Family, Faith, Fun & Flight

The Birmingham Southern Museum Of Flight (BSMOF) hosted yet another successful Family Day 2024. Well over 700 people attended this year's event. During the Pandemic of 2020 the museum was closed down. However, in 2022, hundreds began to return as confidence began to rise. Last year's event drew attendance numbers greater than pre-pandemic years. This year's attendance broke the previous 2023 year's attendance record. As the past few years have passed by, seemingly more and more people have come to know "Birmingham's secret hidden in plain sight".

The event, which was free to the general public, showcased the many different aircraft on display at the museum. Food trucks offering diverse culinary options were on hand as well as give away free popsicles and ice cream sandwiches. Also, local small business merchants selling jewelry, purses/handbags, and aviation themed clothing were also on hand as the museum promotes small business growth and development. As a special treat, local motorcycle/slingshot and vintage car clubs including vintage military vehicles were on hand to showcase the legacy of antique and vintage muscle cars and trucks. Children were treated to balloons and face paintings.

The purpose of the event is to showcase the many different dynamics and aspects of flight within the museum. Second, it is designed to promote the educational framework of manned flight within the context of family. Therefore, all who attend are sure to enjoy an invaluable experience. Unlike any other museum in the immediate area, patrons are able to see the innumerable sacrifices that have been made by veterans of the past to make this country be free.

What the Pandemic of 2020 forced a lot of people to do was focus on family. For more than a year, people were quarantined to stay in place at home. This situation allowed people to interact with one another in ways that they never had before. For some, it meant now having meals around the table. In the post-Pandemic era, many were left with a new, or even renewed appreciation for family. A structured family provides a solid foundation by which a child is presented with fundamental guidance for navigating life. It is here where a person first learns their self-worth and gain a sense of belonging. It is in this arena that people learn virtue, as well as heritage. Being in a structured home shapes a person's values, beliefs, and positive behaviors. In short, typically children tend to be what they see.

Participating in family day activities offers numerous advantages. A primary benefit is the chance to spend quality time with loved ones, engaging in various leisure activities together, which reinforces family bonds. Attendees had the opportunity to experience a range of simulators and home gaming systems, including Ace Combat on PlayStation 4. The BSMOF celebrated the game's launch with a release party in 2018, which was attended by hundreds, including Game Stop corporate officials. Simulators like these provide aviation enthusiasts with an incredibly realistic flying experience, which can inspire young people to pursue careers as pilots, video game designers, aircraft mechanics, and other STEM-related professions.

Family serves as the initial school in life. As children grow, they naturally become curious about their parents, grandparents, and ancestral history. The BSMOF event offers a comprehensive display of the evolution of flight and military aviation efforts during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Cold War. The BSMOF is proud to exhibit a Cold War-era Russian Hinds helicopter utilized by Russia in Afghanistan. Additionally, the museum is home to an exhibit dedicated to the Bay of Pigs Invasion during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 2023, a commemoration ceremony for those who perished was held at the museum's front entrance of the Alabama Air National Guard base. A B-26 bomber that was used and flown by Birmingham residents and members of the 11th Fighter Wing in the ill-fated mission was unveiled to family members of those killed during the invasion.

Children raised in a nurturing family that instills discipline and values learn to distinguish right from wrong and embark on a journey toward productivity. Families impart lessons on behavior, skills, and ethics. Resilient families guide their members in dealing with the external world while shielding them from its negative influences. Within the family unit, individuals also absorb a set of values, understanding what is deemed acceptable. Familiarity with and adherence to these family values can guide children to adopt and perpetuate them as they mature.

One of the more colorful and eye candy experiences of the family day event was the car and motorcycle show. An assortment of Chevrolet's and Ford's from the 1950's and 1960's were on display by local vintage car clubs and owners. Vintage and antique cars and trucks represent a golden era of American car culture and history. Some vehicles represent a particular time in history or even a particular actor and movie. The hoods were lifted so that museum patrons could see the might of muscle cars of old. This was a tribute to a time when America cars were king and ruled the highway. "muscle" cars became very popular in the 1960s and were seemingly tied into the rebellious counter-culture of that decade.

Iconic cars such as the Pontiac GTO, Dodge Charger, Camaro, Pontiac Superbird, Chevy Chevelle, and Dodge Challenger defined an era. It also sparked a culture of street racing. This led to highway speed chases involving law enforcement and saw a spike in automobile crashes and deaths, resulting in increases in automobile insurance for high performance vehicles. The 1970's saw the passing of the Clean Air Act and the gas and oil crisis of the 1970s ushered in the decline of muscle cars in lieu of Asian compact import cars. Vintage military vehicles such as WWII and Korean era Willy's Jeeps were also on display and available for rides. Also, popular 3 wheeled bikes such as "Sling Shots, and "Trikes" were available for viewing.

The Slingshot is a three-wheeled marvel that reignites the passion for driving. It's neither a car nor a motorcycle; the Slingshot combines the best aspects of both, offering a novel experience of the road's rush and the open sky above through its open-air design. It's designed to stand out. With an open-air cockpit, an incredibly low profile, and the excitement of three wheels, the Slingshot has a presence, sound, and driving experience that's unparalleled on the road. Each Slingshot is as distinctive as its driver, providing the ultimate canvas for personal expression.

This year celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Ford Mustang, which has been in continuous production since 1964, making it the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Now in its seventh generation, it ranks as the fifth-best selling Ford car nameplate. As the pioneer of the "pony car" automobile segment, the Mustang was designed as a highly styled series of sports coupes and convertibles, evolving from existing model lines. Initially expected to sell 100,000 vehicles annually, the 1965 Mustang surpassed expectations, becoming the most successful vehicle launch since the 1927 Model A. Launched on April 17, 1964, just 16 days after the Plymouth Barracuda, it sold over 400,000 units in its first year, reaching the one-millionth sale within two years. At the event, one participant's Mustang garnered considerable attention.

In the midst of the hot summer sun, many were left thirsty and in need of a terrific bite to eat. Some merchants gave away complimentary confectionary treats of candy and chocolates. However, the immediate go to delight were popsicles and slushies. Also patrons for this event were treated to hamburgers, hot dogs, and BBQ from local food trucks and vendors. Every year for this event, the BSMOF selects different food trucks and vendors in order to promote local businesses and culinary establishments.

Birmingham in recent years has become known as a "foodie destination". Dubbed "the dinner table of the South," the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), along with Million Air and Atlantic Aviation West, serve as gateways to a world of dining experiences. While Birmingham may not boast a signature dish like Philadelphia's "Philly Cheese Steak" or a regional flavor akin to New Orleans' Cajun and Creole dishes, it is celebrated for an array of foods that reflect its diverse culinary landscape. People have travelled to Birmingham just to visit Saw's Soul Kitchen, Bottega's, Chey Fon Fon, Highland's Bar & Grill, The Southern Kitchen and Bar and numerous others. These a but a few places that make Birmingham worth flying to.

Despite these restaurants that offer a plethora to the palates including international cuisines. Much of Birmingham is still located in food deserts. In recent years, the current mayor, Mayor Randall Woodfin has addressed this situation. What the museum has done is provide choices for patrons who ordinarily would not have dined at a particular food truck. This provides a win-win for both parties because it provides revenue for vendors who perhaps would not have operated on a particular area of town, and it allows a venue for visitors to patron trucks they ordinarily would not have.

All who attended left having been fulfilled by the many aspects of flight, with family as the foundation and backdrop. Education was well promoted by Snead Community College and the several aviation programs that are offered. Also, drones were promoted as attendees had the chances to use drones in a drone park. The Commemorative Air Force were also on hand to promote the legacy aircraft that they fly and restore. Over the recent years, the Commemorative Air Force have visited the BHM and offered rides onboard its vintage WWII aircraft, most notable "That's All Brother". The Civil Air Patrol based at the 117th Air Refueling Wing were also on hand to show that many endeavors that they are undertaking as well as seeking to recruit new members.

Family Fun Day 2024 was a tremendous success and promoted the different events that would take place during the summer such as the summer camp and opportunities for Girl and Boy Scouts to obtain different badges. Given the consistency of success for the event for past three years, Family Day 2025 will be expected to be even bigger and better as the museum is undergoing the construction of new exhibits. This is being made possible by taking on additional volunteers for the numerous projects for the remainder of the year. As Family Day takes place in June, the BSMOF also honors Father's Day and National Men's Health Month.