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Jim Lovell in his
official Apollo 13 mission
photo in April 1970 (NASA photo). |
Capt. James Lovell, who commanded the
near-disastrous Apollo 13 moon mission that became a model of crisis
ingenuity and teamwork, will be a featured guest at EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh 2007, “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” which
will be held July 23-29 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis.
Lovell, a longtime EAA member and
aviator, will be in Oshkosh on Friday, July 27, to introduce Apollo 13,
the popular movie based on Lovell’s book about the mission that stars
Tom Hanks as Capt. Lovell. The movie will be shown at the EAA Fly-In
Theater, the giant outdoor theater on the grounds, which is sponsored by
Ford Motor Company and Eclipse Aviation.
“We are always honored to welcome Jim
Lovell to EAA AirVenture, as he has been an active participant in EAA
activities over the past two decades,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA
president and AirVenture chairman. “This event is something quite
special, however, as he provides unique insight into the Hollywood
version of the true-life drama that was the Apollo 13 space mission.”
The Fly-In Theater activities begin at
approximately 8:30 p.m. on July 27 with Lovell’s introduction, with
the movie shown on the five-story-high outdoor screen beginning at about
9 p.m. The presentation, as with all EAA Fly-In Theater events, is
included with AirVenture admission. Those attending are encouraged to
bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating on the large grassy area near
the screen.
Lovell’s Apollo 13 adventure in April
1970 was the final chapter in an impressive career as a NASA astronaut
that began in 1962. He piloted the Gemini 7 space flight in 1965 that
included the first rendezvous of two manned spacecraft, and commanded
the Gemini 12 mission in 1966 that perfected extra-vehicular operations
for astronauts. In December 1968, he was command module pilot and
navigator for the historic six-day Apollo 8 mission, which became the
first manned flight to orbit the moon.
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EAA Founder Paul
Poberezny (left) with Jim Lovell during EAA AirVenture 2003 at
Oshkosh, Wis. (EAA photo) |
In April 1970, Lovell was commanding
Apollo 13, which was to be the third manned lunar landing, when the
spaceship’s oxygen system failed, causing an explosion in the command
module. Lovell and crewmates Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, along with a
massive engineering and logistical effort on the ground, where able to
successfully nurse the crippled spacecraft back to Earth.
After retiring from NASA, Lovell became a
successful businessman and advocate for space exploration. He has also
remained popular on the speaking circuit for more than 30 years.
After Lovell’s book about the Apollo 13
mission, originally titled Lost Moon, was published in 1994, Academy
Award-winning director Ron Howard developed a major motion picture
starring Hanks, Ed Harris and Kevin Bacon. The movie has grossed more
than $400 million worldwide since its release in 1995.
The Apollo 13 presentation is one of
seven planned for the EAA Fly-In Theater during AirVenture 2007. EAA
will announce the schedule for remaining films, including the publicly
voted “Greatest Aviation Movie of All Time,” in the coming weeks.
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