NAHF reveals ‘Class of 2011’ inductees and Spirit of Flight Award recipient
(Dayton, Ohio – Dec. 17, 2010) Tonight the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) revealed the names of the four individuals elected for enshrinement this July, along with the recipient of its 2011 Milton Caniff “Spirit of Flight” Award. The NAHF announcement took place at the Engineers Club of Dayton during a dinner hosted by Dayton-based Aviation Trail, Inc. (ATI) in celebration of the 107th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers first powered flight.
Each year, the NAHF Board of Nominations, a voting body comprised of over 130 air and space professionals nationwide, selects the handful of individuals to be recognized for their aviation achievements through enshrinement into the NAHF. Philip A. Roberts, President of the NAHF Board of Trustees, made the announcement
The NAHF Class of 2011 is a diverse group of individuals representing a broad range of significant contributions to advancing aviation. The four being inducted at the NAHF 50th Annual Enshrinement Dinner & Ceremony in Dayton on Saturday, July 16, 2011 are:
- The late Capt. Iven Carl Kincheloe, Jr., USAF, a Korean War double ace and record setting Jet Age test pilot hailed as “The First Man in Space.”
- Col. Charles Edward McGee, USAF (Ret), Tuskegee Airman and fighter pilot with 409 combat missions flown while serving in three wars.
- S. Harry Robertson, pilot, engineer, entrepreneur, and aviation safety pioneer recognized as “The Father of the Crashworthy Fuel System.”
- The late Gen. Thomas D. White, USAF, Former Chief of Staff and key Cold War architect of integrating space technology into modern defense systems.
The formal enshrinement ceremony will take place in Dayton – The Birthplace of Aviation – on Saturday, July 16, 2011, where the four will join the 207 legends of flight previously so honored by the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Often referred to as “America’s Oscar Night of Aviation,” the NAHF enshrinement celebration in July will attract hundreds of industry leaders, government and defense officials, former enshrinees, and aviation enthusiasts from worldwide.
Additionally, the NAHF has annually bestowed its prestigious “Spirit of Flight” Award upon a group or organization in recognition of its achievement in advancing aviation. Founded in 1981, the award was re-named in 1988 to honor the late artist and longtime NAHF supporter, Milton Caniff, who died that year. The 2011 Milton Caniff “Spirit of Flight” Award recipient will be the US Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team, in recognition of the group’s 65-year history of serving as a positive role models and goodwill ambassadors for the US Navy and Marine Corps. More than 460 million fans have witnessed the teams’ spectacularly choreographed aerial performances since the group was formed in 1946.
The award will be presented to the Blue Angels at the NAHF President’s Reception & Dinner held on Friday, July 15, 2011, at the NAHF Learning Center and the adjacent National Museum of the United States Air Force. With 2011 also marking the Centennial Anniversary of Naval Aviation, the award presentation will be followed by a blue-ribbon panel discussion featuring Navy leaders, aviators and astronauts whose careers and achievements span over 70 years of flight.
The NAHF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in Dayton in 1962 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1964. Its mission is to honor America’s outstanding air and space pioneers, which it does through a 17,000 square-foot public Learning Center featuring interactive exhibits, a youth education program, its annual enshrinement ceremony, and other public outreach programs.
Advance reservations for the NAHF’s 50th Annual Enshrinement Dinner & Ceremony on July 16, 2011, may be placed by calling 937-256-0944 ext.10. Seats are $150 per person and a portion of each seat purchased is deductible as allowed by law. Seats to the 2011 President’s Reception and Dinner are similarly available. For more information visit the NAHF website at www.nationalaviation.org or call 937-256-0944 ext.10.
