The Hill Aerospace Museum hosts a “Plane Talk” series featuring speakers related to the heritage of Hill Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force, other military branches, and many other subjects related to the aerospace and the defense industry.

Plane Talk is held at 1 p.m. Saturdays in the Hill Aerospace Museum auditorium.

The series began at the museum more than 20 years ago and is held in the fall and winter months. The event has featured hundreds of notable speakers, including Utah’s U.S. Senator Jake Garn, Vietnam POW Col. Jay Hess, and Strategic Air Command Commander Col. Robert H. Hinckley, just to name a few.

The rest of this month’s speaker series will include:

Jan. 23:

Dave Pickett, a retired Air Force B-52 navigator and A-10/F-16 pilot.

Jan. 30:

Jason Sokoloff, and aviation safety expert. 

Pickett retired as the deputy operations group commander of the 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB at the rank of lieutenant colonel. During his career, he served as a B-52 navigator, an A-10 pilot in England and Europe, and an F-16 pilot at Hill. He was both a pilot and an instructor pilot in every aircraft he flew. Pickett retired as a pilot for Southwest Airlines after 26 years of service. He logged more than 26,000 hours in various aircraft.

Sokoloff graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a bachelor’s degree in aviation safety. He is currently a 737 simulator instructor at Angle of Attack in Salt Lake City and area training manager for Republic Services. He has worked as an air safety investigator intern for the National Transportation Safety Board. Sokoloff has a wide variety of experience in training, aircraft and aviation safety. His presentation will be an aircraft safety scenario that will involve audience participation.

For more information, call 801-825-5936 or email robbalexander@aerospaceutah.org.