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DFW NEWSFLASH - October 2015
October 2015 DFW AIRPORT PERMIT NO. 239084
Lockheed Martin completes first F-35 Ligtning II for Norway
Doolittle Raider celebrates 100th birthday
DFW Airport officially breaks Guinness World Record
Red Bull Air Race Championship pilots from all over the world soar through the Texas skies. /
Photo by John Starkey
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COVER STORY The entire contents of this magazine are the sole property of Rambler Newspapers, Inc., with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. If you have an upcoming event, game, a press release, or interesting story, please let us know. DFW NewsFlash encourages submission of articles, facts, and photographs pertaining to the people, life, business, and entertainment of aviation industry in the DFW metroplex. DFW NewsFlash is published monthly by Rambler Newspapers, Inc. and is distributed throughout the DFW Airport in businesses and public areas. DFW NewsFlash is also delivered to locations at many of the other airports throughout the DFW metroplex market. Deadline for the submission of articles and advertising is the 10th of the month prior to the publication date. All submitted articles are subject to editing. Opinions expressed in submitted advertisements, articles, editorial, or commentary are those of the writer, and not necessarily those of DFW NewsFlash, the publisher, editor, or any staff member. All articles, press releases, photographs and other materials submitted become the property of Rambler Newspapers, Inc. The Publication of columnists’ views, as well as advertising, does not constitute endorsement. Rambler Newspapers, Inc. reserves the right to reject or edit any advertising. DFW NewsFlash, its publisher, and editor are not responsible for errors in advertising. Mailed subscriptions of DFW NewsFlash are $45 per year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Rambler Newspapers, Inc., P.O. Box 177731, Irving, TX 75017. Publisher John Starkey Managing Editor Stacey Starkey Advertising sales@dfwnewsflash.com 972-870-1992. Newsroom news@dfwnewsflash.com
DFW NewsFlash is Copyrighted 2015
Red Bull Air Race soars over Texas Motor Speedway
By Courtney Ouellette The high-flying action of the Red Bull Air Race Championships took over Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth Sept. 26-27. Over 30,000 spectators got the chance to watch hometown hero Kirby Chambliss and an assortment of racers from around the world battle for championship points. The Fort Worth winner, British pilot Paul Bonhomme, soared into first place, giving him an 8-point lead going into the final race of the season in Las Vegas. “An 8-point buffer is nothing, not with the format we’ve
got. It could be wiped out instantly. Right here and now there’s no point in me stressing about it,” said the twotime champion. “It’s not a given what happens next, and the whole week has been super hard work. There’s been a whole host of distractions and activities to sort of knock us off our perch when thinking about flying,” Bonhomme said. Unfortunately for Texas native, Chambliss, an early penalty proved too much to overcome. “It didn’t go that great. It’s not what we were hoping for.
I knew I had to just go and fly it out, and I had a really good run going. It’s not the result I wanted. I’m here in Texas, I’m a Texan, and I wanted to win here like anywhere else, but definitely here,” Chambliss said. “Now we’re going to go into Vegas, and we’re going to make some changes to the airplane. Hopefully, that will bear some fruit, and we’ll be able to do really well in Vegas. “In Texas we love racing. It’s a great place to race, a great venue. I’m just happy to be here.”
Photos by John Starkey
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Girls take flight of a lifetime aboard Flagship Detroit By Jess Paniszczyn Refurbished and shining like she did in her glory days, the Flagship Detroit, a DC-3, propeller driven airliner flown by American Airlines from 1937 to 1947 sat gleaming on the runway outside of the Frontiers of Flight Museum on Sept. 24. The day’s flight was designed to inspire and enlighten a lucky group of girls invited to ride in honor of Girls in Aviation Day. “Once people get inside and take a look at it, they see what it was like to fly back in the 1930s,” Zane Lemon, one of the Detroit’s pilots said. “This is an iconic piece of aviation history. It is the oldest flying DC-3 in the world. “Back in the 30s, aviation was a rich man’s game. Movie stars and celebrities rode on these airplanes, because it was during the depression. The average person couldn’t afford a $35 ticket between Boston and New York on one of these airplanes. It was first class all the way. “The most famous passenger that we had on the Detroit was Eleanor Roosevelt. This is the plane Mrs. Roosevelt would ride on when she traveled around the Midwest. She was a big advocate of commercial aviation along with her good friend Amelia Earhart. “Back in the 30s, the average person only weighed 135 pounds, so the seats were small. Also, there are no overhead bins. There are hat racks, because when they flew on these airplanes, people were civilized. They got on the airplanes, and they were all dressed up. “Today, with all the fares,
Gleaming in the Texas sun, the Flagship Detroit, the oldest flying DC-3 in the world, awaits a young group of curious passengers ready to learn about aviation and history. /Photo by John Starkey just about anyone can fly,” he said. “It is totally different. “I was a captain with American and flew the big jets. This is a totally different type flying. It is a hoot to go out and fly this. We fly low. We fly slow. We fly with the windows open. When we want to say hello to people, we can wave at them down in the towns. When I flew with American, we were so high that you could only make out fields, colors and things like that,” Lemon said. Years ago, Helen Adair worked as a stewardess aboard a DC-3. As a volunteer for the Frontiers of Flight Museum, she was able to enjoy a stress free flight aboard the Flagship Detroit. “It was fun,” Adair said. “It brought back mostly good memories. I was based here in Dallas with Braniff. “My first flight was in July. We had 10 stops between here and Chicago. I didn’t even know what state I was in. I was so new. Finally one man said, ‘Do we get sweet rolls today?’ I said, ‘Sir, this
is my first trip.’ He said, ‘I thought so. Here, I will come help you.’ And we looked for sweet rolls for their breakfast. “I gained a little bit more knowledge and enjoyed it more. I flew from ‘52 to ‘64. “I had forgotten how small those airplanes are. The seats are small. That noise can put you to sleep. I think several of the girls were not too happy with the bouncing around, but that’s just one of those things,” she said. Kaylie Jones, a seventh
grader at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Bill Arnold Middle School in Grand Prairie, took the opportunity to get some killer selfies. “It was my first flight,” Kaylie said. “It was exciting, but at the end, I felt like I was going to puke on somebody. I was scared. The landing was nice. When we were up there, everything was so small. “I got to go into the cockpit. I took a bunch of pictures. All the pictures are really good. It was a great opportunity, because we got to see how an old plane was restored and now flies. “It was cool because Eleanor Roosevelt flew in this plane. I got to sit in her seat for about five minutes. It’s really cool because she was alive a long time ago, and I am alive now,” she said. Homeschooler, Lucia Costantino, 12, was also excited to fly for the first time. “It was my first flight, and I wanted to do this very badly because I’ve never flown before,” Lucia said. “The flight was fun. I thought it was very interesting. I wasn’t quite used to some of the bumps
In the days when flying was the fashion of the elite, Helen Adair was one of the stewardesses who made certain the experience was as posh and pleasant as possible. /Photo by John Starkey
www.dfwnewsflash.com in the air, which I found surprising. “I don’t want to be a pilot. I want to be a fashion designer when I grow up,” she said. Some of the adults were even more excited than the girls to have the chance to fly on a DC-3. “It was amazing,” Molly Martin, the Outreach Director for Women in Aviation
DFW NEWSFLASH - October 2015 International, said. “It was so much fun. It was one of those airplanes that you read about in your history books. I grew up reading about them. In all my flight training, I read about them. I’ve been in aviation for 25 years. I’ve been going to air shows for 25 years, and I have never even been in a DC-3. To get to fly in one was an honor. I
feel very lucky today.” Allowing young ladies the chance to fly on the Flagship Detroit may lead to something far greater in the future. “Anybody who is in any profession has that moment where the spark is lit,” Martin said. “In aviation, we all look back and say I remember the day when I knew what I was going to do. I wanted to be
Page 5 around airplanes. I wanted to be an astronaut. I wanted to be an air traffic controller. Whatever it is, you can look back and there is a spark. You just never know when that is going to be. A ride in a historic airplane in a fantastic location with a bunch of other kids your age might just be the spark for one of those girls.”
Doolittle Raider celebrates 100th birthday at Frontiers of Flight Museum By Courtney Ouellette
A little over 73 years ago, Lt. Col. Richard Cole sat co-pilot to Lieutenant General James “Jimmy” Doolittle during an airborne mission that would prove to be a critical moment in WWII. On April 18, 1942, the Americans took the war to the Japanese homeland following the attack on Pearl Harbor, a feat that was previously believed to be unlikely if not impossible. The mission involving eighty men aboard 16 B-25 planes would later become collectively known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raid. At the time, many considered the mission suicidal, a fact made clear to each Raider. Yet, not one man who accepted the mission backed decided to back out. The mission was to bomb military targets in Japan and to continue on to land in China. Fifteen of the aircraft reached China. One of planes landed in the Soviet Union, its crew was held captive for over a year. Eight of the crewmen were captured by the Japanese army. Of those captured, three were executed. Fourteen crews, except for one crewman, returned to U.S. forces. In honor of Dick Cole’s 100th birthday celebration, hosted by the Frontiers of Flight Museum on Sept. 7, the muse-
um also presented the Texas film premiere of Doolittle’s Raiders: A Final Toast. “The new documentary emphasizes the Doolittle crew as individuals,” said Cheryl Sutterfield- Jones, CEO of the Frontiers of Flight Museum. “It shows their courage and how their incredible and at the time considered suicidal, mission in the early days of World War II impacted them and our country for the rest of their lives. “Because it’s a birthday, we have some cupcakes, and we are going to sing happy birthday to Dick.” Following the screening, retired colonel Carroll V. Glines, author and official historian of the Doolittle Raiders, talked with Cole about life after the raid. “Dick has accepted invitations to tell his part all over the country as a guest speaker. I’m going to tell you that the war was not over for Dick Cole when the raid was over. He survived the Japanese when captured,” Glines said. “What did he do after the raid? What did the other raiders do? Most of them were given orders to return to the states. Dick was transferred to India, and he stayed there until June of 1943.” “After the raid, we were kind of in limbo in India, because people were going every-
where and not much was getting done,” Cole said. “They put out a feeler to nine pilots who set up an air link between China and India, which later became called the Hump. There were six of us that decided that was what we wanted to do, so we
were retrained in the transport planes and flew routes on the Hump. I was the last one to leave after 14 months. “On a personal note, I got orders to come home. I was ordered to go the orderly room and get the orders and See Raiders, Page 6
Page 6 Continued from page 5 the orders were ‘Pick up your medal and go home.’ I went back to pick up the medal and found at they had mailed it home. They didn’t trust me to leave,” he said jokingly. After the Montreal Conference between Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill, Cole was sent to Burma to help reestablish the Burma Road in order to get supplies into China. “They set up a temporary plan that all three of the dignitaries approved, because it was going to be a big deal to help try and keep the Chinese and Japanese out of India. We flew all over Burma as far as we could without getting shot at too much by the Japanese,” Cole said. “It wasn’t long until we achieved the objective of opening up the Burma Road again. That left the border and the shoreline dormant until things got
October 2015 - DFW NEWSFLASH more active.” Eventually, Cole left active duty in January of 1947, but returned to active duty status in August that same year despite the temptation of a civilian life. “I didn’t make it on the first round, so I decided that I better go back to college. I moved my family to Oregon where I was going to go to forestry school,” Cole said. “I don’t know why, but when I was younger, I made a commitment to myself that I was either going to be an army air force pilot or a forest ranger. When the telegram came, we had a family conference, and we ended up in Ohio.” While the evening’s purpose was to honor Dick Cole and the rest of the courageous Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, another individual was recognized for his contributions and dedication to keeping
the Doolittle legacy alive and known. “Everyday when I go to work, I unlock the door, turn the lights on and I get to look at General Doolittle’s medal, and I never get tired of it,” said Paul Oelkrug, the coordinator of special collections at the UT Dallas McDermott Library. “While we’re here to pay tribute to Dick, there’s another special person I’d like to honor as well. That person has been a part of the HAC [History of Aviation Collection] for many years. That person is Carroll [CG] V. Glines. “We’re honored that General Doolittle chose the HAC as a repository for his archives. We began receiving material in 1984. It wasn’t until 1993 that the HAC made a proposal to raise funds for an endowment that would benefit the collection. The endow-
972-870-1992 ment would provide funds to remodel special collections to create more appropriate setting for the collection and provide funding to acquire additional materials that support and enhance the Doolittle collection.It also was to provide funds for a scholar in residence,” he said. In 1994, Glines assumed the role of curator for the Doolittle archives and has remained in the position since. “CG was the perfect choice because he was experienced as an aviator and has authored 36 books in aviation. His books on the Doolittle Tokyo Raid earned him the title of honorary Doolittle Tokyo Raider, and he is the official historian for Doolittle Tokyo Raider Association. CG is also a recognized expert on General Doolittle and the Tokyo Raid,” Oelkrug said.
DFW Airport Ambassadors get their groove on By Courtney Ouellette DFW International Airport passengers got a little more than they paid for when a flash mob broke out at multiple times throughout the day in different terminals on Sept. 4. Members of the DFW Airport Ambassadors program danced to a number of boot scootin’ hits and were even joined by excited airport guests. “It’s just for the purpose of fun,” said Virginia Fuerte, who is the fitness instructor for the airport. “It’s all about having a good time and knowing that everyone has enjoyed it while we’ve been practicing. We’ve come a long way. “We’re trying to incorpo-
rate a remix of songs that are pretty universal for everybody. It works really well, because then we have the passengers who know the music, so they can just jump in and dance as well.” Not everyone is a born dancer, but after a couple of months of practice, the ambassadors were ready to strut their stuff. “They have done remarkably well; I’m so proud of them,” Fuerte said. “At the beginning, it was all new to them and sometimes change isn’t good for everybody. Of course, it worked out really well and now they want more. They want us to do something like this regularly, so we’re going to look into that.”
Fellow ambassador Ellen Mucha enjoys the dancing, but appreciates the impact it has on passengers just as much. “We are line dancing to liven up the passengers’ expe-
rience for Labor Day weekend. I’ve always wanted to do a flash mob,” Mucha said. “When you see them online it looks like such a fun thing to do for the performers. If you look at the audience, their
Kicking up their heels, the Ambassadors liven up the airport.
/Photo by John Starkey
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Rocking the terminal, the DFW Airport Ambassadors invite everyone to join in some Boot Scootin’ Boogie before Leavin’ On A Jet Plane. /Photo by John Starkey
eyes are wide open, and they look like they appreciate a little difference in their routine, some entertainment. So I’ve always wanted to do this; I just never really knew how to go about it.” Mucha and the rest of the dancers put time and dedication into the planning and execution of the performances after a successful flash mob earlier in the year. “We’ve had several practices where we’ve
learned the dances. Then we get together and watch each other and have a good time. The first time was Memorial Day weekend,” Mucha said. “The first time they loved it. They got their cameras out and filmed us, and some of them even joined in. We’re going to try and coax them into joining us and normally people do.” Passengers and DFW employees enjoyed the show equally. Charles Walls has worked at DFW International for years and had not seen anything quite like it. “I think this is wonderful to
Page 7 see all these people jamming and moving like this. It puts a smile on everyone’s face, bottom line. I work for TGI Friday’s here at the airport. I’ve been here for 15 years and I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s wonderful,” Walls said. Passengers like Sara agreed, “I think it’s great. Look at all these people smiling. This is the first time I’ve ever seen a flash mob with older people like this. I travel globally, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen this.”
DFW Airport breaks Guinness World Record By Courtney Ouellette
With the recent opening of the Dallas Cowboys Club in DFW International Airport, it was only appropriate that the airport welcome the 2015 football season with a giant, inflated football, a huge ‘tailgate’ party and an attempt to break a world record. Passengers and employees alike participated in a tailgate experience and signed their names on the inflated
football. “This record was for the most signatures on a piece of sports memorabilia. The record to beat was 515 unique signatures and it was just broken with 516,” said Hanna Kubat, the official Guinness World Record representative. “The previous record was on a replica basketball at the NBA All-Star Jam Session in 2012.” We hope you like barbeque
Joining in the fun, football icon Drew Pearson signs his name on a giant inflated football. /Photo by John Starkey
with your tailgating, because the airport smoked the previous record by collecting 702
signatures. “We were just looking for a See Record, Page 9
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Shortly after the official Guinness World Record is broken, the official document declaring the football a significant piece of sports memorabilia takes center stage. /Photo by John Starkey way to do something larger than life,” DFW Airport spokesperson Cynthia Vega said. “We initially started out wanting to do the biggest tailgate party ever, but in the process of that we saw an opportunity: we can get this big piece of sports memorabilia signed. “We also wanted to have an opportunity to include our employees and the public. We wanted something that would be all inclusive, and so that’s why we chose to do a big tailgate party on the kickoff of the NFL season tonight, with the Cowboys playing. “One thing led to another and our marketing team put their heads together and came up with this idea. They found out, after doing a little bit of research, about the sports memorabilia record. “What better piece than a 10-foot football?” she asked. “It was timed very well, and all of these things together – a tailgate party, football, getting signatures from everybody, bringing in Guinness World Records to give it credibility for us. It was something different. And we are having a blast.” For Vega, the ability to in-
clude the hard working employees of the airport was a meaningful experience. “We really wanted to give our employees something, because so often we do stuff for the media and guests, so this was something to include our employees in as well,” Vega said. “My name is on that football. I’m one of those 516 people, so this gives us some pride and ownership, because we do something for the customer every day, and we want to contribute too.” Adding to the excitement, former Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson, and former cornerback for the New York Jets Ray Mickens took their turns helping break the record. The tailgate offerings included the world’s only Pepsi® Pre-Flight Drills interactive running back/ football challenge game, which provided tailgaters an opportunity to show off their running back skills for the chance to win a trip to the big game, signed helmets, gift cards, and more. “It’s so cool to see them because they are legendary. I’m from Boston, but coming here I’ve become a Cowboys
fan,” Vega said. Who better to help us break the record?” Football fans crowded around the former football stars taking selfies and talking about their favorite sport. “I think this is great,” Pearson said. “What makes this airport and what separates it and makes it better than a lot of airports around the world, and I’ve traveled to a lot of airports, is that it is interactive. “Dallas fans and passengers come through and go from a flight to their cars and flight to flight and that type of thing. But in this airport, because of the renovations and innovations, they can get involved while they travel. Take today, we’ve got the in-
teractive running back game where the fans get involved and enter a contest and see if they’re the best running back to ever come through the DFW Airport.” Jana Brusek, a sophomore volleyball player for Baylor University, was surprised to find that her signature officially broke the record at number 516. “The Baylor volleyball team is traveling to Dayton to play in a tournament,” Brusek said. “My zealous teammate decided she was going to sign the football, and I thought, ‘I’ll do it too.’ So just on a whim, it ended up being the record breaker. It’s really exciting. It definitely makes it a fun experience to travel.”
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Lockheed Martin delivers first F-35 Lightning II to Norway By Courtney Ouellette A partnership dating back to the ‘70s reached a major milestone during Lockheed Martin’s most recent F-35 Lightning II rollout. Dignitaries from the Norwegian Armed Forces joined Lockheed Martin for its unveiling of Norway’s first F-35A Lightning II, known as AM-1, at the Lockheed Martin F-35 production facility in Fort Worth on Sept. 22. “Today marks another momentous occasion here in Fort Worth with the official rollout of Norway’s first F-35 Lightning II. It is an honor to stand before friends, partners and distinguished guests to celebrate our nation and our company’s longstanding relationship with the country of Norway,” said Orlando Carvalho, Executive Vice President of Aeronautics at Lockheed Martin. “Lockheed Martin Aeronautics’ partnership with Norway began in the 1970s with our teaming on the worlds’ greatest 4-H generation fighter, the F-16 Fighting Flacon. We have alsoworked with Norway for many years delivering mobility and border protection with the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and the P-3 Orion. Building upon this partnership, Norway became the fifth country to join the F-35 program. “The Norwegian priorities for the aircraft were clear: a focus on operational capabilities, cost and industrial participation and the innovation the F-35 program would provide Norwegian industry. Fortunately the F-35 jet has met all these requirements,” he said. Norway designed and built parts for Lockheed’s first F-35 aircraft, called AA1,
Sleek and cutting-edge, the very first F-35 Lightning IIfor the Norwegian Armed Forces awes Norwegian and Lockheed Martin guests alike during the rollout at the Fort Worth F-35 plant. /Photo by John Starkey and has done so for every aircraft since. Norwegian industry also contributed the creation of advanced composite structures, a factory in Kongsberg, Norway, joint strike missiles and the development of the drag chute to combat icy runways. “Norway is a strategic partner in our development program and has always set the standard of performance. When I speak to other partner teammates, they speak with admiration of Norway. They describe our Norwegian partners with terms such as hardworking, committed, detail oriented, decisive and above all consistent and dependable,” Carvalho said. “Today we celebrate with Norway, a historic day for their F-35 program. This culminates from years of relentless hard work and tireless dedication by many who made this vision become reality. I stand before you representing the Lockheed Martin team that shares those same values of hard work, perfor-
mance and dedication. “The men and women who built AM1 perhaps better than anyone know what this F-35 represents. It’s more than just a jet,” Carvalho said. “It will serve in the first line of defense for freedom around the world. Our entire team values the relationship between our countries and our armed forces. We proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with you.” Chairman, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin, Marillyn Hewson also discussed the importance of the partnership, emphasizing its role in maintaining peace and defense for our allies around the world. “Norway has operated Lockheed martin products since 1944, and we’ve been proud to support Norwegian armed forces ever since,” Hewson said. “Together, Norway and the United States have been firmly united in our efforts to promote peace and prosperity in a world that needs stability and security. “Yet, with constantly evolv-
ing global threats, achieving that peace becomes more and more a challenging everyday. I’m, confident the F-35 will provide the strength to defend both of our nations and our allies in today’s dynamic security environment. “The F-35 brings unmatched capability. It’s particularly well suited for Norway’s unique security challenges including its High North threats. It’s the only aircraft with the adequate range, persistence, sensors and advanced communications to guarantee surveillance and defense of the High North, against surface and airborne threats. This capability would not be possible without the unwavering support of the Norwegian government and the innovative contributions of Norwegian industry.” In the early years of the F-35 project, Lockheed ran into a few development issues, leaving some of the original partners to question the viability of the program. Norway was not one of them.
www.dfwnewsflash.com “In the face of those challenges, there was one nation that truly embraced a long view and stood steadfast in their commitment to the program. That was Norway,” Hewson said. “In 2012, Norway announced they were committed to the original program and they were increasing that procurement from 48 to 52 aircraft. If that wasn’t enough, they also moved the purchase of the first two of their aircraft a full year earlier than planned. “Recently, Norway hosted a joint international executive steering board meeting in their country. They are the first to do so, in addition to the first ever CEO conference for the F-35 outside of the United States. “I have no doubt that there will be many more firsts to come in the future. It’s Norway’s vision, leadership and commitment that has lead us to where we are today. The focus and dedication and confidence that Norway has demonstrated since the beginning of the F-35 program has been the foundation of our success. “As our trusted partner and friend for decades, Norway has remained committed to the F-35’s groundbreaking
DFW NEWSFLASH - October 2015 technology and the value it brings to the Norwegian armed forces,” Hewson said. “With today’s rollout of the first Norwegian F-35 A, Lockheed Martin is eager to officially start the next journey together in a partnership that will endure for decades to come. “We couldn’t be more proud to serve the Norwegian government, military services and most important, its citizens.” Perhaps no one was more excited than Norway’s Minister of Defense, Ine Eriksen Søreide. “Today is a historic event as we mark the rollout of a capability that will constitute the core of the Norwegian armed forces for years to come. “This is the first piece of the biggest investment in Norway to date. Today we’re celebrating a milestone in the continued development of the modern and capable Norwegian armed forces,” Søreide said. “As you all know, new generation of fighter jets does not come along very often. As I told a Norwegian broadcaster yesterday, I will probably not be the minister of defense when a sixth generation aircraft is on a rollout.
Norwegian musician Ole Edvard Antonsen plays a beautful trumpet arrangement in honor of the Norwegian Armed Forces and the F-35 rollout. . / Photo by John Starkey
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Orlando Carvalho, Executive VP of Aeronautics, Lockheed Martin; Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen, Norwegian Chief of Defence ; Norwegian Minister of Defence Ine Eriksen Søreide; Marillyn Hewson, Chairman, President and CEO, Lockheed Martin; Lorraine Martin, Executive VP and GM of F-35 Lightning II Program, Lockheed Martin get a closer look at the F-35. (Left to right) /Photo by John Starkey
But as the minster of defense being here today I realize that timing is always of the essence.” Søreide congratulated everyone involved in the F-35’s development, praising the F-35 teams from Norway and the U.S. for keeping the program on schedule and on budget. “I would like to give my word appreciation to all of the workers, all the technicians, all of the doers building the aircraft. Thank you all for your tireless effort. Thank you for providing us with cutting edge technology. Without all of you, there would be no F-35 to rollout,” she said.
“We all know the F-35 is not simply another fighter. We all know it is much more. The F-35 provides us with capability we’ve never had before. It’s by far the most advanced fighter ever made. Today we are turning the future into the present.” Despite the F-35’s multitude of advanced capabilities, including cutting-edge sensors, range and stealth improvements, Søreide realized a problem with the new aircraft. “As an eager copilot, I can only see one major flaw with this airplane: it only comes in a one-seater,” she said.
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Plaques commemorate solemn moments in history By Jess Paniszczyn At 11:39 a.m. on Nov. 22, 1963, Air Force One landed at Dallas Love Field. The world did not know it then, but the fate of the nation hung on every tick of the clock. By the time Air Force One departed three hours and eight minutes later, President John F. Kennedy was dead, President Lyndon Baines Johnson had been sworn in, and Dallas was the most hated city in the country. More than 50 years later, historian Farris Rookstool III and the City of Dallas have worked together to mark the spot where President Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President. A bronze marker has been placed in the newly poured cement apron near gate 28A. The installation completes the last phase of the new $70 million cement construction at Dallas Love Field. High intensity lights placed near the marker will shine into a window in the unsecured area of Love Field on the second story near the Dunkin’ Donuts and Fly Bar. In the coming months, a duplicate, 43 pound solid bronze marker and educational panels will be hung in the area. “I felt like it was very important for Dallas as well as the world to actually know the history that occurred here on Nov. 22,” Rookstool said. “This is the first time ever that we had a Texas U.S. President sworn in on Texas soil. It was also the first time west of the Mississippi that we had a President sworn in. Most importantly in relationship to the history of the airport, this is the only time that an American president
has been sworn in aboard an aircraft. This happened right out there at gate 28 A. “I felt establishing the footprint where that place was, to make sure this never forgotten for future generations, was an important thing to do for Dallas and for the world. “The assassination is a rather grim subject. The inauguration of President Johnson has kind of almost become a footnote. What most people forget is most of John F. Kennedy’s programs and policies were enacted in a very expeditious way because of President Johnson. Johnson was able to get the Civil Rights Act of ‘64, the Voting Rights Act of ‘65, and many of the things Kennedy would’ve had a hard time getting through Congress. “Most importantly within the aviation component with Ken-
nedy’s death, Kennedy said in May 1961, ‘We choose to go to the moon.’ He wanted to send a man to the moon before the decade was out. LBJ is the point man, now the new chief executive, formerly head of the space program for the president. He was able to really set into motion, and really get the muscle in Congress to fund sending a man to the moon before the decade was out; and we did that. “Vice President Johnson was the perfect man for the job to take over from President Kennedy, because he had been the master of the Senate,” he said. “He knew all the people and how to get things done within Congress. His first inauguration, the inauguration took place right up there on the apron, and that is a very important thing
to remember rather than the tragedy that occurred downtown in Dealey Plaza. “Overshadowing the tragedy is the fact that our U.S. Constitution was preserved. We had a change in power with the swearing in of President Johnson aboard Air Force One. It was a conscious decision to make sure that people knew our country was back on track.” Aviation and history enthusiasts gathered to listen to Rookstool speak about the plaque installation on Sept. 3. “I think it’s historic,” said Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, CEO of the Frontiers of Flight Museum. “I love having this in a public location where the public can learn more, be cognizant, and remember. We can look out the window See History, Page 14
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Continued from page 12 and see [the bronze marker]. It’s a great piece of history that we need to remember. “There are so many dark episodes in our history. We can’t forget all of those. We have to put it in context. We can’t forget what happened, but you have to look at what the positive of that was. We have a Constitution that al-
lowed us to move forward quickly. In three hours, we had a new president. What a great thing about America,” she said. Future generations will benefit from the new installation and the accompanying exhibit, according to José Torres, Public Information Officer for the Department of
Aviation. “It was a fateful day for Dallas and the country,” Torres said. “It’s a good thing that we are starting this exhibit in this location where people can come and read about it and look at the duplicate marker and learn a little bit of history; so that new generations understand what hap-
pened here. Then they can look out the window and see that light shining towards the terminal, and they will know exactly where Lyndon Baines Johnson became the 36th President of the United States.”
Sacrifice of commercial aviation’s darkest day honored By Michael Johnson Planes fly overhead arriving and departing from one of the busiest airports in the country, and all is as it should be. Unnoticed from the skies above, a crowd gathers around a small memorial in Grapevine, Texas, on Sept.
11. The figures of two pilots, two flight attendants and a little girl represent the crews and passengers lost on American Airlines Flights 11 and 77 and United Airlines Flights 93 and 175 on Sept. 11, 2011. The 9/11 Flight Crew
Left: A reflection of fire fighters can be seen on a bell rung for the fallen. Center: Three firefighters from the Grapevine Fire Department stand in honor of the first responders who lost their lives and for those still affected today. Right: American Airlines Pilot Jim Dees lowers the flag to half-mass in silent recognition of those who were lost. /Photos by John Starkey
Memorial serves as the formal place of remembrance for the flight professionals who died. Engraved on slabs of granite along the memorial’s base, are the names of the 33 crew members of the 9/11 flights with an inscription below that reads, “They
loved their career and gave their best, now joining those headed west.” Although time has passed, Grapevine’s Deputy Chief of Fire and EMS Operations Stuart Grant has not forgotten. “We’ve said ever since that
www.dfwnewsflash.com day, we won’t forget,” Grant said. “The United States was attacked that day, but through police service, fire service, and airline employees’ sacrifices, a lot of peo-
DFW NEWSFLASH - October 2015 ple are here today.” Andy Paclibre believes his perspective of life changed completely after that day. “I thought it was something off of Star Wars, but I realized
it was for real,” Paclibre said. “It opened my eyes and faith more that you can’t take life for granted, or your family’s life too. “It’s really awesome and
Page 15 inspiring that we still remember these people. History is something you can’t rewrite and you can’t forget.”
DFW AIRPORT POLICE REPORT Assault August 18 An officer was dispatched to Station One in reference to an assault report. The officer met the reporting party who stated her son had assaulted her while she was dropping him of at work on Aug. 14 at approximately 7:30 a.m. The reporting party said her son works for Elwood Staffing and is stationed at 2402 Esters. She advised her son does not drive and she is responsible for getting him to work each day. While taking her son to work, he became irate with her because she was going to be one hour late picking him up due to watching her grandchild. She said her son is jealous of his niece and gets upset if his schedule is changed due to her. The reporting party advised while she was driving, her son called his supervisor and told him he was not working that day due to having to wait to be picked up later. She told her son he still needed to go in and kept driving him. She said her son attempted to get out of her vehicle twice on Rufe Snow Dr. while it was still moving in an attempt to not go to work. When they arrived, she told her son he needed to go to work. The reporting party stated her son would not get out of her car, so she grabbed a piece of paper off of his lap with his supervisor’s phone number on it in an attempt to let the supervisor know he was at work. Her son then grabbed her hands to get the piece of paper away which caused severe bruising. She did not let go of the paper, and her son then slapped her glasses off of her face causing her to let go. When her son slapped her glasses, his elbow hit her right biceps causing a large bruise. The reporting party stated she exited her vehicle and began to walk away. Her son followed her and kept telling her to drive him home. To keep the situation from escalating further, she got back in her vehicle and drove herself and her son home. She advised her son is an alcoholic and has been violent with her in the past. On Aug. 17 he used a pickaxe damaging her furniture, which caused her to call the Watauga Police Department to her home. Due to
the recent violent behavior of her son, she decided to file a police report regarding the assault which occurred on Aug. 14. The officer advised her because her son intentionally grabbed her and caused bruising and bodily injury to her, an offense report for Assault (Family Violence) would be generated. She was given information on family violence and her rights. Tampering with a Government Document August 22 at 6:58 p.m. Officers met a TSA screener who stated he received a Florida Driver’s License he believed to be fictitious. The screener gave the officer the driver’s license and directed him to the airline passenger who provided it. The male verbally identified himself as Owens. The driver’s license stated his name was Jacobs. Owens advised he is on probation for a drug possession charge and is not permitted to leave the state. He reported he has used the identification before for travelling without any complications. Owens revealed he purchased the identification on Craig’s List for approximately $300 but would not reveal the seller. Owens advised
he was attempting to travel to Los Angeles on American Airlines to visit family. Criminal Mischief September 17, 6:53 p.m. Officers were dispatched to 1969 SW Construction Road (TRIP employee parking lot) in reference to a criminal mischief report. A female advised her car (2012 Blue Suzuki) had been scratched on passenger doors of the right side of the vehicle and a valve stem cap was missing. She arrived to DFW Airport at approximately 6:20 a.m. and parked at the TRIP employee parking lot. She stated she did not see any damage to the doors when she arrived. She left the airport at approximately 3:20 p.m. and traveled to a Greyhound Station in Fort Worth, where she discovered the damage to her vehicle. She returned to the airport to file a police report. Officers observed two scratches on the entire length of the right front passenger door and right back passenger door. There was no valve stem cap on the back right tire of the vehicle. She estimated the repair cost of the doors
to be approximately $1000 and the cost of the valve stem cap to be $10. She suspects her old coworkers caused the damage to her vehicle in retaliation for them being fired. Her coworkers constantly called her names and made fun of her vehicle by calling it a “lawn mower.” She filed a complaint through her employer in reference to the name calling. She did not see who caused the damage to her vehicle. Due to an unknown person damaging the vehicle, an offense report for Criminal Mischief was completed.
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