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The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) is thrilled to announce that the NAA Fall Awards will take place on November 6th in Washington D.C. at the National Press Club.

Mark your calendars and save the date to join us as we celebrate Aeronautic Excellence.

Awards & Recognitions to date include:

• 2025 Brewer Trophy to Doug Matthews
• 2025 Distinguished Statesman & Stateswoman of Aviation
• 2025 Henderson Trophy
• 2024 & 2025 Katharine Wright Trophy
• 2024 Katherine & Marjorie Stinson Trophy
• 2025 Mackay Trophy
• 2024 & 2025 Public Benefit Flying Awards
• plus, honors to be presented to Frank Culbertson & Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg

On June 26th, the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) announced that Joan Sullivan Garrett has been selected to receive the 2025 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for her pioneering work in aviation telemedicine. 

In 1983, Sullivan Garrett, then a critical care flight nurse, responded with her helicopter crew to a vehicle rollover accident in remote Arizona. Among many victims was an 8-year-old boy named Ralphie who tragically could not be saved. Her time with this child made a lasting impression and became the impetus and inspiration to found MedAire in 1985. The company focused on addressing aviation medical preparedness. Her vision for MedAire was to provide flight crews with knowledge, skill, resources, and access to medical expertise to manage in-flight medical emergencies. Initially, she introduced the industry’s first Manual for In-flight Medical Care and updated medical kits. In 1987, she launched MedLink, the first 24/7 global aviation medical response center staffed with emergency physicians. Today, MedAire is the world’s leading provider of remote medical safety and security services, managing approximately 900 emergency calls daily, over 157,000 cases in 2024 alone. The company serves over 180 airlines worldwide and 6,800 private aircraft, significantly enhancing aviation safety.

Read the full press release

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) held its 2025 Aviation Records Celebration presented by Bombardier on July 11th at the Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita, Kansas.

Since 1905, the NAA has served as the official U.S. representative to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). As the nation's official record keeper for aeronautic and astronautic achievements, the NAA remains dedicated to recognizing excellence across all levels of flight and honoring those who continue to push aviation and aerospace to new heights.

Read the full recap

A series of “breathtakingly short” takeoffs and landings showcases how Electra’s hybrid-electric aircraft will unlock the new era of Direct Aviation.



Click here to learn more.

Skydiving from the DC‑9 at Skydive Perris is nothing short of a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity—a collision of raw adrenaline, aviation history, and pure spectacle. As the world’s only skydiving‑rated DC‑9 airliner, this jet transforms a typical dropzone day into an unforgettable event, boarding up to 80 jumpers in what feels like a flying celebration before ascending to 13,500 ft in roughly four minutes. Once the rear exit opens, you don’t accelerate—you decelerate from the jet’s 140–160 mph speed to your terminal velocity, offering a uniquely cinematic transition into freefall. Every stage—cruising in the cabin turned party plane, racing toward the tailgate, the collective energy of fellow jumpers, and then that split‑second moment stepping into the void—is engineered to deliver maximum thrill. This isn’t just skydiving; it’s skydiving out of a jetliner, with all the prestige, history, and heart‑pounding excitement that entails

Get your tickets today and head to Skydive Perris from December 27th - 28th for this opportunity.

Woojae Sohn, a freshman aviation business major at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, is the winner of Flexjet’s Project LXi: Design the Ultimate Private Jet Interior contest. Sohn, who is also a member of the Air Force ROTC, has been awarded the $100,000 grand prize for the design known as “Carolina.” See more here.

The Balloon Federation of America’s Women’s National Championship took place in Jackson for the third consecutive year this past week as part of the Hot Air Jubilee’s festivities. The pilot who earned their spot at the top was Cheri White, who scored 16,575 points in the “Code Red” balloon.

To learn more, click here.