Near Tehachapi in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Mountain Valley Airport

Irv Culver, Jim Maupin, Don Mitchell, Irv Prue

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 21, 2022

1. Mountain Valley Airport Marker

Inscription.
The paths of four sailplane design pioneers have crossed here at Mountain Valley Airport. Irv Culver, Jim Maupin, Don Mitchell and Irv Prue all designed, built and flew homebuilt sailplanes. They advanced soaring technology, piloted their own designs, and helped bring along the next generation of designers, builders and pilots. Soaring is innovative, safer and better understood, in part, because of the pioneering efforts of these men.

Celebrating the lives of Irv Culver, Jim Maupin, Don Mitchell, and Irv Prue.

I am not gone, but living still,
In thermal's lift and eagle's cry.
I have become a brother to the wind;
Where there is flight, then there am I.

Last Flight, by Kay J. Miner

Erected 2002 by The Sailplane Homebuilders Association - The Vintage Sailplane Association - Divisions of the Soaring Society of America.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space.

Location. 35° 6.077′ N, 118° 25.335′ W. Marker is near Tehachapi, California, in Kern County. It can be reached from Harris Road just east of Turf Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16334 Harris Rd, Tehachapi CA 93561, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tehachapi Eastside Cemetery War Memorial (approx. 2.2 miles away); First Methodist & Episcopal Church (approx. 2.4 miles away); T-Hacha-P Brand Mural (approx. 2.4 miles away); August Weferling House (approx. 2.4 miles away); The Tehachapi Museum (approx. 2.4 miles away); a different marker also named Tehachapi Museum (approx. 2.4 miles away); Wind Energy Industry (approx. 2.4 miles away); Errea House (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tehachapi.

Another marker is no longer nearby. McFarland House & Late 1880s House (was approx. 2.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. - Tehachapi Gliderport

Also see . . . Mountain Valley Airport. (Submitted on August 23, 2022.)

Mountain Valley Airport and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 21, 2022

2. Mountain Valley Airport and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 268 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 23, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.