UPCOMING IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES
Attention Docents, Teachers, Educators: As you know, I keep track of the anniversary dates for milestone events in aviation and Space exploration, along with dates for notable events and people, to help engage learner interest with familiar connections. It can be worthwhile to look ahead to see keys dates in 2025 that you may wish to use, or avoid, when planning educational programs, class activities, or other outreach interactions. Having info you don’t need is better than needing info you don’t have!
2026 ANNIVERSARY-RELATED PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES! Round-number anniversaries/birthdays, etc. for 2026 can be found in the Archive: Other Stuff section of the website. Such dates likely attract media and other attention, and can be used in aviation, astronomy, and Space exploration programming to engage audiences.
Upcoming Round-Number Calendar Anniversaries
June 8 is the 60th anniversary of the loss of second of only the two Valkyrie supersonic bombers ever built. An F-104N Starfighter flown by NASA Chief Research Test Pilot Joseph “Tex” Walker, flying in close formation, was flipped over the wing of the Valkyrie, taking out both vertical stabilizers. Walker was killed instantly and the Valkyrie went into an uncontrollable flat spin. Alvin White was able to eject, but co-pilot Carl Cross could not, and died in the crash.
June 15 is the 70th anniversary of the first meeting between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. I know it’s not related to aerospace; I just put this entry in to make us all feel old.
June 20 is the 80th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Army Air Force, led by General “Hap” Arnold. The USAAF was the precursor organization to the U.S. Air Force.
June 28 is the 115th anniversary of the fall of the Nakhla meteorite, in Buhayrah, India. It’s one of the first meteorites to be identified as coming to us from the planet Mars, and the first martian meteorite to show evidence of modification by water.
June 30 is the 70th anniversary of a horrible mid-air collision of two jet liners over the Grand Canyon, in which 128 people died. Drastic changes in air traffic control and the creation of the Federal Aviation Administration followed.
July 1 is the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the National Air and Space Museum’s National Mall Building, as covered in the Item of the Week above.
July 20 is the 50th anniversary of the first soft landing on Mars, by Viking 1; see also the Item of the Week above.