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Programs and flights are subject to change without notice. All Saturday programs begin at 1:00PM unless otherwise stated. |
| Sept 11 Sunday 1:00PM |
Sunday Memorial Anniversary 9/11 Flower Drop
Remembering those Americans who were killed ten years ago in the attack of September 11th, 2001. The Palm Springs Air Museum is recognizing this day on Sunday, September 11th, 2011 by reducing our admission prices $5 across the board and hosting a brief joint service at 1:00PM followed by a helicopter initiated flower drop. 2,752 death certificates were filed relating to this attack. Cantor Fitzgerald L.P., an investment bank on the 101st–105th floors of One World Trade Center, lost 658 employees, considerably more than any other employer, while Marsh & McLennan Companies, located immediately below Cantor Fitzgerald on floors 93–101 (the location of Flight 11's impact), lost 295 employees, and 175 employees of Aon Corporation were killed. As well, 343 deaths were New York City firefighters, 84 were Port Authority employees, of whom 37 were members of the Port Authority Police Department, and another 23 were New York City Police Department officers. Of all the people who were still in the towers when they collapsed, only 20 were pulled out alive. |
| Oct. 22 all day |
Chili Cook-Off/Classic Car Rally - Join the fun at the PSAM’s 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off and Car Show. Volunteers from the various sections of the museum will cook up their favorite chili recipe and you get to decide the winners. Classic and antique cars will gather on the ramp, it will be a feast for the eyes and the tummy.
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| Nov. 5 |
Celebrating 75yrs of the DC-3/C-47 - The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry, World War II, Korea and Vietnam makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made. Many DC-3s are still used in all parts of the world today. We celebrate the 75th birthday of this vaunted aircraft by inviting those that flew this plane to share some of its history.
Flight Exhibition C47 Scheduled |
| Nov. 12 |
PSAM 15th Anniversary - Palm Springs Air Museum celebrates its 15th anniversary with a thanks to all who have served Our Country especially those that didn’t get it before, our Vietnam Vets. The cockpit of our Vietnam vintage F4 Phantom II will be open to the public for viewing with veteran pilots on hand to explain how it all works. Join us for a day filled with flight exhibitions, musical performances, birthday cake, WWII reanactors and more! All US active duty and veteran military members get in free (Your word was good enough for Uncle Sam and will be for us). Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Flight Exhibition Scheduled |
| Nov. 19 |
The Aviation History of the US Coast Guard - In times of war, the Coast Guard can operate as a service of the Department of the Navy. Under this arrangement the Guard has been involved in wars as diverse as the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the American Civil War, in which the cutter Harriet Lane fired the first naval shots attempting to relieve besieged Fort Sumter. The last time the Coast Guard operated as a whole under the US Navy was in World War II during which time its aircraft as well as its ships played a vital role in the allied victory. Professor of History, Dr. Douglas Kroll presents a chronicle of the United States Coast Guard’s proud military history and its use of aircraft to perform its crucial responsibilities.
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| Dec. 3 |
“A Date that will Live in Infamy”: Pearl Harbor Remembered - Dec. 7th, 2011 marks the 70th anniversary of the “Day of Infamy” when the United States was attacked by Japan and thrust unprepared into WWII. From the moments before to the days after the attack, Pearl Harbor was transformed from idyllic island paradise to a smoldering mass of confusion and then to a bustling hub of Pacific wartime activity. Accompany us on a trip back in time to understand that transformation and what made it necessary.
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| Dec. 10 |
Santa Fly In - He’ll arrive at the museum at 1:00 PM in a Stearman Biplane with a bag full of goodies and kid’s are invited to join him as he takes a seat in his comfy red chair in shade under the wing of our C-47; a great photo op so bring your camera.
Flight Exhibition Scheduled |
| Dec. 17 |
The Battle of Midway: A Historical Retrospective - Widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign, the battle of Midway has been called, "the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare”. Historian Richard Grosser brings those auspicious days of WWII to life with his presentation of, “The Battle of Midway: A Historical Retrospective”.
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| Jan. 14 |
Air Racing: Pilot-Speaker: Mark Lightsey - Mark is the owner of AeroCraftsman which is a full service aircraft restoration shop focused on the restoration and preservation of antique and classic aircraft. In addition to restoration of antiques, he also builds custom and replica aircraft from the golden age of flying, such as the Caudron C.460. His presentation covers the history of the original Caudron C.460 aircraft, particularly it's victories in the 1936 National Air Races. It also cover's the construction of his replica Caudron and some of the adventures involved in test flying it, shipping it to France for the Paris Air Show, as well as flying it to Oshkosh, etc.
Flight Exhibition Scheduled |
| Jan. 21 |
Clash of the Titans: The Russian Front in WWII - On June 22, 1941, Adolf Hitler unleashed an army of 3 million for a blitzkrieg conquest of the Soviet Union. Over 10 million Germans and Russians would fight for four years over a 1,500 mile front stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the Black Sea. Both side deployed countless thousands of planes, tanks, and field guns in a seemingly endless conflagration on a truly epic scale. The outcome of this campaign shaped the map of Europe for the next 50 years. Presentation by Edward E. Gordon, Ph.D., internationally recognized professional historian, researcher, and author.
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| Jan. 27 Friday 6PM |
Reception and discussion: “The Pacific” by Author Hugh Ambrose - He’ll be here to share his insight into the making of both the book and mini-series which have garnered so much positive attention for doing for the war against Japan what Band of Brothers did for the war against Germany.
Friday evening reception includes Wine & Light Hors d'oeuvres. Please R.S.V.P. to 760-778-6262 ext. 221: Members: $15, Non-Members $20. All guests without an R.S.V.P. $25 at the door. |
| Jan. 28 |
“The Pacific” by Author Hugh Ambrose - Hugh Ambrose’s book, The Pacific presents the Pacific War, from America’s first battle with the Japanese to the final shot. It blends eyewitness accounts into a larger perspective on the course of the war. Mr. Ambrose is a noted historian and was a documentary consultant for projects involving Steven Spielberg and his father Stephen Ambrose. Likewise, Hugh was a consultant to his father on his books, and also served as a historical consultant on HBO's highly acclaimed miniseries, The Pacific.
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| Feb 4 |
For Love of Life & Country: Dr. Dean Hunter - From Eagle Scout to USAF Lt. Col, with combat experiences in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts the story of Dean Hunter’s military career is one that you’ll have to hear first hand to believe. Accidently sent to Korea as a Marine Pvt. without any combat training, Hunter went on to become one of the highest-decorated officers for heroism in the US Air Force. Author, educator and American hero Dr. Dean Hunter relates his experiences from ground pounder to pilot in his spellbinding presentation, “For Love of Life & Country”.
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| Feb 18 |
Stan Stokes’ Tuskegee Airmen Tribute: Meet the Real “Red Tail” Heroes - With more than 40 years as a full time artist, Stan Stokes has produced literally hundreds of paintings documenting historical events, people and places. He researches his subjects to assure the accuracy of the smallest detail to preserve its relationship in time. This research has made him friends all over the aviation community especially among the famed Tuskegee Airmen. For this program Stan invites a few of these cherished friends to the museum to share their experiences and help Mr. Stokes explain the stories that so greatly influence his art.
Flight Exhibition Scheduled |
| Feb 25 |
100th Bomb Group Reunion - The 100th flew its first combat mission on June 25, 1943 and it’s last on April 20, 1945. During those 22 months some 7,000 men and a few women flew 306 missions dropping 19,257 tons of bombs plus 435.1 tons of food on mercy missions. Nicknamed the “Bloody 100th” they suffered more losses than the typical B-17 squadron. For this program we have a very special guest speaker, Jane LeMay Lodge--daughter of Gen. Curtis E. LeMay. She will be giving a rare public lecture about her father. We will also have original pilots, bombardiers, navigators and gunners from the group come together to share their experiences with the public while they served with the 100th BG.
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| Mar 3 |
A Tribute to the RCAF - The RCAF started in WWII with only 29 front-line fighter and bomber aircraft. By the end of the war, it was the fourth largest allied air force, reaching their peak strength of 215,000 in January 1944. Throughout its history the RCAF like Canada herself has proved a noble and true ally to the United States and freedom loving people all over the world. Come and join us in celebrating our neighbor to the north and learn firsthand from current and former Canadian military members about what it means to serve under the Canadian flag.
Flight Exhibition Scheduled |
| Mar 17 Sunday |
The Cuban Missile Crisis - For 13 in days in October of 1962 the world was perhaps the closest to nuclear war as at any point in history. John Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev stood toe to toe waiting to see who would blink first. 50 years later we take a look back at those events through the eyes of those who waited on the front lines to see what would happen next.
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| Mar 24 |
Trend Setters: America’s First Ladies of Flight - From Harriet Quimby to Bessie Coleman and Pancho Barnes to the deserts own Jacquelyn Cochran, America’s first ladies of flight were as unique as the airplanes they flew. They bucked convention and forever inspired future generations of women to not only be as good as the boys but often times just a little better. Come and learn about the life and legacy of “America’s First Ladies of Flight”.
Flight Exhibition Scheduled |
| Mar 31 |
The Golden Age of Commercial Aviation - Commercial aviation is the part of civil aviation that involves operating aircraft for hire to transport passengers or cargo. These days it sometimes becomes difficult to tell the difference between the two but during the Golden Age of Commercial Aviation that definitely wasn’t the case. Historian, Richard Grosser presents a program that harkens back to a time when in-flight cocktails were free and “flight attendants” went by another name.
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| Mar 31 Apr 1 Sat & Sun |
T34 Fly-In - The T-34s return to the air museum for a weekend of flight exhibitions, formation flying, contests and just plane fun. In the afternoon on Saturday the T-34 pilots will discuss their particular aircraft and the reasons why they should be chosen “Best in Show”. Enter our drawing for a T-34 ride!
Flight Exhibition Scheduled |
| Apr 14 |
Propeller Blades & Super Chargers: the mechanics of WWII aircraft - A plane is no better than its power plant, and engines have led the design and development of aircraft since the Wright brothers built the first airplane engine. Learn about some of the most iconic engines ever built and see, hear and feel them run.
Engine Demonstration Scheduled |
| Apr 21 |
Latinos in War: The American Military Experience - On December 7, 1941, when the United States officially entered the WWII, Hispanic Americans were among the many American citizens who joined the ranks of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps as volunteers or through the draft. Not only did Hispanics serve as active combatants in the European and Pacific Theatres of war, but they also served on the home front as civilians. Come and learn about the contributions that this often overlooked portion of our population has made in the defense of our country.
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| Apr 28 |
Battle of the Coral Sea: A 70th Anniversary Tribute - In early May of 1942 a naval battle took place in the Coral Sea that helped shape the entire outcome of the war in the Pacific theatre as it stopped the seemingly unstoppable Japanese expansion in the Pacific. It was also the first naval battle in history in which neither side's ships sighted or fired directly upon the other. WWII veteran and Battle of Coral Sea survivor Vincent Anderson will share his memories of those fateful days in May of 42.
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| May 19 |
Civil Air Patrol: A Proud History - During World War II, CAP was seen as a way to use America's civilian aviation resources to aid the war effort. The organization assumed many missions including anti-submarine patrol, border patrols, and courier services.Officially activated just days before the Pearl Harbor attack, the CAP s serves our country today with its three congressionally-mandated missions: Emergency Services, Aerospace Education and the Cadet Program. Come hear about the history and current activities of American’s Civil Air Patrol.
Flight Exhibition Scheduled |
| May 28 |
Annual Memorial Day Flower Drop - This is a very special day at Palm Springs Air Museum. Our brief Memorial service is dedicated to all of our fallen comrades, who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. In their honor, we highlight the service with a fly-by and flower drop of over 3,000 red and white carnations from a B-25 Mitchell. This most impressive ceremony is our way of saluting our fallen comrades. Visitors are welcome to pick up a flower to take home.
Flight Exhibition Scheduled |
| June | SUMMER PROGRAMS TO BE ANNOUNCED |
