<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The February 2024 Chapter Gathering is
</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tuesday, February 20th</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><em><strong>Join us - in person!  Visitors Welcome
</strong></em></span></span></p>

<h2 style="padding-left: 40px;">5:30 PM -- "no host" Dinner at Craft Republic, off I-25 at Jefferson
6:15PM -- <b>Program:  The Longest Flight in the X-15 Reconsidered                                          by Chris Gelzer
</b></h2>
<strong>On April 20, 1962 Neil Armstrong made what turned out to be the longest flight in the X-15. It was not supposed to be that way. Typical flights were between 9-10 minutes: this one was 12:28. He has often been blamed for what happened and this is an alternate view.</strong>

Christian received his PhD in the History of Technology from Auburn University. He taught for several years before taking the job as historian for NASA's Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, in 2002. He has written or co-authored five books and edited another five, as well as published peer-reviewed articles and given public talks. He served as a technical expert for the theater release <em>First Man</em>. His wife was the chief historian at Edwards AFB and now works for AFOTEC, and

Christian has worked remotely since 2001. He is finishing his current book and hopes it will be available in 2024. It is about an alternate spanload to the elliptical, the one used in every airplane you've ever seen, touched, or flown on. Ludwig Prandtl, origin of the elliptical spanload (1918), published a second spanload theory in 1933 that remained virtually unnoticed. His 'bell' spanload is more efficient, experiences no adverse yaw, and has flown on a number of airplanes at the AFRC. Christian is also finishing his Sport Pilot certificate and has a Quicksilver GT-500 at Mid-Valley Airpark.

<strong>Where</strong>: <strong> Craft Republic; 4301 The Lane at 25 </strong><b>NE; Albuquerque</b>
<strong>Directions</strong>: From I-25 northbound, take Jefferson Exit 229.  Turn west (left) on Jefferson for .2 mi.  Turn Right on “The Lane at 25 NE”, then left into the parking lot.

<i>Monthly Chapter Gatherings offer time to network with fellow aviation enthusiasts.  Programs are centered on exchanging experiences and ideas about aviation – airplanes, flying, and flying activities. Chapter business is addressed in bimonthly online Board meetings. </i><i> </i><b><i>We hope to see you there!</i></b>