History Hangar

While many folks come to see the aircraft, that's certainly not all there is to do at the Valkaria Air Fest. We are very pleased and honored to host the History Hangar, where guests will have the opportunity to meet some true heroes and aviators with fascinating experiences. No matter how impressive or legendary any particular aircraft may be, the real story is the people associated with it. We have worked hard to provide an opportunity for the community to meet these folks who have, in many cases, created the history that will live forevermore.

We strongly encourage young people to meet and learn more about the amazing things that these folks did! Some attendees will give presentations, some prefer just to talk and answer questions, but all are there out of a desire to share their unique perspectives on our history with others. Several attendees will have books, DVDs, etc. available to buy if you wish, many of which help to support worthy organizations such as the Tuskegee Airmen Association.

Are YOU a Historic Aviator?

If you have experience with some historical aspect of aviation (or know someone who does) and would like to be part of the History Hangar, or if you have a historically significant aircraft you'd like to bring, please get in touch!

Format and Presentation Schedule

We will have a Gaggle Hangar where our "Historic aviators" and guests can mingle and talk one-on-one. We will also have two Presentation Hangars where attendees will give presentations and/or answer questions in a (somewhat) structured format. Each presentation session will be no more than 25 minutes long, and presentation times will be staggered between the two hangars to maximize the chances for guests to see as many presentations as possible. During the one-hour mid-day air show period, we will suspend the presentations to give our attendees a chance to eat lunch, enjoy the air show, or see some of the other displays and attractions. The Gaggle Hangar will remain open throughout the day. We have tried to schedule each attendee to be available at the Gaggle Hangar for at least two or three hours, however some folks are only available for limited periods, and schedules are of course subject to change at any moment. We'd suggest that you just hang out for a while, or stop in frequently throughout the day to see who's there... all of our attendees have fascinating experiences and are there in order to share their story!

You can view the presentation times on our Event Schedule page.

Featured Attendees

This is the current list of who we expect to host in the History Hangar. We're actively seeking more folks, so this list will change as we confirm attendance plans.

• Tuskegee Airmen
  First Black Combat Pilots in US Military
  
  Meet original members of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen - the first black combat pilots in the US military, who earned a nearly perfect record of protecting their assigned bomber groups from German fighters during World War II, while simultaneously fighting an even tougher battle against the rampant racism of the times. Recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, these valiant warriors and patriots are truly American Heroes in every sense! We have TEN original Tuskegee Airmen who have committed to attending!

  The following original Tuskegee Airmen have confirmed their attendance... included in their ranks are pilots of P-51 Mustangs, other aircraft, and support personnel:

  
  
  

  J. Bruce Bennett (Viera, FL) LtCol (Ret) Leo Gray (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Robert B. Griffin (Viera, FL) Noel Harris (Merritt Island, FL) Charles Holiday (Rockledge, FL)

  LtCol (Ret) Hiram Mann (Titusville, FL) Wesley Moss (Tampa, FL) Judge Richard Rutledge (Plantation, FL) Donald A. Williams (Merritt Island, FL) LtCol (Ret) Eldridge Williams (Miami, FL)

  

• Ramsey Agarie
  Airline Pilot (Soloed at Valkaria)
  
  Ramsey learned to fly at Valkaria Airport, and was an assistant airport manager while attending Florida Tech. Today, he is part of the next generation of airline pilots! Ramsey will speak about the opportunities available in aviation today.
  
• Capt Bruce Alger, USAAF
  B-29 Superfortress Commander
  
  Bruce Alger was born in Dallas, TX in 1918 but grew up in St. Louis, MO. He attended Princeton University, studying art, philosophy, and music. After graduation he worked at RCA in the newly-invented television industry, but soon came World War 2. He enlisted as an aviation cadet in the US Army Air Corps in September 1941. He served as a B-29 Superfortress bomber commander in the Pacific theater of operations until he was discharged at war's end in November 1945, having achieved the rank of Captain. Post-war, he returned to Dallas and got into the real estate business. In 1955, Bruce became the first Republican elected to the US House of Representatives from Texas since the Civil War, serving from 1955 through 1965 on a platform of opposition to "big government"... which stood at odds with the rest of the strongly Democratic Texas delegation at the time including Lyndon Johnson. After his service in public office, Bruce returned to Texas and pursued his longtime real estate business until he retired.
  
• Cdr William R. Barnett, USN
  US Navy Hellcat Pilot and Author of "US Naval Air Station Melbourne, FL WWII"
  
  William actually did flight training at Valkaria Airport during World War II and has extensive knowledge of the history of military aviation in this area during the War. He will give a presentation on this fascinating segment of Valkaria Airport's history.
  
• MajGen Frederick C. "Boots" Blesse, USAF
  Korean War Double Ace and Author of "No Guts, No Glory"
  
  Boots Blesse graduated from West Point in 1945 as a US Army Air Corps pilot. After stints flying P-40, P-51, P-47 and F-80 fighters, he volunteered for two combat tours in the Korean War. Between Nov. 1950 and May 1951 and April 1952 and Oct. 1952, Boots flew 67 missions in F-51 Mustangs, 35 missions F-80 Shooting Stars, and 121 missions in F-86 Sabres. During his second tour he shot down nine MiG-15s, one LA-9, and scored 1 "probable" and 3 "damaged" MiG-15s, making him America's top jet ace by the time he returned to the States in Oct. 1952. At the 1955 Air Force Worldwide Gunnery Championship, Boots won all six trophies offered for individual performance... something that's never been equaled. He served two tours in Vietnam, flying 156 combat missions. When he retired from the USAF in 1975, he had over 6,500 flight hours in fighters and over 650 combat hours. Perhaps most famously, Blesse wrote the book "No Guts, No Glory" which is required reading for all fighter pilots. He will have copies of his books available to buy at VAF.
  
• Bob Bolin, USMC / CIA
  SR-71 Pilot
  
  Bob Bolin is one of very few people who has flown in what many consider to be the ultimate aircraft... the legendary Mach-3 SR-71 Blackbird spy plane. Bob served in the US Marine Corps as a pilot, and later became part of the Central Intelligence Agency where he flew the SR-71. Bob has participated in seven conflicts or wars throughout the world, concluding with Desert Storm. Bob has had over 55 years of experience in the operations of local, national, and international governments, and has seen over 100 countries. He continues to serve as a contractor to the CIA and State Department, as well as participating in a large number of civic organizations. He frequently speaks to groups about subjects such as honoring America, respecting the Flag, supporting our national heroes, and patriotism. Bob is also quite proud of his wife Mary, who currently serves the community as a Brevard County Commissioner representing District 4.
  
• Marius Burke, USMC
  USMC and Air America Helicopter Pilot
  
  Marius Burke spent 5 years in the Marine Corps, flying all over the world. He commanded a detachment in Guantanamo, Cuba, where they flew the fence and ended up flying an H-37 helicopter along the Cuban coast carrying $10 million worth of electronic equipment, just prior to the Cuban missile crisis. The day after the unit shut down operations in 1962, the Cubans shot down the U-2 spy plane. Marius was scheduled to go into Cuba in the first wave of the invasion, which never materialized, and left the Marines in January 1963. He went back to school briefly before being recruited to join Air America, the CIA's secret air operations arm in Southeast Asia ("Air America... the most shot-at airline in the world!") where he stayed until 1975. He held various positions flying for "The Company" including as Chief Pilot. He was one of two helicopter pilots that flew to and from the Pittman Apartment building in Saigon during the frantic last hours of the evacuation of Americans and certain South Vietnamese allies out of the country at the very end of the Vietnam War. This mission was immortalized in a famous Life magazine photo of a Huey atop a small rooftop building with people scrambling up a ladder to get into the chopper. Marius and his fellow pilot flew evacuees out to the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal for many hours, until they were refused fuel and had to abandon their efforts. Marius had the distinction of flying the last civilian aircraft out at the fall of Saigon in 1975. After he returned to the US, Marius ran a real estate company in Utah, but the flying bug bit again. He began flying EMS aircraft for the University of Utah, eventually becoming the Senior VP and Director of Operations of Air Methods Corporation, currently the largest EMS company in the world. He retired in 2001, and moved to Florida where he stays active in various volunteer organizations.
  
• Dan Clair, USN
  F6F Hellcat Pilot
  
  Dan trained in the Navy's famous F6F Hellcat fighter at Melbourne NAS during World War 2, including missions to Valkaria Airfield.
  
• Bill Dillard, USAF
  P-51 Mustang Pilot
  
  Bill joined the Army Air Force in December 1942 and subsequently joined the flying program. He stayed in the Air Force after the war, eventually serving in Vietnam. In 2001, Bill was inducted into the Spacecoast Runner's Hall of Fame, having been deeply involved in both competing in and operating running events for many years, and has also been involved in judging show dogs worldwide. Bill is also well-known in the Space Coast pilot community for his sharp blue Midget Mustang homebuilt airplane.
  
• John Garland, Luftwaffe
  German Me-109 (Bf-109) Pilot
  
  John served on "the other side", flying the famous and fearsome Me-109 on the Russian Front during World War 2.
  
• Paul Goetsch
  Hot-Air Balloon Pilot
  
  Paul will give a presentation about one of the most romanticized and magical forms of flight, hot-air ballooning. Paul will also be participating in our evening hot-air balloon glow. Paul's experience with lighter-than-air aircraft goes back to tethered aerostats that were once based at Valkaria Airport, which carried advanced radar systems to detect illegal air- and sea-borne drug smuggling at long ranges. Paul and his father John also ran the FBO at Valkaria Airport during the 1980s. When Paul isn't ballooning, he works as the president of local aerobatic biplane manufacturer Steen Aero Lab.
  
• Col Bob Hood, USAF
  Chief Pilot, J-STARS Program, Northrop-Grumman
  
  Col Bob Hood, a native of the Space Coast, is the chief test pilot for Northrop-Grumman's Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (J-STARS) radar ground surveillance aircraft based at Melbourne International Airport. Prior to coming to the Joint STARS program in 2002, Bob was the Vice Commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB in California. A graduate of and instructor for the USAF Test Pilot School, Bob worked on development programs for the B-1B and B-2 bombers, and the T-6A trainer. Aircraft Bob has flown include: E-8, B-52D, B-1B, A-37, F-111, T-38, F-16, F-15, T-6A, T-6, T-37, T-3, T-44, T-45, T 46, T-43, U-6, O-2, C-130, C-17, C-5, C-141, B-767, B-757, T-33, T-38C, UV-18, C-21, B-26, A-7, EC/KC/C-135, F-106, AH-1, Cessna TU-206G, Tucano, Helio Courier, gliders and others.
  
• Rod Ludder
  P-47 Pilot
  
  Rod flew P-47 Thunderbolts in World War 2, training at Millville AAF in New Jersey.
  
• Gene McNeely
  T-6 Pilot / Aerobatic Performer
  
  Gene is very well-known among airshow fans as the "slot" pilot in the highly-acclaimed 4-man formation Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, flying the famous North American T-6 Texan from World War 2. Aside from his career on the airshow circuit, Gene also consistently does well at the Reno Air Races with his other T-6... he has consistently finished races in the top five since 1986. Gene became interested in flying during high school, and entered the Navy after graduation. After his tour, he began flight instructing and took up crop dusting, running an agricultural business for over twenty years. He also ran an air cargo service operating both the venerable DC-3 Dakota and the speedy Mitsubishi MU-2 twin turboprop. Not surprisingly, Gene's favorite aircraft remains the T-6. He has earned a well-deserved reputation as a true master of the Texan, and is a true icon among airshow performers.
  
• Capt Denis G. Murphy
  Pilot and Author of "PAN, PAN ,PAN - A Survivors Story"
  
  Denis is a professional speaker & aviator and the author of "PAN, PAN ,PAN - A Survivors Story" which describes his experiences in surviving ditching his twin-engine Cessna 402 in the ocean while returning from a trip to Havana, Cuba... after surviving an in-flight fire, smoke in the cockpit, and losing both engines! Denis is an ATP pilot who has flown over 50 aircraft, and has flown as a commuter, ferry, and corporate pilot as well as been the chief pilot for a commuter airline. He has recieved numerous prestigious awards for his aviation writing and activities.
  
• Jason Panzarino
  EAA 1288 Scholarship Winner / BAP Summer Flight Academy Attendee
  
  EAA 1288 offers scholarships to promising high school students to attend the BPA Summer Flight Academy in Houston, TX, and Jason was our first scholarship recipient. After the two-week academy (during which he soloed) he went on to complete his training to become a certified Private Pilot. He will be speaking about his resulting experiences.
  
• LtCol Keith Phillips, USAF (Retired)
  Piloted F-84G Thunderjet, F-84F Thunderstreak, F-100D Super Sabre, F-104G Starfighter, O-1 Bird Dog
  
  Keith learned to fly in the early 50s, entered the USAF in 1955 and completed his pilot training in 1956. He flew the F-84G Thunderjet, F-84F Thunderstreak, and then the F-100D Super Sabre. He graduated from the F-100 USAF Fighter Weapons School before spending four years as an instructor in the USAF/GAF F-104G Fighter Weapons School (a partnership between the USAF and German Air Force). Keith served two combat tours in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967. In Vietnam, he did one of the most dangerous jobs imaginable... flying "low, slow, unarmed and alone" as a Forward Air Controller in the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog supporting the US Army's 4th Division. Later, he flew the F-100 with the 31st Fighter Wing, and accumulated over 500 hours of combat time. He retired from the USAF as Lt. Col. in 1977 while serving in the Pentagon. He then worked with Singer/Link in their F-5E Simulator Program for Saudia Arabia, as well as other positions in the Middle East. Keith is now a consultant for major US aerospace firms marketing military equipment in the Mid-East, and has built 3 amateur-built aircraft. Keith and his wife Linda live at the Spruce Creek Fly-In community and he is currently the president of EAA Chapter 288 in Daytona Beach, as well as leading Spruce Creek's famous "Gaggle Flight" and flying the occasional airshow in his Pitts Model 12 biplane. Keith currently flies an SX300, Pitts Model 12 and IAR 823 Romanian military trainer.
  
• Bill Plunk, USAF
  Skyraider / P-51 Pilot
  
  Bill flew the fearsome Douglas Skyraider into combat in Vietnam, and even managed to fly P-51 Mustangs for a few years in the early 1970s... while on assignment to Guatemala!
  
• LtCol John J. "Pat" Ryan, USAF
  B-17 Lead Navigator and Acclaimed Aviation Artist
  
  LtCol Ryan joined the US Army Air Corps right after Pearl Harbor as an aviation cadet, and was commissioned in 1943. He flew 30 missions from England as a Lead Navigator in the legendary B-17 Flying Fortress. In 1948, he completed pilot training in time to fly in the Berlin Airlift. He later flew in both the Korean War and Vietnam, amassing over 13,000 flight hours. Pat's art career got started when he entered a program with Carnegie Tech in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Later, he studied at the Tokyo Institute of Fine Arts. Pat has made aviation art his specialty. He often paints specific aircraft for people who flew them, and you can see his works throughout the US and England. He also designed a memorial for a WW2 airfield in England, which honors his fellow servicemen. Pat currently has an exhibition in the museum portion of the Melbourne International Airport. Pat plans to have some of his works on display at Valkaria Air Fest, and will be available to relate some of his many interesting aviation experiences.
  
• WAFs, WACs, and WAVES Members
  WAFs (Women in the Air Force), WACs (Women's Army Corps), and WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service)
  
  During World War Two, the realities of America's war effort allowed women to finally get a chance to play a much larger role in the armed services than the limited nursing and secretarial jobs previously available. The WAAC program (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps) began in 1942 and expanded into the Women's Army Corps (WAC) in 1943. The Navy had the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) beginning in August 1942, whose name even implied that the member's service was considered temporary and only due to wartime necessity. After the war, the newly-formed US Air Force created the WAF program (Women in the Air Force) in 1949 which expanded women's opportunities in that service, and women's positions in the military were made permanent by law in June 1948. While it would be decades before women generally had the same opportunities and were treated equally to men in the military, these pioneers blazed the trail for all who followed. Several ladies who served in these pioneering units will be sharing their experiences, including:
  
  

  Jean Light (WAFs) Elsie Tuell (WAFs) Barbi Wilder (WAFs)

  Dixie Gabriel (WACs) Norma Waters (WACs) TBD (WAVEs)

  
  

• Barbi Wilder, USAF / WAFs
  Member of WAF (Women in the Air Force)
  
  Barbi was one of the youngest pilots in New England when she learned to fly in 1947. She joined the WAFs (Women in the Air Force) program in 1949 and is a member of the Ninety-Nines, Florida Grasshoppers and the Valiant Air Command. She has flown numerous aircraft including the Stearman, Citabria, Luscombe Seaplane and Commanche. She and her husband Gene owned a Cherokee 180 until his death in 1996. She currently lives in Suntree with her rescued Chihuahua "Lola".
  
• More To Come!
  
  We are working hard to confirm the attendance of more aviators with interesting and historic experiences... stay tuned!
  

View the Presentation Schedule

(Please note that all events and participants are subject to change without notice)