IN COOPERATION WITH THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AVIATION ARTISTS

Aviation Week & Space Technology joins the American Society of Aviation Artists for the fifth year in presenting the art in this annual special issue.

The works seen here represent the magazine's top choices in the categories of Military, Commercial, General Aviation and Space, as selected from ASAA's 2004 Retrospective Exhibition celebrating the Centennial of Powered Flight at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. An overall best of show award, known as the "Best of the Best," also is presented.

This exhibition featured the finest works chosen from nearly 1,000 images from 15 previous ASAA juried exhibitions and the juried results of a special call for entries for works painted specifically for this occasion. This year's exhibition was on display at the museum from January through the close of ASAA's Annual Aviation Art Forum at the museum in June 2004.

Aviation Week Art Director Robert P. McAuley and Assistant Managing Editor-Technology Stanley W. Kandebo attended the exhibition, identifying AW&ST/ASAA monetary award winners and selecting additional entries for display in this issue.

ASAA was founded in 1986 by professional aviation artists Keith Ferris, Jo Kotula, Bob McCall, R.G. Smith and Ren Wicks. Their goal was to bring together people who share a love of art and aviation as well as affirm standards of professionalism, authenticity and artistic quality in aviation art. ASAA is an educational organization providing hands-on workshops and art and aviation academics for attendees at its annual aviation art forums. ASAA welcomes U.S. and international artists and friends as both artist and associate members. They now come from more than 40 states plus the U.K., Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Pakistan, South Africa, Australia and Switzerland.

The 2005 ASAA Annual International Aviation Art Exhibition will be on display at the Patuxent River (Md.) Naval Air Museum from June through September 2005. The museum features a collection of aircraft and artifacts from flight test programs at NAS Patuxent River, including both the X-32 and X-35C Joint Strike Fighter fly-off contenders. ASAA's 2005 Annual Aviation Art Forum will be held at Patuxent River from June 21-25. The forum will feature lectures, workshops and tours at NAS Patuxent River, including the U.S. Naval Strike Aircraft, Rotary Wing and Force Warfare Test Squadrons, as well as the renowned U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. For full details, visit the ASAA web site at www.asaa-avart.org

For 2005 additional forum information, contact ASAA Vice President John Sarsfield, 6541 St. Vrain Road, Longmont, Colo. 80503, telephone +1 (303) 702-0707, e-mail ASAAcontact@asaa-avart.org, or see ASAA's web site: www.asaa-avart.org. Membership information is available on the web site or from ASAA Membership Secretary Art Lumley, P.O. Box 799, Gold Hill, Ore. 97525, telephone +1 (541) 855-9087