Plane out of Hanscom Crashes in New York

Aircraft crashed just after 5 p.m. Friday night with three people on board.

Several media outlets are reporting a small plane, which originated out of Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, has crashed in New York.  Fox 25 is reporting an FAA official confirmed a Piper PA 34 crashed a half mile west of Garoga, NY just after 5 p.m. Friday night with three people on board.  According to the Fox report, the flight was headed to Rome, NY. The crash happened 60 miles east of its destination.  The flight was headed to Rome, N.Y. The crash occurred about 60 miles east of the intended destination. Conditions of the passengers are unknown at this time. Bedford Patch will bring you more information as it becomes available.

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‘Space Fence’ Could Have a Local Base

Raytheon is bidding to build a ‘Space Fence’ to track orbital debris, a project around which Hanscom Air Force Base, MIT Lincoln Labs and Mitre Corp. are all expected to be involved.

  First cyberspace and now outer space. Hanscom Air Force Base, by virtue of the surrounding intellectual capital and scientific industry, has long been a leader in cutting edge defense systems. Home to the Electronic Systems Center and a first line of defense against cyber warfare, Hanscom now has its sights set on the “final frontier.” According to the Globe, Hanscom is a “focal point” for bids to build a $3 billion “Space Fence” system for tracking orbital debris. The local ties to the first-of-its kind Space Fence don’t stop there. One of the companies competing for to build the system is Waltham-based Raytheon, and engineers at MIT Lincoln Labs in Lexington and Mitre Corp in Bedford will assist Air Force officials in selecting the …

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Patch Facts

5 Things: Reaching Out to Lexington's Veterans

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on April 16 in Lexington.

1. Reaching Out to Lexington's Veterans with Ryan Lennon: Youville Place's Exploartions of the Heart Series continues at 7 p.m. this evening, featuring Lexington Veterans Agent Ryan Lennon. A third-generation soldier who served as a paratrooper in Iraq, Lennon is leveraging that experience in his job, which entails reaching out to veterans of all ages. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, the only public meeting posted for today is the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission at 7 p.m. at Cary Hall. 3. Kids Eat Free at Qdoba! Every Tuesday after 2 p.m., Qdoba Mexican Grill in Lexington offers up to two free kids meals with the purchase an adult entree. 4. Like Us on Facebook: For even more information and engagement, like …

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WATCH: Video of the Super Guppy Landing at Hanscom AFB

The Super Guppy transported a heat shield to be used on NASA's next generation of spacecraft, the Orion.

The above video, caputred and posted to YouTube by user BostonAirborne, reportedly shows NASA's Super Guppy making a rare landing at Hanscom Air Force Base last week. The Super Guppy is used to transport large cargo and last week delivered a heat shield to be on the NASA Orion spacecraft, acording to reports from last week.  The shield nto Hanscom in order to be transported to Textron Systems in Wilmington, where a protective coating will be applied in order to shield astronauts during re-entry, WCVB reported.  Tell Us: Did you see the Super Guppy land at Hanscom? What's the strangest or most extraordinary aircraft you've seen land at the base or Hanscom Field?

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Local Legislators Talk Effects of Sequester Hanscom, Surrounding Towns

The sequester could affect everything from contracting and airport jobs at Hanscom Air Force Base to state agencies providing social services to the blind and disabled.

  The looming sequester and the possibility of a failure by Congress to strike a deal before the fast approaching March 1 deadline could have far-ranging effects on Massachusetts as well as the communities surrounding Hanscom Air Force Base, according to state legislators.  Without action from Congress, the sequester would go into effect automatically on March 1, reducing spending by the state in a number of areas, including education, the environment, health, military and law enforcement, according to the White House. State Representative and Bedford resident Ken Gordon said he believes the impact of the sequester on local communities would be felt almost immediately, especially due to the role that Hanscom Air Force Base plays in the …

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Hanscom Volunteer Infantry Regiment to Participate in Inauguration Parade

The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment will march in the Inauguration Day Parade on Monday, Jan. 21.

  Hanscom Air Force Base will be represented by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment at the in Washington D.C. on Jan. 21 following the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama.  Of the 2,807 organizations that applied to take part in the parade, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment is one of 60 groups selected to participate, according to the inauguration website.  Other groups from Massachusetts marching the parade include Boston College's Screamin' Eagles Marching Band and the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps.  You can watch inaugration weekend activities live streaming from the inauguration website. 

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Gov. Patrick and Lt. Gov. Murray Visit Hanscom for National Guard HQ Grand Opening

Patrick and Murray were joined by members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Maj. Gen. Scott Rice, Adjunct General of the Massachusetts National Guard.

  Gov. Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray attended the grand opening of the Massachusetts National Guard Joint Force Headquarters at Hanscom Air Force Base Thursday, also the 376th birthday of the National Guard.  In a press release, Patrick said, with the addition of the National Guard Headquarters at Hanscom, the base continues to play an integral role in the local economy and as a job creator for the Commonwealth.  “The impressive new Joint Force Headquarters creates a permanent headquarters to better support the base’s dual military mission,"Patrick said. "Massachusetts military bases are vital to fueling our innovation-based economy and will continue to have this Administration’s support.”  Murray, who toured the facility in …

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Patrick, Murray Host Air Force Leadership, Talk Hanscom AFB

The Nov. 14 meeting at the State House discussed the state's efforts to protect and promote Hanscom AFB, which faces the threat of a potential Base Realignment and Closure round.

The following announcement ws provided by the Office of Governor Deval Patrick. Gov. Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray on Wednesday welcomed Lt. Gen. C.D. Moore of the United States Air Force to the Massachusetts State House to discuss the importance of Hanscom Air Force Base, including the state’s effort to promote and support the strategic location, national security mission, and economic impact of the base.  “Our military bases offer incredible assets, fuel our economy and are an important piece of our national security,” said Patrick. “We appreciate Lt. General Moore’s visit to Massachusetts as we work in partnership with Air Force leadership to strengthen and invest in Hanscom Air Force Base.” “Governor Patrick and I welcome …

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Patch Facts

Five Things: Hanscom Fight or Flight and A Musical Tour of America

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know today in Lexington.

1. Hanscom - Fight or Flight: In its second First Friday Forum of the year, Lexington's League of Women Voters puts Hanscom in the spotlight. Panelists state Sen. Ken Donnelly, selectmen Chairwoman and HATS member Deb Mauger, Hanscom Field Advisory Committee Chair Jeanne Krieger and Hanscom Air Force Base Public Affairs Director Charles Paone will talk about recent developments at the base and the distinction between civil aviation, managed by Massport, and Air Force activities. It's at 9:15 a.m. at Cary Memorial Library. 2. Swing States (And Others): At 7:30 p.m. tonight at Follen Community Church, American Classics continues its series of election year concerts with this "musical tour of the nifty fifty states." Costs $25.  3. Today in …

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Hanscom Air Force Base Loans Revolutionary Artifacts to Minute Man NHP

The following announcement was provided by Minute Man National Historical Park.

  In a ceremony held Oct. 3 at Hanscom Air Force Base, Col. Lester A. Weilacher, 66th Air Base Group commander, handed over several Revolutionary War artifacts to Nancy Nelson, superintendent of Minute Man National Historical Park. The artifacts, including several musket balls, a shoe buckle and knife, were uncovered during three extensive archeological digs that started in the 1990s and wrapped up in the mid-2000s. “The Air Force has a cultural resource program that can evaluate historical significance,” said Don Morris, civil engineering installation asset manager. “Because of Hanscom’s proximity to Revolutionary War battles, we invited the group to come out and survey the area.” The base is located near the site of a significant battle …

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