The National Skydiving Museum will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Star Crest Recipient Award program during a fundraising weekend celebration at Skydive Arizona, Eloy, November 9-11. The weekend will also include the Hall of Fame dinner where 7 skydiving legends will join 17 others into this prestigious club. The 2012 inductees are Carl Boenish (posthumously); 
Bob Buquor (posthumously); Claude Gillard; Craig Girard; Dan Poynter; and Hank (posthumously) and Muriel Simbro. The Hall of Fame celebration, sponsored by the Parachute Industry Association (PIA) recognizes and honors those, who through leadership, innovation and/or outstanding achievements have defined, promoted, inspired and advanced skydiving at the highest and sustained levels in the past, present and for future generations of skydivers.
The weekend will include exhibit displays highlighting some of the rich history of skydiving. Other displays include a theater featuring great skydiving footage as well as competition, records, training exhibits and a special display on the history of the SCR Award. The Pioneers’ Lounge, sponsored by Pope Valley Parachute Ranch, will be reunion headquarters where old and young can get together to enjoy jump stories and mingling with some of the pioneers and the new champions of our sport.
Throughout the weekend, a group of large-formation world-class skydivers will be building 64-way formations to commemorate the birth of relative work. The US Army Parachute Team – the Golden Knights – and the US Air Force Academy Parachute Team have been invited and they will be joined by canopy piloting and canopy formation teams. Friday evening will be a BBQ where Bill Newell, Jerry Bird and others will walk down memory lane sharing stories about the SCR Awards program and its contributions to the sport. Saturday evening will be devoted to the Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony. We expect more than 300 guests to join in the evening festivities which will include a cocktail reception, sit-down dinner and video introductions for each inductee.
Throughout the weekend, Bill Newell and many of the pioneers on the first 8-way star will be signing logbooks; and Colonel Joe Kittinger – a 2010 Hall of Fame inductee – will be on hand with his latest book, “Come Up And Get Me.”
Skydive Arizona is arguably the largest, best equipped parachute center in the world, with a dedicated staff, a fleet of large aircraft, and over 300 sunny days each year. Skydive Arizona’s owners, Larry & Lil Hill, have promised a very successful, fun-filled weekend.
The goal for the event is to raise more than $125,000 toward the museum’s $5 million capital program that will raise the necessary funds to build the museum in Fredericksburg, VA. Seating for the Dinner is limited so register early. There are also numerous sponsorship opportunities throughout the weekend to show your support of the museum and to honor our inductees. Details and registration information can be found by clicking here.