Meet the Airplane: 55 Years of Drones

While unmanned aircraft are just now hitting the national spotlight and becoming available to the average citizen, drones are nothing new in American military history. The next “Meet the Airplane!” event at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum will focus on the 55 years of history of drones, how they started, how they evolved, and what they’re doing now.

Anyone with an interest in unmanned aircraft is welcome to come to the program from 11 am to 4 pm Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum just outside the Patuxent River Naval Air Station’s Gate 1.

The museum is at 22156 Three Notch Road in Lexington Park.

Museum admission will be free for the event. Children of all ages can play games and perhaps even get some hands-on flight experience.

A panel of experts on these aircraft will be presented at 2 pm, and the speakers will share stories of drones going back to the 1960s. They will also offer discussion of current uses and development.

Food will be available for purchase, and a raffle will be held for an art print by Hank Caruso.

This event will be a fun opportunity for families to get a better understanding of drone capabilities at Patuxent River Naval Air Station and around the world. Get some historical perspective via the QH-50 Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter, circa 1960s. Learn about the latest developments from the University of Maryland Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site.

The museum also is open late, until 8 pm, the third Thursday of the month for Decompression Night at the Museum. For this event, regular admission fees apply: Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors who are 65 and older. Members are always free. Decompression Nights will be Feb. 18, March 17 and April 21.

To learn more about the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum visit, their Leader Member page.