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Stealth pilot to be featured at Aviation Festival

Flying top-secret missions in an F-117A Stealth Fighter was all in a day’s work for retired Air Force Lt. Col. Steve Edgar.

Edgar will share his experiences as a Stealth and operational test pilot when he speaks at the Idaho Aviation Festival, March 10-12 at the Boise Centre on the Grove. The festival is sponsored by the Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Aeronautics.

In 1989 Edgar was assigned to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, presumably to fly the A-7 (a cover for the actual Stealth project). The assignment led to adventures and experiences that many pilots only dream about.

The Stealth Fighter is the world’s first aircraft capable of attacking targets without being detected by enemy radar systems. Although development began in 1978 and it was first flown in 1981, it was not until 1988 that the Stealth’s existence was publicly acknowledged.

Edgar, whose assignment took him from home five days a week for three years, will present “The History of the F-117A Stealth Fighter from the perspective of an Air Force Pilot” at the festival’s closing banquet on Saturday, March 12.

At the kick-off luncheon on Thursday, March 10, Alan Klapmeier, co-founder and CEO of Cirrus Design will present “General Aviation in the 21st Century.” Klapmeier and his brother started with homebuilt aircraft and graduated to manufacturing innovative, high-performance personal aviation aircraft.

Aicher, 33, pilot and founder of The Eagle Flight Project, will open the luncheon program. He will share his plans to complete a two-phase flight beginning in May 2005, culminating with a solo flight around the world. Aicher hopes to become the youngest solo pilot to circumnavigate the globe in 2006.

The Aviation Festival will include many new elements, such as the AvSwap (a chance to buy and sell aviation parts and supplies) an expanded trade show, presentations on current events within the industry, training seminars, certification credits for mechanics, a teacher aviation workshop and an aviation career forum.

Free workshops will be available throughout the festival. Hands-on activities for families and children will be offered on Saturday. The public is invited to register for any event.
Early registration for those interested in all other workshops is $89 and includes admission to all festival activities, the Thursday kick-off luncheon and the Saturday closing banquet. Tickets to the luncheon ($17) and banquet ($35) can be purchased separately.

Exhibit and sponsorship opportunities are available. Exhibit space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sponsorship opportunities include an option of tailoring a package to fit specific needs.

For more information on attending, exhibiting or sponsoring the festival, visit the festival’s Internet site: itd.idaho.gov/aero/aviationfestival , or call Becky Funston at (208) 288-0290 or (800) 345-8793.