posted on Sep, 11 2009 @ 11:08 AM
Clear your calendars for the first week of October. This should be an awesome event.
On Wednesday, October 7th, and Thursday, October 8th, the Atomic Testing Museum and Roadrunners Internationale will separate the myths from the
realities of Area 51 through a special presentation and exhbit: SPY PLANES OF GROOM LAKE (AREA51).
The Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, is partnering with Roadrunners Internationale, an alumni organization for Groom Lake workers, to
provide the first public access to former U.S. Air Force, CIA, and contractor personnel who worked on some of the nation’s most closely guarded Cold
War projects under a strict blanket of secrecy. This is an opportunity for the public to learn the history of the secret Groom Lake test site and the
role it played during the Cold War, and to discuss newly declassified details about cutting edge technologies with the people who developed them.
Lectures and moderated discussion panels will include former and current CIA staff, military commanders, historians, and other notable individuals.
There will be opportunities both days for the public to “meet and greet” former Area 51 test pilots, engineers, and technicians and ask them
questions. A temporary exhibit will feature actual Area 51 artifacts, memorabilia, and photos. Events on Wednesday will include presentations on the
history of Area 51 and Project OXCART by historian Peter Merlin, followed by a panel discussion with people who actually worked at the secret Groom
Lake test site. Moderated by KLAS Channel 8 investigative reporter George Knapp, this panel will feature CIA Historian Dr. David Robarge and former
pilots and engineers from Area 51. On Thursday, historian Paul Suhler will give an in-depth presentation on CIA projects Rainbow and Gusto and the
design evolution of the triple-sonic A-12 spy plane, followed by a discussion panel of former Groom Lake pilots, staff, and technicians moderated by
author Annie Jacobson.
Admission is $10 per person and FREE for Museum members. Museum admission is just an additional $5 for those attending this event. Books and souvenirs
will be available for purchase at the Museum gift shop and from representatives of the CIA employee store.
Schedule:
Wednesday, October 7: Meet and Greet 10am-5pm. Area 51 historical overview by aerospace historian, Peter Merlin at 2pm. Project Oxcart history
presentation by Peter Merlin at 4pm. Area 51 Panel Discussion, moderated by George Knapp at 6pm-8pm.
Thursday, October 8: Meet and Greet 10am-3pm. Archangel (A-1 through A-12) development history lecture by author, Paul Suhler at 11am. Area 51 Panel
Discussion moderated by author, Annie Jacobson, 1pm-3pm.
The Atomic Testing Museum is open 7 days a week, Monday – Saturday 10 am to 5pm and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Last tickets are sold at 4:30p.m. to
allow time to tour the Museum.
The Atomic Testing Museum is located at 755 E. Flamingo Rd., between Paradise Rd. and Swenson St., on the south side of the street. There is ample
parking and the museum is ADA accessible. For more information please call (702) 794-5151.