Silent Auction Also Planned

The Lindbergh Foundation is holding a very special aviation event in Minnesota this year. The "Legends of the Sky: Stories of History-Making Aircraft and Their Pilots" hangar party will be held on Friday, May 20, at the Golden Wings Museum at the Anoka County Airport (ANE) in Blaine, Minn., from 6:30 - 10 p.m.

This benefit event features Burt Rutan (shown below, left, with Mike Melvill), the brilliant aviation engineer who is widely known for capturing the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for building and designing SpaceShipOne, which took the first two civilian astronauts into space. Rutan also designed and built GlobalFlyer, which Steve Fossett recently used in his solo non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world. He is also well known for his breakthrough designs such as the VariEze and LongEze, which brought safe, fun, affordable homebuilding and flying to thousands.

Aviation pioneer and balloonist Dr. Bertrand Piccard (famous for his 1999 'round the world flight in a balloon) is also expected to attend and share a story during the program.

A variety of vintage aircraft from the Golden Age of Aviation will be on display at the hangar party from the personal collection of Greg Herrick, founder of The Aviation Foundation of America. The featured aircraft, however, will be the 1927 Ford Tri-motor 4-AT-10 (shwn below), C-1077. This is the actual plane that was used to fly Charles Lindbergh's mother, Evangeline Lindbergh, to Mexico City to visit her son in December 1927. It has had an illustrious list of pilots in addition to Lindbergh including: Amelia Earhart; Bernt Balchen, first to fly over the South Pole; Floyd Bennett, first to fly over the North Pole; and many others. This plane is the world's oldest all-metal flying airliner, the world's oldest flying multi-engine airliner, made the first commercial trip from the U.S. to Mexico City, and was the first Ford Tri-motor to be put on floats.

The Sikorsky S-38 replica also has been invited to appear.

A silent auction of some incredible items is also planned. Among those items to be auctioned are: a ride with John and Martha King in their Falcon jet, a one-of-a-kind wood rocket sculpture created by Erik Lindbergh, and a very rare litho of Neil Armstrong in his Apollo 11 space suit sketched by Paul Calle. This litho is unframed, measures 19"x29" and is numbered 593/1000. It is autographed by Armstrong and Calle and is in excellent condition.

Great aviation stories will be shared and a gourmet buffet will be offered during this special occasion. Erik Lindbergh (below), grandson of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, will host the event and John and Martha King of King Schools, Inc. will be the Masters of Ceremonies. John and Martha are the first couple to both hold every category and class of FAA pilot and instructor certificates. Martha is the first and only woman to achieve this complete ratings sweep.

Tickets are $65 per person and they are selling fast. Advance reservations are required. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Lindbergh Foundation, a public non-profit organization based in Anoka, Minn.

FMI: Contact the Lindbergh Foundation at 763/576-1596, www.lindberghfoundation.org