Sidewinder Marks 50 Years

CHINA LAKE, Calif.-- Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) China Lake is hosting a celebration, Nov. 1-3, to recognize the development and history of the Sidewinder missiel.
Fifty years ago a small innovative team, headed up by Dr. Bill McLean, decided an air-to-air missile could be guided accurately using infrared radiation from the target. That was the birth of the Sidewinder Missile at China Lake, Calif.

The three days of celebrating Sidewinder, and the people behind the missile, opens at 9 a.m. Nov. 1 with a Sidewinder Forum in the Station Theater. This forum features technical leaders from the early days of Sidewinder discussing the challenges and the people behind the solutions.

That afternoon, starting at 2:30 p.m., the Sidewinder Shooter Forum will be held in the Station Theater. The panel includes former astronaut and original Sidewinder test pilot, Wally Schirra and Maj. (Ret) Mike Chien who, as a Nationalist Chinese Air Force pilot, took part in the first combat use of Sidewinder.

Helmut Schoepf and Dieter Neumann, representing “Sidewinder Europe” are the latest additions to the list of speakers at the community reception on Friday at the Kerr McGee Center from 6 to 10 p.m. Speaking on the German perspective of Sidewinder, they will join Dr. Karen Higgins (Sidewinder missile history), RDml. (select) D.J. Venlet (combat experience), Raytheon’s Chuck Anderson (Sidewinder now and future) and Vadm. (ret) Mike Bowman (Sidewinder/Spike).

Saturday’s dinner from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at the Kerr McGee Center will feature speakers Vadm. Joe Dyer (Sidewinder impact on national security) and former China Lake leaders Tom Amlie, Glenn Tierney, Walter LaBerge, Walter Schirra, Mike Hall and Burrell Hays who will talk about “What Sidewinder means to me.”

Advance sale tickets are required for both evening events. See below for information on how to obtain tickets. No tickets will be sold at the door.

The Naval Museum of Armament and Technology opens from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, limited areas of Michelson Laboratory will open for tours. Outside the laboratory, visitors will find aircraft and weapons on static display.
Additionally, historic videos will be screened in Michelson Laboratory Room 1000D throughout the day. At the Station Theater, a newly created Sidewinder history video will be screened along with “Secret City”, the history of China Lake.

The Navy’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department and local non-profit organizations are sponsoring food booths on Saturday at Solar Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday features the China Lake Retiree Picnic starting at noon in Solar Park.

Admission to all events at China Lake, except the picnic, is free.

Special badges will be required for all attendees of the Friday reception and Saturday banquet. For information on the Sidewinder 50th Celebration and how to purchase tickets and acquire a badge to attend, call 760-939-2002, email [email protected] or visit the website http://www.nawcwd.navy.mil/~sw50/.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery NAVAIR ensures the American warfighter will . . . Reign Supreme – Return in Glory.

For more information about the Naval Air Systems Command, go to www.navair.navy.mil.