Week of May 31 – June 6

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of May 31st through June 6th — 

This week, back in 1912 — Second Lieutenant Henry “Hap” Arnold, namesake of the Cadet Area’s social center and exemplar for the Academy Class of ’12, establishes a new altitude record by piloting a Burgess-Wright airplane to a height of 6,540 feet. 

…Also this week, back in 2016 — The Class of ’16 graduates.  President Barack Obama was the graduation speaker.  It was the second consecutive Thursday graduation, the first two non-Wednesday graduations in Academy history.  The day change was made to avoid having major graduation activities on Memorial Day. 

…And, this week back in 1986 –– The Barry M. Goldwater Visitor Center, dedicated on May 27, opens to the public.   

…Finally, this week back in 2005 — The Academy revises its flight training program, beginning Academy Flight Screening (AFS).  AFS was an improved method of screening potential Air Force pilots, using a syllabus similar to those for other Air Education and Training Command flight training programs.  The program consisted of 19 sorties and approximately 25 flight hours, and included two solos and two check rides. 

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