Texas

Tavaero Jet Charter Serves as a Catalyst Sponsor and Table Host for Women Inspiring the Next Generation through STEM Breakfast

Kim Stevens

Tavaero Jet Charter Corp. recently served as a Catalyst sponsor of the Lone Star Flight Museum’s 2024 Women Inspiring the Next Generation through STEM (WINGS) breakfast. The event was held in May at River Oaks Country Club in Houston and raised more than $45,000 for the museum and its educational programs.

Seated, from left are, Alicia Diaz, Jo Schenkenfelder, Marion Keller, and Melissa Zuber. Standing, from left are, Joni Becker, Zundrell Green, Marcela White, Sarah Wendt, Stephanie Abrego, and Donna Bruney. (Photo credit: Lone Star Flight Museum)

Kimberly Allen Dang, chief executive officer of Kinder Morgan, served as the honorary chair of the event. Kinder Morgan served as the Changemaker presenting sponsor. Serving as keynote speaker was Lena Andrews, author of the national best seller Valient Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II.

Located in Houston at Ellington Airport, the Lone Star Flight Museum is a 501c3 aviation museum and STEM learning center. The museum’s mission is to celebrate flight and achievements in Texas aviation history and to educate and engage youth through science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Lone Star Flight Museum is home to a flying collection of rare and historic commercial, general aviation, and military aircraft.

“We are thankful to Tavaero and all of our WINGs event sponsors for their support. Girls in Aviation and STEM education programming at Lone Star Flight Museum combines aviation and STEM principles with real-world applications to excite students of all ages about learning, and about careers in both the STEM and aviation industries. Girls in Aviation programming focuses on the many opportunities in aviation, the achievements of female role models like Marcela and to reinforce to girls ages 8 to 17 that they can become anything they set their minds to,” commented Anna Hawley, president and CEO of Lone Star Flight Museum.

Launched by Women in Aviation International 10 years ago, Girls in Aviation Day is a free event that is being held for kids and teens all over the world on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2024. On this day, the Lone Star Flight Museum will welcome 300 girls (and boys) ages 8 to 17 who are interested in learning about air and space career opportunities.  Lone Star Flight Museum’s Girls in Aviation Day event will include complimentary breakfast and lunch, a panel discussion with accomplished women in aviation and aerospace, a STEM Career Fair and exhibit booths, hands-on demonstrations, flight simulator experiences, a tour of the museum’s hangars and aircraft, and many other special activities and programs. Registration is now open, and sponsorship opportunities are available.  Access the Girls in Aviation Day video here.

Marcela White, co-owner of Tavaero, hosted nine special guests who included Stephanie Abrego, Jefferson Enterprise;  Joni Becker, Tavaero Jet charter; Donna Bruney,  Jefferson Enterprise; Alicia Diaz; Zundrell Green, Tavaero Jet Charter; Marion Keller, writer for Air Charter Journal and others; Jo Schenkenfelder, flight department coordinator;  Melissa Zuber, Tavaero Jet Charter; and Sarah Wendt, corporate pilot.

“Tavaero is supportive of women and men of all ages who are interested in pursuing a career in aviation and other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields. Sponsoring Lone Star Flight Museum’s 2024 WINGS event is one of many ways that our Tavaero team demonstrates our commitment to developing the workforce of the future.,” White commented. “I enjoy mentoring women and young professionals,  and I welcome opportunities to support anyone who is eager to learn and grow.”

Frontiers of Flight Museum Celebrates the 55th Anniversary of National Moon Day with Space-Themed Activities for the Community

Kim Stevens

In celebration of the 55th Anniversary of National Moon Day, the Frontiers of Flight Museum will host its 16th Annual Moon Day event. Taking place Saturday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., this enriching and engaging day of space exploration will feature interactive activities, one-of-a-kind exhibits and space-themed presentations for the entire community to enjoy. Tickets for this highly anticipated signature event are on sale now on the Frontiers of Flight Museum’s website.

In 1969, history was made, and the world was changed when Apollo 11 became the first spaceflight to land humans on the Moon. This monumental milestone, known as National Moon Day, marked the beginning of endless possibilities for space exploration and has been commemorated by the Frontiers of Flight Museum since 2009.

“We are extremely proud to host our annual event to celebrate the past, present and future of space exploration, while inspiring the next generation of space explorers,” said Abigail Erickson-Torres, CEO of the Frontiers of Flight Museum.  “It is the perfect day to explore the history and progress of space and aviation, in a fun and welcoming environment.”

For the first time ever, attendees of the 16th Annual Moon Day event will have an exclusive opportunity to view a unique exhibition called “Legends of Space Innovation: David Clark Company,” which will feature two rare prototype space suits and headsets designed and manufactured by the David Clark Company based in Worcester, MA.  On loan from the David Clark Company, the pieces are the newest addition to the Frontiers of Flight Museum and will be available for viewing through December 31, 2024.  Additionally, art and exploration will unite with the premier of a commissioned life-sized painting of 10 Apollo astronauts by Polish-born Maciej Maga, who has lived in Dallas nearly 20 years. The painting will be available for viewing through October 31, 2024.

This year’s event will also feature a special keynote presentation from Colonel Gregory H. Johnson, retired US Air Force officer, aerospace engineer, and NASA astronaut. He’ll share colorful and inspiring stories from his aviation and spaceflight experiences including his time as pilot of the STS-123 Endeavour. The STS-123 Endeavour crew performed a record five spacewalks and the mission was accomplished in 250 orbits of the Earth, traveling more than 6 million miles in 15 days, 18 hours and 10 minutes.

“The keynote presentation is a highlight for our guests as we have hosted several astronauts throughout the years,” said Rosalie Wade, Director of Education for the Frontiers of Flight Museum. “It is truly an honor to offer our visitors new one-of-a-kind components to our signature Moon Day event and to have Colonel Johnson share insight and wisdom from his astounding career.”

The Frontiers of Flight Museum’s 16th Annual Moon Day is a public event that focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and space-themed activities and displays for the young, young at heart and avid aviation aficionados. Additional highlights include a book signing by Jim Keyes, author of “Education is Freedom: The Future is in Your Hands,” as well as over 20 exhibitors, seven speakers, autograph signings, educational hands-on activities, food trucks and music. Guest speakers will also discuss a variety of topics ranging from “Pioneering the Path to the Moon” to “The Voyager Spacecraft: Humanity’s Farthest Journey.”

While enjoying the many Moon Day festivities, families are encouraged to explore the rich diversity of aviation and flight history throughout the two-level 100,000-square-foot space. The Frontiers of the Flight Museum is home to more than 40 aircraft and space vehicles including the Apollo 7 command module, 16 galleries and displays and more than 35,000 historic artifacts.  Among the many exhilarating exhibitions are “Dreamers and Early Flyers,” “Lighter than Air,” “Modern Air Power” and “Golden Age.”  In addition, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts can earn badges and K-12 Educators can earn CPE credits while attending the Moon Day event.

Tickets to attend the 16th Annual Moon Day event are $15 for children and $20 for adults and are free for children two years of age and younger. To purchase tickets, learn more and view the complete schedule of activities, please visit www.flightmuseum.com/events/moonday.

The Frontiers of Flight’s 16th Annual Moon Day event is made possible through gracious sponsors: The Dan and Gena Hamilton Family Fund and PlainsCapital Bank.

Lone Star Flight Museum Board of Directors Names Anna Hawley President & CEO

Kim Stevens

The Board of Directors of the Lone Star Flight Museum has named Anna Hawley the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the museum. Previously serving as the museum’s Chief Operating Officer, Hawley succeeds museum CEO Lt. Gen. Doug Owens USAF, (ret.), who has led the organization for the past eight years. She assumed the leadership role on June 1, 2024.

Owens was instrumental in the museum’s move from Galveston Island to Ellington Airport in 2017. Under his leadership, the newly imagined flight museum opened with a vision and mission that focused on celebrating aviation history as well as promoting STEM education through the science and wonder of flight. Leading the organization toward incredible successes and navigating weather and pandemic-related challenges, Owens now leaves the museum growing and thriving.

Owens said, “I am very proud of where the museum is today, and my thanks go to our board of directors and wonderful team of staff and volunteers that made it happen. With their collective vision and support, the museum is poised for even greater growth and impact. I am excited for Anna and the leadership she will bring to the position and wish her and the staff nothing but success!”

Chairman of the Board of Directors and former U.S. Congressman Pete Olson added, “Anna has worked alongside Doug for more than five years and has been an integral part of the museum’s increased visitors, growth of our education programs and impact in the community.  She will continue the work initiated by Doug and lead the museum toward even greater success with innovative experiences not seen at other aviation museums. Her almost three decades of non-profit leadership, marketing, operations, tourism, and museum industry experience is exactly what the Lone Star Flight Museum needs in this next phase of our strategic plan. Anna is the right person at the right time to keep our museum soaring higher.”

Hawley said, “I am thrilled to begin my new role as president and CEO and honored to have the support and confidence of the board of directors. As a native Houstonian, I am excited to lead what I believe is one of the best museum experiences in a city with dozens of great museums. I’m proud to be part of this museum and to have worked alongside General Owens. I wish him well and thank him for his leadership.”

Hawley will lead a staff of 43 full and part-time museum staff and more than 100 volunteers. Jerry Scott, an aviation-industry veteran and the current Director of Flight Operations at the museum, has been named Chief Operating Officer and assumed this new role on June 1.

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Achieve New Heights With “Discover Aviation Patch” at Lone Star Flight Museum

Kim Stevens

More than 120 enthusiastic Girl Scouts from the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council (GSSJC) earned the coveted “Discover Aviation Patch” at the Lone Star Flight Museum on Saturday, March 23.

Several successful women aviation leaders spoke to the girls during a luncheon seminar about their career experiences, insights, and advice. Speakers included Shelly deZevallos, GSSJC board member and recognized aviation thought leader and licensed pilot with 30 years of experience in the aviation and airport industry, and Autumn “Pepper” Rhodes, former Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, certified private pilot, and college freshman at Rice University where she studies mechanical engineering and astronomy.

“Watching Girl Scouts explore the world of aviation is truly inspiring,” said deZevallos. “The ‘Discover Aviation Patch’ has the power to influence the career aspirations of young girls and pioneer a future where women’s contributions in aviation know no bounds.”

“Girl Scouts has been an influential part of my life from when I was Daisy on my first camping trip to an Ambassador earning my Gold Award,” said Rhodes. “I would certainly not be the young woman I am today without Girl Scouts. Having the opportunity to collaborate with GSSJC after contacting them about my Gold Award project, ‘Girls Who Soar,’ was truly surreal, and I am honored to be a part of the aviation initiative.”

Girl Scouts from Daisies to Ambassadors immersed themselves in aviation history and the science of flight. The girls learned about the range of careers available in the aviation industry while paying tribute to Rosie the Riveter, an iconic symbol of female empowerment whose legacy of increased opportunities for women resonates throughout American history.

The “Discover Aviation” Patch resulted from a year-long collaboration between GSSJC and the Lone Star Flight Museum. This partnership aims to provide young girls with immersive experiences to fulfill patch requirements through engaging activities covering a wide range of topics, including aviation safety and the significance of effective aircraft communication. The Discover Aviation program is based upon the innovative and hands-on aviation and STEM programs offered at the museum.

Girl Scouts ages K-12 explored aviation topics and chose from 22 age-appropriate activities designed to spark their interest and curiosity in the industry. They also demonstrated their knowledge of the fundamental sciences of flight by operating a real Mooney Ovation aircraft. As this patch program is ongoing beyond this event, Girl Scouts can:

  • Learn about the fundamental elements of flight and aircraft design.
  • Learn about the impact of women in aviation history.
  • Prepare and fly their own plan in state‐of‐the‐art flight simulators.
  • Explore aviation careers, meet, and get inspired by female aviation leaders who will share their experiences in the aviation industry.

“With only 7% of pilots nationwide being female, we recognized the importance of introducing young women to the boundless opportunities within the field of aviation,” said Mary Vitek, GSSJC CEO. “Our collaboration with the Lone Star Flight Museum is instrumental in igniting this passion and showcasing the many avenues available to these aspiring young women.”

Among the eager participants was 8-year-old Brownie, Kacie Moore. Excited to earn her “Discover Aviation Patch” she said, “I can’t wait to explore the planes and learn what it takes to become a pilot!”

Echoing her granddaughter’s enthusiasm, Kacie’s grandmother, a retired engineer, emphasized the potential of this collaboration in expanding horizons for young women.

Daisie and Brownie Girl Scouts explored the museum with troop leaders and learned about the forces of flight while interacting with aircraft models and viewing the museum’s collection of aircraft. Older Girl Scouts, including Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors, conducted a pre-flight check, flew a simulated mission, and learned about the history of flight with a guided tour of the museum.

Concluding the day’s activities was a special ceremony during which each participating Girl Scout was presented with her hard-earned “Discover Aviation” patch.

“Collaborating with the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council represents a key step in introducing aviation and STEM career opportunities to girls,” said Ann Hobing, senior director of education and outreach at the Lone Star Flight Museum. “We believe aviation inspires achievement and endless possibilities. Sharing that with these future leaders made for an amazing day for us all.”

NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference Marks Industry’s Latest Blockbuster 2024 Event

Kim Stevens

The business aviation community continued its ascent into the year, with a Texas-sized NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2024), featuring nearly 3,300 registered attendees from 54 countries and more than 450 exhibiting companies on hand to “engage and empower” an exceptional group of professionals toward a dynamic and promising future.

“The passion that characterizes the scheduling and dispatching profession was front and center at this year’s conference, which brought people together to engage in new ways of thinking, empower each other, and come away inspired about the opportunities on the horizon,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.

The event featured more than 30 education sessions and a host of Professional Development Program courses, covering the industry’s most pressing issues, from sustainability, to workforce challenges, to the latest technologies and trends in view for those in the highly specialized scheduling and dispatching profession.

The conference was co-chaired by Jessi Litz-Rowden with Women in Aviation International, and Brian Abrahamson with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., who said the show exceeded expectations and galvanized attendees to go back home and share the experience they gained this week.

“Attendees embraced the opportunity to learn from their fellow professionals, including many people who were at the conference for the first time, bringing fresh perspectives to the event,” said Litz-Rowden. “They connected with people who can have a huge impact on their personal and professional journeys.”

Keynote: It Takes a Team

The conference’s keynote speaker – retired Col. Merryl Tengesdal, the first and only Black woman to fly the U.S. Air Force’s U-2 spy plane – opened the event’s second day by telling attendees about her quest to achieve her dreams.

With a childhood goal of being an astronaut, Tengesdal focused on her individual skill set. On her journey into adulthood – as a naval aviator, combat pilot, and later, flying the U-2 Lady Dragon – she came to understand the value of preparedness teamwork in achieving successful outcomes, in all walks of life.

“Without that team, the mission’s not going to get done,” Tengesda said. “It takes a team to make sure the aircraft gets to the destination – it’s because of you. As a scheduler and dispatcher, you guys are the conductors, the maestros.”

Empowering an Industry Through Advocacy

Although the conference date had been secured for more than a year, Bolen noted that SDC2024 kicked off on “What happens to be one of the most important days we’ve seen in a long time.” He detailed for the event’s keynote audience the administration’s recent, troubling tax proposals for business aviation, as outlined in its annual federal budget proposal, released March 11.

Bolen urged conference attendees to use a new message available at NBAA’s online Grassroots Action Center, which alerts lawmakers to the industry’s concern over the administration’s proposal. “Congress will ultimately consider any changes the president might offer, and there is strength in numbers, so we need to make our voice heard on this issue right away,” he noted.  

Fueling the Future

Prior to the opening of SDC2024, NBAA announced a new partnership with fixed-base operator Cutter Aviation, which provides an opportunity to contribute a portion of fuel expenditures to support NBAA’s advocacy efforts, including the industry’s new CLIMBING. FAST. advocacy campaign.

“We’re proud to be the first participant in the Fueling the Future program and delighted to have the opportunity to help give NBAA a bigger voice than ever,” said Cutter Aviation President and CEO Will Cutter. Learn more about Fueling the Future.

SDC2024 Honors

During the keynote, longtime business aviation scheduler and licensed dispatcher Chris Algee, CAM, was presented with the 2024 Schedulers & Dispatchers Outstanding Achievement and Leadership Award. Algee has been employed with Birmingham, AL-based Encompass Health since 2017 as manager, flight scheduling operations and administration. Read more about Algee and the award.

Also recognized were a number of SDC scholarship recipients and sponsors.

Learn more about the Schedulers & Dispatchers Training Scholarships.

Learn more about the Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarship Awards.

Wisk and the City of Sugar Land, Texas, Partner to Bring Autonomous Air Taxis to the Greater Houston Region

Kim Stevens

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, Wisk Aero, and the City of Sugar Land, Texas, have entered into a partnership to bring autonomous Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to the Greater Houston region.

Under this new partnership, Wisk and Sugar Land will identify and assess a location at the Sugar Land Regional Airport for the development of vertiport infrastructure that would allow for Wisk’s autonomous air taxi operations. This initial partnership will lay the foundation and act as a gateway for the establishment of a larger network across the Greater Houston region.

Potential routes

“The Greater Houston area is experiencing some of the highest population growth in the country, which calls for new and efficient ways to move across the region,” said Wisk CEO, Brian Yutko. “Sugar Land’s strategic location within the Greater Houston region, and its forward-thinking city leadership, make it an ideal partner for us and one that is uniquely positioned as an early leader in the launch of air taxi services. We look forward to working with Sugar Land, local ecosystem stakeholders, and the FAA on both ground and air infrastructure, as we bring autonomous air taxi services to the Greater Houston region.”

Sugar Land City Manager, Michael W. Goodrum, said that Sugar Land is committed to blazing new trails, and believes their relentless approach has caught the attention of the private sector as they’ve sought innovative solutions to mobility in our community through efforts like Advanced Air Mobility. “We are excited to partner with Wisk Aero on a new concept that just might change the way we travel — not only in our city but across the world. Sugar Land is a great place to start in the Houston region, because we want to be a city where innovation is second nature, where creativity is encouraged and where change is embraced. We couldn’t ask for a better partner than Wisk Aero to join us on this journey.”

Wisk and Sugar Land will engage in a number of activities to advance the overarching goal of the partnership.

Wisk will provide advice on technical needs for autonomous eVTOL operations, including infrastructure, training, ground operational procedures, and plans for potential site expansion.

Sugar Land will focus on integrating AAM into its long-term plans, championing community engagement, and establishing operational policy, such as infrastructure permitting and noise levels.

Together, the two organizations will explore incorporating maintenance and training facilities in Sugar Land and engage local and regional stakeholders to develop routes that connect Sugar Land to the Greater Houston region, such as downtown Houston and the Houston Airport System.

“I am thrilled to see a leading AAM Company like Wisk commit to the future of Advanced Air Mobility here in Texas,” said Texas State Representative David Cook. “These public-private partnerships are exactly what we hoped would result from the passage of our legislation during the 88th Legislative Session and solidifies Texas as a leader in this new technology space.”

Lone Star Flight Museum Announces 2024 Texas Aviation Hall of Fame Inductees

Kim Stevens

The Lone Star Flight Museum (LSFM) has announced the selection of four new inductees into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame (TAHOF). The TAHOF selection committee has named Colleen C. Barrett, R. Walter Cunningham (posthumously) Wally Funk and Heather Wilson to the Class of 2024.

This esteemed group will be officially inducted on Friday, April 19 at the 2024 Texas Aviation Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and luncheon at the Lone Star Flight Museum located at Houston’s Ellington Airport.

Douglas H. Owens, Lieutenant General (ret), and President & CEO of the museum, said, “We are thrilled about these four worthy individuals going into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. Supporters of the Hall of Fame are who make this ceremony possible for these amazing people. We are excited to honor all of them.”

The 2024 Inductees:

COLLEEN C. BARRETT served as President of Southwest Airlines from 2001 to 2008 as the first female president of a major airline. Her business savvy and genuine heart for others laid the foundation for Southwest Airlines’ one-of-a-kind culture and legendary customer service.

R. WALTER CUNNINGHAM (1932-2023) served his country as a United States Marine Corps fighter pilot in Korea before traveling to space as an Apollo 7 astronaut and leading NASA’s Astronaut Offices’ Skylab branch until 1971.

WALLY FUNK is a trailblazer. A member of the Mercury 13 “Women in Space” program and the first female FAA flight inspector and National Transportation Safety Board air safety investigator, she is the oldest woman to fly in space.

HEATHER WILSON was the 24th Secretary of the Air Force. She also served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and is currently the President of the University of Texas at El Paso.

The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame was established in 1995 through a resolution by the 74th Texas Legislature and signed by then Gov. George W. Bush to honor and recognize Texans and Texas companies or organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions to the advancement of aviation. There are currently 93 individuals and groups in the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, in four categories which include trailblazers and explorers, wartime aviators, leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. The 2024 Texas Aviation Hall of Fame inductees join an impressive list of past inductees representing trailblazers and explorers such as Bessie Coleman and Wiley Post; leaders such as Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush; World War II aviators Tex Hill, the Doolittle Raiders, Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots; astronauts Eileen Collins, Joe Engle and Gene Cernan; and entrepreneurs Howard Hughes and Rod Lewis.

To learn more about the 2024 Texas Aviation Hall of Fame inductees, visit LoneStarFlight.org/TAHOF2024.

To become a 2024 Texas Aviation Hall of Fame event sponsor, visit LoneStarFlight.org/TAHOF2024 or call 346-352-7678. Individual tickets for the event will be available for purchase March 25, 2024.

Lone Star Flight Museum Names Pete Olson Chairman of the Board

Kim Stevens
Pete Olson

On January 1, 2024, former U.S. congressman Pete Olson was named Chairman of the Board of the Lone Star Flight Museum. The Board of Directors unanimously elected Olson to the position on December 4, 2023. He succeeds Scott Rozzell, who had served as board chair for the past nine years.

Rozzell led the museum’s move from Galveston Island to Ellington Airport in 2017 after Hurricane Ike had severely damaged the Museum and destroyed numerous historic aircraft. Under the guidance of Rozzell and museum president and CEO Doug Owens, Lt. Gen. (ret), the re-imagined museum has overcome unique challenges and achieved numerous successes since opening at Ellington.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as Chair of the Lone Star Flight Museum’s Board of Directors and I’m proud of the great strides made by the Museum over the last nine years. The museum has become one of the premier aviation history and STEM education facilities in Texas. All of this was made possible by the hard work of our Board, our talented staff, dedicated volunteers, and the support of our generous donors. The board has chosen an excellent Chair in Pete Olson. With his background in public service, first as a naval aviator and later as a member of Congress for 12 years, Pete has the experience and skill set to accelerate the Museum’s upward trajectory. I look forward to serving with Pete as he assumes his new role.”

Owens added, “Scott has been instrumental in the museum’s evolution over the past nine years, and I thank him for his leadership, partnership and friendship. Through both challenges and successes, he’s been a steady hand and it’s been a privilege to work with him. I am very happy he is staying engaged with us. Scott leaves the Chair in great hands, and I am very excited and look forward to working with Pete Olson as we continue offering a world-class flight museum and STEM education center to our visitors. Pete brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the Chair, and we look forward to his leadership and many great years ahead.”

Olson will lead the 22-member board and work alongside Owens and the museum staff on both short- and long-term goals to build upon the museum’s successes.

Olson said, “I am so honored and extremely humbled to have been nominated by Scott and I’m grateful for the support of Doug and our entire board. I grew up in Clear Lake Forest and graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1981. Watching and hearing military and NASA training flights flying overhead from Ellington were part of my daily life It’s what inspired me to become a U.S. Navy pilot after finishing law school.”

He added, “I had the privilege of working with the Lone Star Flight Museum team as their representative in Congress for twelve years. I toured the museum in Galveston after Ike’s destruction, so I know how far our museum has come in such a short time. Scott and Doug have greatly strengthened our museum with record attendance, additions of NASA training systems, newly acquired and visiting aircraft, and a robust science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program, inspiring young people toward careers in STEM and aviation.

I intend to build upon these successes as we embark on a new campaign to dramatically expand our education programs and exhibits while making our financial position even stronger for our future. Our board members are the best “wingmen” a chairman could ask for, and together, we will achieve all of our goals.”

Wing and Walmart Continue to Expand Service to Millions in Dallas-Fort Worth Amid New FAA Approvals

Kim Stevens

Wing and Walmart are kicking off 2024 by making drone delivery a reality for even more people by expanding service to millions of customers, leveraging Wing’s airspace approvals that facilitate service across the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) community. Wing and Walmart will launch their newest drone delivery locations in the coming months and plan to complete the expansion within the year.

Last August, Wing and Walmart launched service together at two locations in DFW – reaching 60,000 homes via drone delivery. In their first 4 months of service, the response from Walmart customers has been overwhelmingly positive, using the service to order a range of products, including quick meals, groceries, household essentials, and over-the-counter medicines. And as their customers in Frisco and Lewisville know, on average those deliveries arrived in under 30 minutes and provided a convenient way to get what they needed, when they needed it.

“I had a Walmart delivery from Wing when we were running low on key ingredients for a recipe. We were so impressed that our eggs were delivered safely and likely had a safer journey than traveling by car in our trunk,” said a customer in Frisco, TX.

The first months delivering to Walmart customers have made one thing clear: Demand for drone delivery is real. For instance, on a given Sunday, Walmart customers placed over 130 orders to ensure they were prepped and ready for the big game – receiving items like chicken, sour cream, avocados and limes. Via the Walmart store in Frisco, regular customers order on average, 2 times per week – with the top 25% customers averaging 3 orders per week. The average flight time is 5 minutes!

Wing’s drone delivery service offers a safe and convenient way to get everyday needs delivered nearly instantly, and the recent regulatory approvals mean they will be able to reach more customers throughout DFW.

In 2019, Wing was the first drone delivery company in the United States to receive a Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate. Now, Wing’s new environmental approval in the DFW metroplex marks the first time the FAA has approved an entire metro area for drone delivery. While Wing has already been serving customers at up to a 6-mile radius from nests in Frisco and Lewisville, Wing’s recent summary grant enables us to move toward beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations without visual observers across DFW and similar airspace surrounding other major U.S. cities, adding to the momentum of the drone delivery industry at large. This marks a paradigm shift in the way U.S. regulators are approaching approvals for these types of advanced BVLOS drone operations.

The company believes 2024 will be the year of drone delivery—and Wing’s growing service with Walmart is a huge step forward. “Congratulations to Wing and Walmart on a growing partnership,” said City of Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney. “In 2022, Wing picked Frisco to launch its first commercial drone delivery service in a major U.S. metro area. We consider our entire community an innovation lab and our residents embrace this service. Nowadays, Wing is more than a novelty in Frisco. The drone delivery service has evolved into a welcome, daily convenience for essentials like recipe ingredients, eggs, limes or over-the-counter medicines. The ease and efficiency of Wing’s drone delivery service enhances quality of life.”

Recovered and Restored World War II P-38 Glacier Girl Visiting Lone Star Flight Museum Through Jan. 31, 2024

Kim Stevens

Buried for over 50 Years Under 268 Feet of Ice, Glacier Girl, the recovered and restored WWII P-38 is now at the Lone Star Flight Museum through Jan. 31, 2024, marking the first time the aircraft has ever been on museum display.

On Jan. 11, a special presentation by Bob Cardin, lead excavator and head of restoration, will tell the story of Glacier Girl.

Glacier Girl is the only rescued survivor of an entire squadron of P-38s and B-17s that attempted to cross over Greenland in 1942, during WWII. This aircraft was finally pulled piece by piece from under 268 feet of ice on August 1, 1992. Kentucky businessman Roy Shoffner financed the Greenland Expedition Society, a team formed by Patt Epps and Richard Taylor specifically for the recovery effort and brought Bob Cardin on board as expedition leader.

Ingenuity and endurance brought Glacier Girl back to the surface where she had crash-landed half a century before. The team created a device they called the “Super Gopher,” which circulated heated water through a metal cone to melt holes 27 stories deep and reach key sections of the plane. Then they began the long, dangerous process of dragging out the pieces, including the 3-ton, 17-foot-long fuselage. It took 20 minutes to lower each worker down to the aircraft in the claustrophobic 4-foot-diameter shafts. The final section emerged on August 1, 1992. The P- 38ʼs sections were in good enough shape for restoration. The team estimated it would take two years. It would take ten to reconstruct the plane. Glacier Girl has the only complete set of working P-38 machine guns in existence and is considered by many to be the finest warbird restoration flying. In 2006, Rod Lewis purchased what would become the signature aircraft as part of the Air Legends Foundation.

Glacier Girl is on loan from the Air Legends Foundation.

The Lone Star Flight Museum (LSFM) is a 501c3 aviation museum and STEM learning center with a mission to celebrate flight and achievements in Texas aviation as well as educate and engage our youth through science, technology, engineering, and math. Located 20 minutes from downtown Houston, Visit online at lonestarflight.org for discount tickets, memberships and more.