Open Cockpit Day

This Saturday, February 1st, will be the monthly "Open Cockpit Day" at the Aerospace Museum of California. On the first Saturday of every month, the museum located on McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, you get the chance to climb into the pilot's seat of some of the most famous planes in history. The museum is home to the C-53 Skytrooper, a MIG-17 and a MIG-21, and of course the Blue Angels A-4 Skyhawk I. There are over 35 aircraft total.

Veteran pilots are on hand to answer questions and give tours to curious visitors. They'll even share their war stories if your lucky.  

The Edge of Space

The Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady is one of the most advanced reconnaissance planes in history. 
This plane flies at 70,000 feet and pushes the boundaries between Earth's atmosphere and space.

The U-2 pilots are required to wear pressurized "space" suits to protect them from the harsh elements. Their missions can last for hours and hours on end. 

The U-2 carries some of the world's most powerful cameras. They have the ability to read the registration stickers on license plates from an altitude of 70,000 feet. 

U-2 pilots are some of the most experienced Air Force pilots. They all agree that the U-2 is the most difficult plane to land because its landing speed is faster than other planes and it is a very delicate plane. It literally has two pogo sticks on its wings to stabilize it. The visibility is so low from the cockpit that it requires another U-2 pilot to drive behind the plane as it lands and give the pilot information about its position.