AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2020 - 47

AOPA NEWS |

AOPA'S MCSPADDEN
HONORED
Several pavilions focus on different aspects of the war effort, and since it has
been enlarged over the years, the layout can be a bit confusing. Some advance
planning will make the museum easier to navigate.
Enough military aircraft are displayed overhead in a four-story aviation gallery
to satisfy most warbird enthusiasts, but visitors are encouraged to look beyond
airplanes, ships, and other war machines and learn about the worldwide conflict on a personal level.
With surviving members of the Greatest Generation now in their 90s and 100s,
only a few World War II veterans are available to relate their war experiences
in person. However, a unique feature of the museum allows visitors to select a
soldier or sailor to follow through the war with an electronic dog tag that can
be swiped at exhibits to access individual stories. Exhibits are packed with creative displays.
Lakefront Airport, which is only nine
miles from the museum, juts out into
Lake Pontchartrain and is served by two
IF YOU GO
FBOs. With downtown parking at a preStandard tickets are priced at
mium, avoid renting a car if possible.
$29.25, with discounts available for
Moored very close to Lakefront Airport
groups, senior citizens, and veteris the world's only fully restored comans. Several optional extra-cost
bat veteran PT boat in operation today,
activities are available at the museum, including a highly recomthe museum-owned PT-305. The boat
mended historical movie narrated
is available for tours and rides on Lake
by Tom Hanks.
Pontchartrain.
The historic art deco Lakefront
The museum opens at 9 a.m., and
Airport terminal building, opened in 1934,
it's wise to arrive early to avoid the
was originally used by the airlines when it
crowds, which often include school
groups. Extra-cost tours led by
was the main airport serving New Orleans.
knowledgeable guides are availIt has been restored since 2005, when
able on some days. Otherwise, the
Hurricane Katrina deposited four feet of
museum is self-guided, and there
water inside and even more on the field.
is so much to see that it's easy to
The larger Louis Armstrong New
run out of time, so plan to spend
the day if your schedule permits.
Orleans International Airport, served by
There is also an option to return
the airlines, is about 15 miles away from
for a second day for only $7.
the museum, making Lakefront Airport
the better choice if you plan to fly in
Food is available at a couple of
yourself.
restaurants, and there is an extenTOM SNOW is a pilot and contributor to the

AOPA Travel Pilot newsletter.

sive gift shop with a wide range of
books and memorabilia.
nationalww2museum.org

AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE Executive
Director Richard McSpadden was recognized at a recent Aero Club of New England
event. McSpadden had been invited to present the recently released Air Safety Institute's
Just a Short Flight Accident Case Study to the
thirtieth edition of the Crash Course, a safety
seminar organized by the Aero Club of New
England billed as the largest single, in-person
pilot safety seminar in the country.
Aero Club of New England board
member Dr. Gary Kearney surprised
McSpadden with the group's Presidential
Award before an audience of about 300
safety-minded pilots at the Doubletree
Hotel in Bedford, Massachusetts, noting
the honor was created to recognize significant contributions to aviation, and that
this year's selection of McSpadden was as
much a recognition for AOPA as it was an
honor for McSpadden personally.
"They have been our partners in Crash
Course for over 20 years, and they materially have made this, the quality of this
course, what it is today," Kearney said.
AOPA has a longstanding relationship
with the Aero Club of New England and
has frequently provided content and staff
for past Crash Course events over the years,
though not always the executive director of
the Air Safety Institute in person. Kearney
is also a member of the AOPA Foundation's
Hat in the Ring Society and worked with
AOPA staff to orchestrate the surprise.
The You Can Fly program and the Air
Safety Institute are funded by charitable
donations to the AOPA Foundation, a 501(c)
(3) organization. To be a part of the solution,
visit www.aopafoundation.org/donate.

aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 47

http://www.nationalww2museum.org http://www.aopafoundation.org/donate http://www.aopa.org/pilot

AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2020