The Aviator Ball 2010 - Rockin' Rockets
April 23, 2010 - Fun, Food, and Festivities!
Think NASCAR-style racing with pilots in rocket planes battling each other in the sky. That's rocket racing, and guests at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium's Annual Aviator Ball got to witness a live demonstration during a private air show at the ball.
The show was a preview for the QuikTrip Air and Rocket Racing Show held the following day. In addition to the rocket racers, fly-bys at the ball were performed by a T-28, four T-6 Texans, a Stearman and a P-51 Mustang piloted by Ike Enns.
Patrons also enjoyed food and drinks, music by the Easy Street Band and a live auction led by Jay Litchfield. Cindy Morrison was the master of ceremonies.
Special guests at the Aviator Ball were the first American Indian astronaut, Oklahoman Cmdr. John Herrington; one of the first astronauts to set foot on the moon, Buzz Aldrin; and the founder of the X-Prize Foundation and chairman of the Rocket Racing League, Peter Diamandis. Additional representatives from The Rocket Racing League, the U.S. Air Force and the Navy were also in attendance.
QuikTrip was the presenting sponsor for the Air Show.
Presenting sponsors for the Aviator Ball were the Ann and Henry Zarrow Foundation and the Hille Foundation. Additional sponsors were AMETEK, Cox Business, George Kaiser Family Foundation, Ray and Linda Booker, Spirit Aerosystems, American Airlines and Unit Corporation.
Donors included Texas Roadhouse, Rib Crib, Oliveto, Hardens, Karens, Uniquely Yours Catering, Parkhill Wines and LDF Distributors.
All proceeds from the Aviator Ball are being used to further the museum's extensive educational programming that consists of a broad curriculum including school field trips for public, private and home school consortiums, weeklong summer camps, Boy and Girl Scout merit badge workshops and much more.
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