The Right Room. The Right People. The Right Moment.
Washington, D.C. (April 1, 2026) – On March 17, members of the Commemorative Air Force gathered in a room where much of the future of aviation is being discussed and shaped. The Air and Space Partner Engagement Reception, hosted by the Royal Air Force at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., brought together leaders from across the aviation and aerospace sectors, including defense, research, manufacturing, and innovation. It was an invitation-only event, but more importantly, it was a chance to connect.
Representing the CAF were members of the Capital Wing, the B-29/B-24 Squadron, and Headquarters staff, including Bill Murray, Jeremy Renken, Michael “Misha” Wales, Kathleen Wales, David Wood, Robert Mihlbaugh, Robert Spencer, Brian Fennelon, and Leah Block. They were there not just to attend, but to engage.
What makes the CAF stand out in this setting is simple. While many organizations in the room focus on what comes next, the CAF offers something tangible from its origins. These are not static museum pieces; they are living aircraft, flown and maintained by people who actively preserve history and share it with the public. That perspective matters more than you might realize. Conversations about the future of aviation tend to shift when there's a direct connection to its past.
The true value of the evening wasn't just who was there, but what resulted from it. CAF representatives were able to invite several contacts to see the aircraft in person during upcoming tour stops. Both the AirPower History Tour and the Flying Legends of Victory Tour will be in the Mid-Atlantic region this summer, making it easy to turn a quick introduction into something more meaningful. That's where these relationships begin to take hold.
While this event happened in Washington, the idea behind it isn't limited to just one city. The Capital Wing, based in Culpeper, Virginia, already does a great job of building connections through local events and outreach. This was simply a larger-scale extension of that same approach. It’s a good reminder that opportunities like this can be found in nearly every community where the CAF operates.
There was also some forward-looking discussion during the evening about the CAF’s B-29/B-24 Squadron and the possibility of returning to Europe. The Squadron, which operates the B-24 Liberator Diamond Lil, has taken the first step by voting to pursue the opportunity for next year. There are no confirmed dates yet, and there is a lot of work ahead, including training additional crew and building the support needed to make it happen. Still, it is the kind of idea that gains traction through moments like this, when the right people are in the same room, and the conversation gets started.
At the end of the day, that is what this was about. Not just being present, but making the most of it.
