Author: G. Styles
Edition: Model Aviation - 1990/08
Page Numbers: 91, 92, 196
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AMA Lends a Helping Hand

The AMA Delta Dart was the centerpiece at a dinner to build support for the planned Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum (NASM) annex at Dulles International Airport. The AMA table was one of 95 at the gala hosted by the Washington Airports Task Force on March 30, 1990, at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel in suburban Washington, D.C.

Purpose of the Dinner

The event was intended to highlight the proposed NASM expansion at Dulles, a western extension of the main Washington museum that would provide much-needed housing and preservation for several historic, full-scale aircraft currently in temporary storage or exposed to the elements. Notable aircraft in need of proper display and preservation included the SR-71, Enola Gay, a B-17, a B-25, and the Shuttle Enterprise. Many other large airplanes are deteriorating at the downtown NASM building, and restoration projects have been postponed due to lack of display space.

We urge all AMA members who are interested in preserving our aviation heritage to support the proposed NASM building at Dulles by writing to their members of Congress and senators.

Hosts and AMA Representatives

  • Vince Mankowski, Executive Director, served as official host for AMA.
  • The author, director of marketing, accompanied Mr. Mankowski.

Special Guests and Notable Attendees

  • The Honorable Norman Mineta — U.S. Representative, 10th District (CA)
  • The Honorable Lewis F. Payne Jr. — U.S. Representative, 5th District (VA)
  • Gerald Baliles — former governor of Virginia; master of ceremonies for the evening
  • Senator John Warner (VA)
  • The Honorable Frank R. Wolf — U.S. Representative
  • The Honorable James Dyke — Virginia Secretary of Education
  • The Honorable David C. Acheson — Smithsonian Board of Regents
  • Dr. Martin Harwit — Director, National Air & Space Museum
  • Admiral Jim Busey — FAA Administrator
  • Lyn Cresswell — legislative assistant to the Hon. Ron Packard, 43rd District (CA)
  • Ronald Linton — president, Linton, Mields, Reisler & Cottone, Ltd.; director, Metro Washington Airport Authority

AMA Participation and Activities

  • AMA sponsored a table at the dinner and provided 100 built-up Delta Darts as table centerpieces.
  • Each model had a special souvenir covering tissue marking the occasion and proved very popular with guests.
  • At the conclusion of the dinner, Governor Baliles asked Admiral Jim Busey to act as Contest Director to oversee the simultaneous launching of the 100 Delta Darts from the tables. Congressman Norman Mineta, assisted by Congressman Lewis Payne, served as the official launchers at the AMA table.

Other Sponsors

  • Boeing Company
  • Eastern Airlines
  • Delta Air Lines
  • British Aerospace
  • Rolls-Royce, Inc.
  • United Airlines
  • Xerox
  • Marriott Corporation
  • Price Waterhouse
  • British Airways
  • Dozens more corporate and organizational sponsors

AMA is proud to have been involved in the evening and to have played a part in building support for the proposed NASM annex at Dulles.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.