetime, his vocations and avocations could be listed as: artist, bread baker extraordinaire, smuggler, tool and die maker, photographer, carpenter, spy, private detective, coin and stamp collector, importerexporter, author, raconteur and public speaker. His stories are captivating and historical and he has written and published four books. Rene' loved technology and in the early 90's was among the first of his peers to have a computer and use an email address. To this day he has had his own website, defourneaux.com. In recent years, he could be found using Skype on his computer to talk and see distantly located family members and friends. Rene' loved and enjoyed promoting his adopted city of Indianapolis. He was a dedicated Kiwanian and won many awards for perfect attendance and as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army. He was honored to be a member of the Indianapolis Literary Society and various military organizations and was also an active member of the All Souls Unitarian Church of Indianapolis. In lieu of flowers and in honor of Rene', donations may be made to the All Souls Unitarian Church Foundation, Kiwanis of Indianapolis Abe Lincoln Scholarship Program or Community Home Health Services Hospice. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. There will be a memorial service held at the All Souls Unitarian Church on East 56th Street in Indianapolis on Friday, April 16, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Care and arrangements have been entrusted to the Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel 740 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis.

Members in the News: Roger Bishop

Roger Bishop, on behalf of the Indianapolis Air Show, receives the award -
Best Air Show of the Season
by AirShowsReviews.com !

Go HERE and then download "The Magazine" 

(in PDF) and read 

all about it!