HONORS FOR HIGH-FLIERS WALK OF FAME INDUCTEES GET ROYAL WELCOME.

LANCASTER - A stealth fighter flyby thrilled the crowd at the Lancaster Aerospace celebration Saturday.

The F-117, piloted by Lt. Col. Rod Cregier, commander of the 410th Flight Test Squadron, made two passes over Lancaster Boulevard at 12:45 p.m., just after the unveiling of the five monuments honoring the test pilots of the city of Lancaster's 12th Annual Aerospace Walk of Honor.

Inducted into the walk of honor this year were experimental test pilots James Gannett; Carl Bellinger; Col. Frank Birk, USAF; Col. Larry McClain, USAF; and John Myers. They bring to 60 the number of test pilots honored on the monuments lining Lancaster Boulevard.

``It's very impressive,'' said Gannett. ``I've been flying for many, many years. I'm still flying and I think this is one of the nicest things that's happened in my career.

In terms of appreciation and what the city of Lancaster has actually done. The recognition of the work and all of the test pilots is tremendous in my opinion.''

Gannett thanked the city of Lancaster and the City Council for ``putting on such an impressive show and thereby recognizing the work that was done at Edwards and the pilots that worked there.'' He said he had a dream of becoming a pilot after a flight in a plane.

McClain also had a dream of becoming a pilot but he had to overcome some big obstacles to achieve his dream.

``When I was a child and when my dream began, I was a homeless child,'' said McClain. ``We lived in abandoned railroad buildings and in fishing camps on the rivers and now I'm here and my dream came true. It took a lot of work, persistence and a heck of a lot of luck to get me here.'' He encouraged children in the audience to pursue their dreams.

``I think if you are willing to work. If you persist. If you have a little luck, then one day you too can stand here as I stand now, amazed at what has come to pass,'' said McClain.

Initiated in 1990, the Aerospace Walk of Honor program seeks to recognize experimental test pilots who have made outstanding contributions ot the aerospace industry.

After 11 years and 60 pilots, Lancaster Mayor Frank Roberts admits it's getting somewhat difficult to choose pilots for the walk of honor.

``It's getting more difficult because obviously the field that were choosing from are getting older, ... but we're still able to pick great people, people that have done great things over the skies of the Antelope Valley, that's what it's all about,'' said Roberts who added he didn't anticipate any real problems picking pilots in his lifetime.

The celebration began at 11 a.m. Saturday morning with an aviation street fair with a live band, food booths, a carnival ride and static displays of rocket engines, airplanes, and models. Followed at noon by the Aerospace Walk of Honor unveiling and the unveiling of the Lancaster Old Town Site mural at 1:30 p.m.

The newest mural, located on the west side of the Wells Fargo Bank on Lancaster Boulevard, salutes Aerospace Walk of honor honoree and state Sen. William J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale. Waiting in the shade of the new civic square after the Walk of Honor unveiling was Stefanie Fredericks and her husband Steve with their, almost a year-old, twins Matthew and Lindsey.

The entire family looked patriotic in their outfits accented with red, white, and blue handkerchiefs.

``It's fantastic. The biggest and best,'' said Steve, a lieutenant at the Lancaster sheriff's station, of the celebration. ``I think it has special meaning this year due to the events that occurred Sept. 11. I think it's a good opportunity for the community to rally together as Americans to celebrate the Aerospace Industry that this valley is very proud of.''

Standing on Sierra Highway and Lancaster Boulevard with hundreds of other aerospace fans waiting to see the F-117 fly over was Mark Pfeifer and his son Kevin. Mark carried a notebook filled with photographs of military planes to the celebration, hoping to get autographs from the pilots.

``We're gonna put them in our den one day,'' said Pfeifer of the photographs. ``We mostly came to see the pilots to see what they had to say.''

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) From left, Walk of Honor inductees or their representatives are Suzanne Joyce, representing her uncle, Carl Bellinger; John Myers; Connie Birk representing her husband, Col. Frank Birk; James Gannett; and Col. Larry McClain.

(2 -- color) Balloons lend a festive air for crowds at the celebration marking inductions in the Aerospace Walk of Honor.

(3) State Sen. William J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, walks along a mural by artist Val Benavidez. Knight is a renowned pilot.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer