posted 02-09-2016 08:48 AM               

The biggest gem is the Milt Thompson book "At the Edge of Space." As most are aware, Milt signed copies of this book are rare indeed as it was published very shortly before he passed. So I added five X-15 pilot signatures, five launch pilots, five engineers, and Crossfield's back-up Al White.

Also a book: "To Fly Like a Bird" a biography by Bell original helicopter test pilot John Mashman. Mashman joined Bell as a fixed wing test pilot in 1943 and transitioned over to helicopters when they first started. Yes he's signed it, but what makes it so unique is this was a gift to Slick Goodlin, and he has written a nice inscription TO Slick. Given to me shortly after Slick passed by his wife. A very rare piece of aerospace history from a giant.

While not a space or test flight item directly, there is an Air Race Sketch book cover (photo of on hard stock paper) with 15 signatures from events in 1929, 1940s and 1950s. Including Dick Gordon (Gemini/Apollo) who won the Bendix Trophy on the 1950s. As Dick's wont to say, "I bet you didn't know I was a famous pilot before I was a famous astronaut." There are also a ton of test pilot signatures who participated in the air races early on.

Another test flight piece is a signed T-38 photo with many test pilot signatures.

And there's an F-100 Viet Nam war piece signed by Roy Bridges and Ron Grabe (and more). So it too has a space connection.