Tue, May 22, 2007
AIAA Will Dedicate Site Tuesday
Aero-News learned Monday the American Institute of Aeronautics
and Astronautics (AIAA) will designate Australia's Woomera Test
Facility as a Historic Aerospace Site.
The site is the largest land-based range in the world and
provides instrumented aerospace test and evaluation range support
services to the Australian Defence Force and the broader defense
community. Woomera is synonymous with the testing of long-range
missiles and rockets during the Cold War. It is also known for the
launch and tracking of spacecraft in the early days of the Space
Age.
Notable achievements encompass pioneering advances in missile
testing under the Anglo-Australian Joint Project, and major space
programs including over 250 Skylark rocket flights and the launch
of Australia's first satellite in 1967. The first US Vanguard
satellite was tracked from Woomera, as were the manned Mercury
flights and interplanetary missions.
The dedication ceremony will take place Tuesday, May 22, at
Missile Park, Woomera. Officiating at the ceremony will be
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Peter Lindsay;
Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd, Chief of Air Force; and AIAA Executive
Director Bob Dickman.
The dedication occurs as the Woomera Test Facility celebrates
its 60th Anniversary in 2007.
AIAA established the Historic Aerospace Sites Program in January
2000 to promote the preservation of, and the dissemination of
information about, significant accomplishments made in the
aerospace profession. In addition to the Woomera Test Facility,
other sites recognized by the AIAA History Technical Committee
include the original Bendix Aviation Company in Teterboro, NJ; the
Boeing Red Barn, Seattle, WA; Kitty Hawk, NC; the site of the first
balloon launch in Annonay, France; and Tranquility Base on the
moon.
More News
From 2023 (YouTube Version): Legacy of a Titan Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an i>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic spee>[...]
Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we ca>[...]