- Visited Lockheed "Skunk Works" for tour and briefing. We were the FIRST civilian organization allowed a visit to this Top Secret facility. We received a special briefing on a proposed carrier suitable naval version of the Lockheed F-117 Stealth Fighter.
- Visited the B-2 Stealth Bomber Production Facility. Observed twelve B-2 Bombers in various stages of completion. Received special briefing on the B-2 Bomber. We were the FIRST civilian organization to visit this Top Secret facility.
- Visited the NASA Space Shuttle Rehabilitation Facility. This was a special two hour tour and briefing at a facility which DID NOT conduct tours. The Shuttle "Atlantis" was in the facility at the time.
- Visited, toured, and were briefed at NASA's JET PROPULSION LABORATORY at Pasadena. We were IN the Command Center, observing MISSION CONTROL, when the Space Probe "Galileo" entered orbit around Mars.
- Visited the CALTECH US Geological Service Earthquake Center in Pasadena. Toured the facility and were briefed by Dr, Lucy Jones.
- Visited Edwards Air Force Base and the NASA Ames Research Center at Edwards AFB. Toured the flight line of Edwards AFB Flight Test Center, and were briefed on the facility. Visited the Flight Test Heritage Museum. NASA provided a briefing on the Ames Research Center, and we were able to tour their aircraft in NASA's hangers - including NASA's SR-71. During this trip we also visited the Experimental Test Pilots Museum and Blackbird Air Park.
- A group of 60 squadron members and 40 Palm Springs merchants and sponsors made this one-week trip.
- About 60 Squadron members made one week cruises
- About 40 Palm Springs area merchants made one week cruises
- "Tiger Cruises" from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to San Diego aboard the USS BOXER and the USS CONSTELLATION. About 25 Squadron members have made the eight day cruises.
- One day at-sea "Family Day" cruises aboard the USS CONSTELLATION (2X), USS RANGER (3X), and USS BOXER (3X). More than 200 Squadron members have been to sea during such cruises.
- VIP overnight guests aboard super carriers USS CONSTELLATION, USS RANGER, and USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, with arrested carrier landing arrival and catapult take-off departure. We watched day and night carrier operations up very close and personal from the Landing Signal Officer's Platform. 45 Squadron members and about 30 Palm Springs area merchants and dignitaries have enjoyed this special adventure during the ten year period.
- Ten day cruise to Mazatlan, Mexico aboard the USS BOXER for 10 Squadron Members.
- Visited and briefed at the Special Boats Unit at Camp Pendleton. Observed LCAC Air Cushion Land Craft operations. Also observed the special boats used by Navy Seals.
- Visited and toured a LOS ANGELES Class Nuclear Attack Submarine at the US Navy Submarine Base in at Point Loma, San Diego. Observed, but did not tour a Poseidon Class Missile Submarine.
- Squadron has had two Astronauts who have flown in Space ("Hoot" Gibson and Bill Readdy) and one Astronaut Candidates/Back up Crew members (Doctor Craig Fisher, who is now the Medical Flight Director for NASA) as speakers at Squadron Dinners. Bill Readdy is now the Assistant Director of NASA - in charge of Flight Operations.
- The former Director of CALTECH Jet Propulsion Laboratory spoke to the Squadron and briefed us on all the unmanned probes which JPL has sent into space. He was so adept at describing how the probes were launched and directed to rendezvous with solar system planets, moons of Mars, and large meteorites --- many of us actually thought we understood the physics involved with the space travel of the probes.
- We have had the following "World Class" Aviation Hall of Fame speakers at Squadron Dinners over the years.
- Robert "Bob" Gilliland - Lockheed "Skunk Works" Test Pilot on F-104, and Lead Test Pilot for the SR-71 "Blackbird"
- COL William "Pete" Knight, USAF (Ret)- X-15 Test Pilot, and the Test Pilot who flew the X-15A-2 to Mach 6.7 (4,670 mph) and to altitudes over 200,000 feet.
- LCOL Dick Rutan, USAF (Ret) - Pilot (along with Jeanna Yeager) who flew the special designed aircraft "Challenger" NON-STOP around the world.
- Significant senior military speakers at squadron dinners have included the following:
- Commander-in-Chief, US PACIFIC FLEET
- Commander, US THIRD FLEET (three different commanders over the years)
- Commander, Naval Air Force, US PACIFIC FLEET (six different over the years)
- We have had some significant women speakers at squadron dinners, including:
- Ellen Donnelly, President of The Center for Military Readiness, Inc.
- RADM Ronnie (Froman, USN: Commander Naval Region, Southwest USA --and Commander Naval Base San Diego.
- Navy Helicopter Test Pilot, CDR Colleen Nevius, USNR
- We had one of the all time great aircraft design engineers, North American Aviation Corporation's Mr. Lee Atwood, as a speaker at a squadron dinner. Lee Atwood designed the P-51 "Mustang" of WW-II fame (and had a prototype flying in 119 days from the start of design). He also designed the North American Aviation's F-86, the top fighter of the Korean War.
- A visit to our Squadron by aviation designer and spacecraft pioneer, Burt Rutan.
- A visit by Col. James Trotman USAF (Ret.) a former pilot of Air Force One (The President's plane) who is a grandson of one of the Tuskegee Airmen.
- Two visits to the Reagan Museum and Library in Simi Valley, CA.
- A presentation by world renowned aviation muralist, Stan Stokes with background on how he gets so much detail into his work.
- Annual visits to NAF El Centro to watch the air show marking the "season opener" for the Navy's Blue Angels aerobatic team.
- Day cruise aboard USS Germantown. LSD-42.
- Trip to Ft. Irwin, the Army's National Training facility near Barstow, CA. We watched a simulated battle between post museum and ate at the main mess hall.
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