NASA Research Pilot / Astronaut Gets Own "Bobblehead" Doll Likeness

By Alan Brown
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center

NASA research pilot and former astronaut C. Gordon Fullerton, along with the late California state senator and record-setting test pilot William J. "Pete" Knight, were honored with the production of 2,000 "bobblehead" dolls in their likenesses by the Lancaster Jethawks professional baseball team.

The bobbleheads were given away to the first 2,000 fans attending the Class A California League game between the Jethawks and the Modesto A's at the Lancaster Municipal Stadium, nicknamed "The Hangar," on Aug. 13.

Fullerton, who flew two space shuttle missions and is currently chief research pilot at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, performed a flyover near the stadium in a NASA F/A-18 just before game time and after landing at nearby Edwards Air Force Base, returned to the stadium to sign bobblehead autographs for the fans. Fullerton's son Andy and Knight's grandson Christopher Knight also participated in the event, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

Quicktime movie selections of the event

EC04-0233-08 - NASA research pilot Gordon Fullerton autographs his "bobblehead" doll for Chad Gleason Click here for a high resolution copy of this photo. NASA photo by Tom Tschida		EC04-0233-24 - NASA research pilot Gordon Fullerton, son Andy and wife Marie acknowledge the plaudits of fans at the Lancaster Jethawks game Click here for a high resolution copy of this photo. NASA photo by Tom Tschida