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Author
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Topic: Reno Air Races -- Armstrong will be there.
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tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-16-2001 09:08 AM
   
Check this out, I was just ordering my tickets on the web site and found this info. Seems that Neil Armstrong will be at the Air Races.
Tickets for the dinner are $1000 for a table of ten people. I'm traveling alone, so I guess I won't be going to the fancy dinner. Unless there are 10 of us that want to meet and pitch in $100 each?  --
The link to the Air Races website has been removed at the request of the event organizers. Thank you for your understanding. [This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited August 16, 2001).] |
lunarrv15
Member Posts: 1355
From: Cincinnati, Ohio, Hamilton
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 08-16-2001 09:45 AM
Are you going to attempt to ask for his signature? Or take a snapshot of him when you see him in the crowd. Good luck. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-16-2001 09:49 AM
I'm sure a photo of him off in the distance is the best I can hope for! I'll jump up and down and wave at him or something. |
albatron@aol.com
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posted 08-16-2001 12:04 PM
I saw that too, but please let me offer some advice here.#1 All through this the kind folks at Reno have had a DEVIL of a time coordinating the astronauts for their appearance their. Getting them to commit and so on. Also, they got a LOT of pressure from me and some others, to list them so we could plan, with the caveat it is a POTENTIAL list of attendees and they did so. The problem is, and no disrespect to ANY astro, but they are busy with great demands upon them, and it is DIFFICULT to commit as far in advance as Reno wanted/needed. And Reno knew this ergo the difficulty in announcing who was coming, so this list is VERY tentative and I know for a fact one Astro is still not sure if hes attending. One I know personally, even though he is listed. #2 With regards to Neil, many know but for those of you who do not, he is a very shy person in public and will go to very great lengths to avoid publicity. I am VERY suprised that he is listed, and again based on the above this is no assurance he WILL be there. But SHOULD he be, Im sure he will not be available during the event as the rest should be. Even in a controlled environment recently he attended a banquet and no one got anywhere near him. Can you imagine? Even outside our group of "eclectic" people....<G> he is probably the most in demand human in the world. So before we all start ordering tickets, airline tickets and motels based n this info lets make sure to keep they hysteria in check and fully realize that even if he DOES attend, chances of getting near him are slim and none, and getting anything signed well, as bad as getting John Young to sign through the mail, 15 items at a whack....<LOL> Cheers! Al |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-16-2001 12:21 PM
Well, I'm not planning this whole trip on seeing the astronauts, that is kind of a secondary thing. I have been wanting to go to the races for years, but always screwed up and tried planning it way too late. So it is just lucky this year the astroauts will be there (or at least some of them!).
If I can get some autographs, great. If not, no big deal.
So do you know what the astronauts do durning the races? Do they sit in a tent meeting people who line up, hide in the fancy VIP area, or just show up at a dinner that I can't afford to go to? |
Leon Ford
Member Posts: 309
From: Shreveport, LA, United States
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-16-2001 12:53 PM
I'm glad to see that some of the astronauts that normally don't do public events will be in Reno for the air races. Just one thing that those who go to the event might want to keep in mind; if you get a chance to meet one of these astronauts, enjoy the experience. Don't stake everything on trying to get an autograph. These guys are asked everyday, and have been asked almost everyday for almost 40 years to sign something for someone. You can get something signed by most of them through the mail and those that don't sign through the mail are not going to sign anything for you in person anyway. Enjoy being able to see and possibly shake the hand of someone you have only seen in history books. Take a chance to ask the astronaut a question you have wondered about. Make the experience of meeting an astronaut something more than just a chance to get a slip of paper signed or a photo signed. You might find just meeting and talking to one of these gentlemen adds more to your enjoyment of the hobby than that signed photo does. Just a thought, Leon |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-16-2001 01:08 PM
Absolutely! I totally agree. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-16-2001 01:20 PM
That's a great reminder, Leon, and unfortunately one that is (sometimes) hard to remember in the excitement of standing in front of a childhood hero. As I only collect in-person, I always try to refrain from the simply sign and shake. The autograph means so much more if it comes after a brief but meaningful conversation -- especially if you can get the person to open up about a question he/she wasn't expecting to be asked. I'll be at the Air Races this year, and plan to report on the aftermath for collectSPACE. Expect plenty of pictures and if I can, some short interviews with a few in attendance. |
astronut
Member Posts: 969
From: South Fork, CO
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-16-2001 02:01 PM
Leon,
WELL SAID. As an example when I was at the UACC show in Chicago in 2000, what I truly treasure was the moments spent talking with REAL American heroes. I spent all day waiting for additional moments to politely ask questions. By 5pm that day I think some of them knew me by name!  Here were these giants of American history talking to me as a friend. Yes, I got autographs as it was an autograph show, but would have forgone all of them for the same chance to chat. I wish I could afford to be there, I truly do. Just to have a chance to smile at one of them and listen, much less talk, would be priceless! ------------------
Happy trails,
Wayne Edelman
The Astro Nuts...a meeting place for space enthusiasts
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheAstronuts |
collshubby
Member Posts: 591
From: Madisonville, Louisiana
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-16-2001 02:17 PM
To everyone above: Well said and my thoughts exactly. As much as I would love a Neil Armstrong autograph in my collection, I would never ask him in person. If I had just a brief moment to shake his hand and have a snapshot taken with him, I couldn't ask for anything more. That would mean more to me than the autograph, and I wouldn't want to sour the moment by asking for one. I would hate to say to my kids "Yeah, I got to meet Mr. Armstrong, but then I asked for an autograph and pissed him off." I'd rather say "Yes, I did meet Mr. Armstrong, and I'll never forget it. It was a great thing!" ------------------
Brian Peter
astronautbrian@space.com
http://members.tripod.com/~brian_space/index.html |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-16-2001 02:20 PM
I'm not sure what I would ask if I got to meet him in person. I would probably end up saying something stupid that I would want to kick myself later on for saying or asking! |
sts205cdr
Member Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 08-16-2001 03:46 PM
I've often thought about what I would ask him, and the one thing that comes to mind is to ask him about something near and dear to his heart: Flying. Does he get the chance to fly or soar much these days? Has he ever flown a Harrier? An F/A-18?--John
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tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 08-16-2001 04:01 PM
Good idea. I'm sure he gets asked "what was it like on the moon" way too much. Probably few people think of asking him about regular flying. I'm a pilot, so there is at least something we might have in common. Although, I have never flown anything fancier than a Cessna 310. Oh well.... |
collshubby
Member Posts: 591
From: Madisonville, Louisiana
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-16-2001 06:34 PM
I'd find a good question to ask him about his days flying the X-15. Or a good old fashion engineering question.------------------
Brian Peter
astronautbrian@space.com
http://members.tripod.com/~brian_space/index.html |
Dan Lorraine
Member Posts: 373
From: Cranston, R.I.
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-16-2001 06:35 PM
C'Mon,
YOUR tax dollars put him there ..... ask him for his autograph!!! If he refuses, then so what!
Dan Lorraine |
albatron@aol.com
New Member Posts:
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posted 08-16-2001 07:47 PM
My point had nothing to do with not going, or previous thought of purposes and I wasnt at ALL putting anyone down in this regards. No, simply saying since Neil is going to be there (and that jury is still out in my book), lets not all get hysterical about going with high hopes youll get a bunch of things signed. The sad reality is I highly doubt ANYONE would get anything signed.And this does not negate at ALL seeing him (much less meeting him). Nope, simply just keep it in perspective. I went to Reno in 1999 for the last astronaut reunion and had an AWESOME time. And Im going again this year because the astros will be there.Im hoping to get some things signed, but as Leon said, not for the purpose of getting autographs signed. For the experience AND the great aviation. Just lets keep the Neil aspect in perspective. Cheers! Al |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 08-16-2001 10:49 PM
Does anyone know if Mr NEIL ARMSTRONG is still active in some Aerospace related business/firm or if he gives lectures for Academic institutions ?
I believe he's about 70 years old by now?By the way ... I would NOT ask his autograph, just seeing him in person would be great ...
Best regards from BELGIUM! [This message has been edited by Philip (edited August 16, 2001).] |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-17-2001 07:02 AM
Armstrong serves as a Director for SPACE.com. Once in a blue moon, he agrees to a lecture but as far as I aware he is not on any type of circuit. |
uzzi69
Member Posts: 181
From: Richmond, IN USA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 08-17-2001 06:09 PM
I, too, attended the UACC convention in Chicago 2000. We arrived too late the first night to see the astronauts, so we went to the bar for a quick bite to eat. As I sat for a little while I realized that the gentleman sitting at the table across from me was Charlie Duke. Upon closer scrutiny, other astronauts were sitting at the same table. I was sitting in a bar across from Alan Bean, Edgar Mitchell, Dick Gordon, Walt Cunningham, and Charlie Duke. Several wives were present, too. I had to order a beer to settle my nerves.
I want to desperately bolt to their table and speak with them all, but I refrained, and let them have their space. I must admit I did a bit of eavesdropping. Listening to several Moonwalkers chum it up wasn't a bad evening. I did retreive a beer bottle that Charlie Duke consumed, for the collection.
I did speak with them all the next day, and all were more than ready to answer all my questions.
As for Mr. Armstrong, if I were to meet him somewhere, I might casually say hi, if I could..but I don't think I would ask for an auto. |
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