SOARING TRIBUTE PALMDALE AREA CHRISTENED 'AEROSPACE VALLEY' OF U.S.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

PALMDALE - A monument honoring the Antelope Valley's contributions to aerospace was unveiled Friday at Vista Point, from where visitors can look out over Air Force Plant 42 and Edwards Air Force Base.

The monument, which labels the Antelope Valley as ``Aerospace Valley'' and notes a number of historic achievements, was unveiled in a ceremony conducted by members of E. Clampus Vitus, a nonprofit historical fraternity that paid for and installed the monument, and state Sen. W.J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, one of the aviation heroes recognized on the monument's plaque.

``This is a tremendous tribute to the people of the Antelope Valley who have contributed to aerospace,'' said Knight, a retired Air Force officer who set a speed record in an X-15 rocket plane at Edwards in 1967. ``All the advancements have taken place right out there.''

The placing of the monument was made possible by legislation authored by then-Assemblyman George Runner, who attended the ceremony with his wife and Assembly successor Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster.

``Our communities are proud of the presence of the aerospace industry and what was accomplished here in the first century of powered flight,'' George Runner said. ``I'm delighted that this permanent recognition is now in place to tell the Aerospace Valley story to all who stop for the magnificent High Desert vista.''

The monument recognizes Chuck Yeager's 1947 flight in the X-1 that broke the sound barrier for the first time; Knight's record-setting flight in the X-15 rocket plane; and the making of the B-2 and B-1B bombers, the F-117 stealth fighter, and the space shuttle fleet.

``These and other first-flight milestones have made the Antelope Valley the world's premier aerospace location,'' the monument's plaque notes. ``This monument is dedicated to the craftsmen, engineers, technicians and pilots who have made aerospace advances in the Antelope Valley possible.''

The wording on the plaque came from the legislation authorizing its placement. However, the accomplishments listed in the legislation run about 250 words, too many for the plaque, and had to be pared down to about 100 words, said Scott Ewing, a member of E. Clampus Vitus.

The monument, which cost about $1,000, was financed and installed by members of the Platrix Chapter No. 2 of E. Clampus Vitus.

``We were honored to be asked to participate,'' Ewing said.

Jim Skeen, [phone]

james.skeen(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color in AV edition only) Jesse Morgan, 4, of Thousand Oaks touches the plaque commemorating the Antelope Valley as ``Aerospace Valley.''

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer