10 June 1969: The U.S. Air Force donated the first North American Aviation X-15, serial number 56-6670, to the Smithsonian Institution for display at the National Air and Space Museum. The first of three X-15A hypersonic research rocketplanes built by North American for the Air Force and the National Advisory Committee (NACA, the predecessor of NASA), 56-6670 made the first glide flight and
After serving in the USAF, Bob Blocher worked as the Business Manager of Mountain States Research & Development subsidiary of MSME in Tucson, AZ. From 1983-1984 he was the Director of Corporate Planning at Mountain States Mineral Enterprises, Inc., in Tucson, AZ. From there he and his wife Sandy became Co-owners and operators of their own commercial pecan tree orchard from 1995 – 2008 in Elfrida, AZ. They retired in 2008 and began living the good old life in Sahuarita/Green Valley, AZ.
Bob spent many hours volunteering Voluntary services since 1980 USAF Retirement including Vice President Health Systems Agency of Southeastern Arizona Board of Directors, Tucson, AZ from 1984 – 1987; Founding Director Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc., (clinics in Elfrida, Douglas, &
Bisbee) from 1995-2008; Supervisor & Vice Chairman; Whitewater Draw Natural Resources Conservation District (NRCD), 1996 – 2004; Founder, Editor, & Publisher of Elfrida Vision News – a quarterly newspaper from 1998 – 2000; Vice-Chairman, District 2 Cochise County Board of Adjustment, Bisbee, AZ from 2003-2008; and Director, Arizona Pecan Growers Association. 2004- 2008.
