Air Force Association ‘Wing Ding’ gala held at Club Muroc Published Oct. 5, 2011 By 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- In the spirit of legendary Gen. "Hap" Arnold, the William J. "Pete" Knight Chapter of the Air Force Association held its annual "Wing Ding" gala to celebrate the 64th birthday of the United States Air Force, Oct. 1, in the Alliance Ballroom at Club Muroc. The Tehachapi Community Orchestra supplied music for more than 120 guests. Guest speaker for the event was an old friend of the Air Force Flight Test Center, noted aviation artist and author Mike Machat. Having created countless paintings of Edwards-related subjects, Machat gave a colorful presentation on what it takes to create his dramatic and historically accurate images of the famed aircraft of flight test research. Machat painted the mural in the AFFTC Museum, and eight of his paintings currently hang in the halls of the Pentagon. A special moment at the conclusion of Machat's presentation was the unveiling of his latest painting - a tribute to the world speed record flight of the North American X-15A-2 flown by the late Col. "Pete" Knight 44 years ago this week on October 3, 1967. A framed print of Machat's painting, entitled "Knighthood at Mach 6.7," was presented to honored guest, Mrs. Gail Knight, wife of the former pilot, who attended the dinner. Among the many highlights of the evening was the ceremonial cutting of the Air Force's 64th birthday cake created just for this dinner, and designed as an edible replica of the Edwards runway and flightline, complete with detailed aircraft such as the Bell X-1, the F-16, and B-2 Stealth Bomber. It was the perfect dessert for a memorable evening in salute to the men and women of Edwards.