Silver Wings Over Washington
Ron David, President; RADM. Whitey Feightner, USN (Ret.), Vice President; Joan Stalk, Treasurer; Ray Kester, CW04 USN (Ret.), Secretary
Board: MG Joe Anderson, USMC (Ret.); Col. Randy Brandt, USAF (Ret.); Col. E.P. Deatrick USAF (Ret.); Steve Craven; Debbie Gallaway; Pete King; Capt. Bud Orr, USN (Ret.); Capt. Zip Rausa, USN (Ret.); Col. Charles Stallworth USAF (Ret.)
Our mission is to provide an educational foundation that inspires, advocates, and fosters a venue for learning through aviation for the younger generation; a forum for networking among members and colleagues with outstanding speakers and camaraderie across the board. "What's Past is Prologue"
The September 2014 Silver Wings Speakers Luncheon Serie
is scheduled for THURSDAY, September 25, 2014
at the Army Navy Country Club
Our distinguished speakers
MG Joseph Anderson, USMC (Ret. ) and Lt. Col. Art Nalls, USMC (Ret.)
will address our members and guests
"The Cleveland National Air Show with
a Tribute to Rear Admiral Whitey Feightner
featuring the Harrier and the L39 Albatross"
Dear Members and Friends,
On Labor Day weekend a contingent of the OBP DC attended the annual Cleveland National Air Show which is held at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio. We are honored to have Art Nalls who flew the Sea Harrier and Joe Anderson who flew the L39 "Albatross" during the air display.
At the spectacular air show, the highlight was a unique tribute paid by Nalls Aviation, the Blue Angels, and the Cleveland National Air Show to our very own World War II Ace, Rear Admiral E.L. "Whitey" Feightner, a truly american icon. The best was yet to come for Whitey (who will turn 95 years old next month) when, following the Blue Angels's performance, Anderson regaled Whitey with a ride in Art’s L39 and roared into the blue sky. Whitey basked in every minute with sheer delight.
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| L to R: Art Nalls, Joe Anderson, Whitey Feightner and Gene Deatrick |
The hospitality and welcome extended by Nalls Aviation was outstanding.
Gene Deatrick’s son, Will, recorded a wonderful audiovisual documentary which will be presented.
About LtCol. Art Nalls, USMC (Ret.)
"Art Nalls has bought the ultimate boy's toy: he's the only private owner of a Royal Navy Sea Harrier, which he rebuilt with a little help from a 400,000-page manual.
Art Nalls reclines in front of his Sea Harrier at his home base, St Mary's County Regional Airport in Maryland who says, “She's like having a mistress - only more fun and way more expensive.”
‘When people see it in flight it inspires awe,’ booms Art Nalls, the only person in the world to privately own a working Harrier jump jet.
‘People can’t believe ten tons of aluminum can float motionless on a sea of noise. I get a kick out of watching the crowds at air shows.
'As soon as I gun the engine, people put down their hot dogs and look upwards with their mouths wide open, like a bunch of baby birds waiting to be fed.
'You don’t get the same kick looking at a jet sitting on the ground in a museum. She’s like having a mistress – only more fun and way more expensive.’
Nalls love affair with the plane began during his days as a Marine pilot.
‘I flew 65 different types of aircraft. I was less than enthused when I was chosen to fly the AV-8A Harrier. It had a horrible reputation as a difficult and busy aircraft.
'I was apprehensive, but that all changed when I took one up for the first time. I strapped in and everything after that was a blur. The Harrier accelerated forward like a rifle shot, and by the time I’d reached the end of the runway I was going 450 knots. I was amazed at what this plane could do. I was hooked!’
He went on to work as a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base, where one of his jobs was to take Harriers to 45,000ft and shut down the engine.
‘I have more than six hours of flight time in single-engine jets without the engine running,’ he grins.
‘At 45,000ft I’d shut everything down, glide down to 25,000ft and then restart. Thankfully for me the Harriers always restarted.’
‘The first time I took her up was magical. There is something poetic about the quality of the engineering. This plane can roll, climb, dive and turn, but what’s staggering is how you can go from travelling through the air at 600mph to hovering at a standstill in a matter of seconds.
'Once you’ve flown one it’s like a drug. You’re hooked.’
'The Harrier is the greatest flying machine ever. Technology-wise, it pushed back the boundaries of science,' said Nalls (pictured in the cockpit)
It’s an expensive habit, though. Nalls has spent more than £1 million getting the plane back in the air – and its Rolls-Royce engine guzzles one gallon of fuel every six seconds.
‘I use up 50 gallons of fuel just getting from the hangar to the runway. At the beginning I was fuelling up so often the local aviation authorities got on to me wanting to know why I required so much jet fuel. When I told them it was for my Harrier, there was silence at the end of the phone.
(Courtesy Daily Mail excerpts)
About Major General Joe Anderson, USMC (Ret.), L39 and Sea Harrier Pilot.
"Joe is a native of Detroit, Michigan. After graduating from Catholic Central High School, he was nominated to attend the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he majored in engineering. As a Midshipman, he played varsity baseball and was proud to have graduated in the top 90% of the Class of 1968. He was commissioned a second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Joe’s first assignment as a Marine officer was attending The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, where all Marine officers learn the basic infantry tactics, prior to attending flight school. Every Marine Officer is an infantry officer before becoming an aviator. Joe was selected to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training with the United States Air Force at Craig Air Force Base, Selma, Alabama. Upon receiving Air Force Silver Wings, he reported for duty to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, earning his U.S. Navy Wings of Gold and becoming combat qualified in the F-4 Phantom. He remains one of the very few pilots to be awarded both US Air Force and US Navy pilot wings. He then deployed to the Republic of Vietnam where he flew as pilot in command for 219 combat missions in the F-4 Phantom.
Joe’s first assignment as a Marine officer was attending The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, where all Marine officers learn the basic infantry tactics, prior to attending flight school. Every Marine Officer is an infantry officer before becoming an aviator. Joe was selected to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training with the United States Air Force at Craig Air Force Base, Selma, Alabama. Upon receiving Air Force Silver Wings, he reported for duty to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, earning his U.S. Navy Wings of Gold and becoming combat qualified in the F-4 Phantom. He remains one of the very few pilots to be awarded both US Air Force and US Navy pilot wings. He then deployed to the Republic of Vietnam where he flew as pilot in command for 219 combat missions in the F-4 Phantom.
Upon his return from overseas, he was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 231, known as "VMA-231" at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. VMA-231, the World Famous "Ace of Spades" Squadron, is renowned as the "Oldest Squadron in the Marine Corps." It can trace its flying roots back to the Northern Bombing Group, a group of WWI Marine Corps aviators combined to form a fighting squadron in 1929 to combat Nicaraguan insurgents. For that campaign, the squadron adopted the Ace of Spades as their emblem, and that emblem has been retained ever since. VMA-231 was at one time decommissioned, but reconstituted to fly the brand-new, imported version of the Harrier, the AV-8A. Joe started his transition to the Harrier when there were NO two-seat trainer aircraft. He read the book, which was written in "Brit," and climbed in the cockpit for his first flight.
While stationed at Cherry Point, he carrier-qualified in the AV-8A "Harrier" aboard the USS Iwo Jima, LPH-2. He was later selected to attend the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River with over 500 total flight hours, including combat time in the F-4.
After graduation and as a newly-designated Test Pilot, Joe remained at Patuxent River and participated in the Shipboard certification of the AV-8A aboard the LHA. He also participated in the "Ski Jump" takeoff device evaluation at the 1978 Farnborough International Airshow. He then flew the Navy’s Preliminary evaluation of the YAV-8B Prototype aircraft. This prototype was a highly-modified Harrier with a much larger wing, a double row of intake doors, and large, automated flaps. These remain many of the physical characteristics of the airplane flown today by the U.S. Marine Corps as the AV-8B "Harrier II."
Upon return to the fleet, Joe commanded Marine Attack Squadron 331, Marine Air Group 13 (the 1st Night Attack Harrier Air Group) and the 1st Marine Air Wing in Japan.
Joe's experience with Harriers is legend: He flew his first Harrier in September 1973, flew his last Marine Harrier in August 2000 and FINALLY accumulated 2500 Harrier hours in 2009 flying the civilian Sea Harrier. He has flown nine, different models of the Harrier over a span of 36 years. Most of the active-duty pilots flying the Harrier in the Marine Corps were not even BORN when Joe had his first Harrier flight.
Joe reports his most exciting Harrier moment was losing his canopy after takeoff from Nashville, Tennessee in 1995. He recovered safely but reported a somewhat elevated noise level in the cockpit. The "convertible option" was never fully adopted by the Marines.
Joe has flight time in approximately 60 different type, model and series of military and civilian aircraft in addition to the "Harrier". These include the A-3, A-4, A-6, A-7, T-38, F-4, F-5, F-15, and F-18.
In addition to his B.S. degree from the Naval Academy, Joe earned a M.S. degree from the University of Southern California. His formal military education includes Air Force Flight School, U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and the National War College. He is also a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
Joe retired from the Marine Corps as a Major General in 2001. He served as the Associate Director for the National Air and Space Museum, Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of several corporations.
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| Joe is active flying both the Sea Harrier and the L39. He has aerobatic ratings in both aircraft. |
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About Silver Wings Over Washington
Our Silver Wings Fraternity is comprised of a wonderful group of remarkable individuals who have pioneered, excelled and contributed to the world of aviation. We encourage members to bring friends, guests, and introduce young people to the noteworthy exploits and achievements of our distinguished members and speakers. In the past we have hosted prominent speakers who presented both contemporary and historical topics relating to aviation, space, and a variety of military accomplishments. For up to date information visit our web blog www.silverwingsoverwashington.
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Agenda for Thursday, September 25th, 2014
2014 Silver Wings Speakers Luncheon Serie
East Gate: 1700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202
West Gate: 2400 South 18th Street, Arlington, VA 22204
Parking: Complimentary Parking
Area: Fort Richardson Room
Cost: $36.00, paid at the entrance
Date: THURSDAY, September 25th, 2014
1100: Doors Open, Networking Time
1150: Pledge of Allegiance
1155: Blessing
1200: Lunch served
1255: Introduction of our Speakers
1300: Speakers:
MG Joe Anderson, USMC (Ret.) and Lt.Col. Art Nalls, USMC (Ret.)
1345: Questions from the Audience
1400: Conclusion of the 2014 September Speakers Luncheon
We need a firm count by Monday, 3pm, September 22nd, for the ANCC. The ANCC charges for each walk-in an additional $4 per person, so save the ANCC fee and RSVP as soon as possible. Your membership dues ($25) may be remitted at the SWOWF Speakers Luncheon, or by snail mail to our Treasurer: Joan Stalk, 6103 Dominican Drive, Springfield, VA 22152.
RSVP: Ron David, e-mail: rondavid@gmail.com
or with Joan Stalk, Treasurer, 703.451.4181, joans.hangar1@verizon.net
or with Joan Stalk, Treasurer, 703.451.4181, joans.hangar1@verizon.net
This is going to be an event you will thoroughly enjoy.
Join us on Thursday, September 25th, 2014 and let's have a great turn out!
Cheers,
Ron
Ron David
President, Silver Wings
skype: metopower
WDC: 202.333.8707
Cell: 202.907.3241
