OCTOBER 27, 2022 - The Flight Test Museum Foundation, which is a nonprofit, is building a one-of-a-kind museum, dedicated to test pilots and experimental air- and spacecraft.  To help spread awareness and source funds, they are inviting the public to its annual "Gathering of Eagles" fundraiser which recognizes exemplary aviators.  This will include two NASA astronauts.

The event and a silent auction of rare memorabilia will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Antelope Valley Fair and Event Center, H.W. Hunter Pavilion in Lancaster, California, at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase here. All proceeds will support phase two construction of the museum.

Of special interest to Star Trek fans, Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, CEO of Roddenberry Enterprises, executive producer of the groundbreaking Star Trek franchise, and son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry will serve as the honorary chairman for the evening’s event.  

The Foundation's Eagle Award recognizes significant achievement in flight tests and will be presented to the following individuals who will be in attendance:

• Fred W. Haise, Jr. – NASA astronaut, Apollo 13; Commander, Space Shuttle Enterprise; Test pilot; Fighter pilot, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Of course, to Star Trek fans, the CO of the Enterprise holds a special place in our hearts.  See his story at Memory Beta.

• Pamela A. Melroy – NASA astronaut, Space Shuttles Discovery & Atlantis; Commander, Discovery; Deputy Administrator, NASA; Test pilot, Air Force. Fans won’t fail to spot yet another connection to Trek, this time with Captain Burnham following in Melroy’s footsteps on Star Trek: Discovery.

• Todd "Leif" Ericson – Mission Director, Polaris Dawn; Test pilot, Air Force, and Virgin Galactic

As Art Thompson, chairman of the Foundation’s board of directors states: "Our national mission is to honor technological advances made by test pilots, preserve rare aircraft and spacecraft developed in the Aerospace Valley, and inspire the next generation through the future museum's STEM education programs."

A panel discussion will include Donald L. Mallick, Navy pilot, and research pilot for NASA Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center; Kelly Latimer, Air Force and Virgin Galactic test pilot, director of test flight at Virgin Galactic, and (first female) research pilot for NASA Armstrong; Jared "Rook" Isaacman, CEO, Draken International and Shift4, and commander of Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn; and Wesley R. Persall, flight test engineer for the Air Force and Scaled Composites, and principal test engineer for Blue Origin and The Spaceship Company.

The public can also support the fundraising campaign by visiting the Foundation's signed collectibles store.

To learn more as well as see other exciting events, head over to prnewswire.com and read up on all of the details.