NAA Header

 

NAA News

Colleen Barrett Honored with the 2016 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy

Colleen Barrett, recipient of the 2016 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy
Colleen Barrett, President Emeritus, Southwest Airlines, has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy.

Established by NAA in 1948 to honor the memory of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the trophy is awarded annually to a living American for "...significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States."

Jim Albaugh, Chairman of NAA and a member of the Selection Committee, praised the choice.  "Colleen Barrett is an industry veteran who can be credited with so much of the success of Southwest Airlines because of the company vision, values, and ideals she helped to create," Albaugh said.  "She is truly deserving of this great honor."
 
Colleen Barrett, known as the "Queen of Hearts", has had a career in aviation that has spanned nearly 50 years.  She remains the only woman to serve as President of a major U.S. airline and has dedicated her life to the conception and retention of a unique corporate culture at Southwest Airlines.
 
After graduating from Becker Junior College in Worchester, Massachusetts in 1964, Barrett relocated to San Antonio, Texas, where she began working as a legal secretary for Herb Kelleher, an attorney and the co-founder of Southwest Airlines.  She quickly became involved in the lengthy legal proceedings that eventually allowed the airline to take the skies in 1971.
 
Barrett formally joined Southwest Airlines in 1978 as Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors.  From there she held many titles including: Vice President of Administration from 1986 to 1990; Executive Vice President of Customers from 1990 to 2001; President and COO from 2001 to 2004; and President from 2004 to 2008.
 
As President of Southwest Airlines, Barrett oversaw the management and leadership of a variety of areas including human resources, customer relations, labor relations, marketing, and public affairs - all key ingredients to Southwest's success.  Barrett's personal credo - "Follow the Golden Rule, learn from your mistakes, take the initiative, and listen to your heart," has secured her position as one of the highest-ranking and most successful female executives in the history of the U.S. airline industry.
 
Barrett stepped down as Southwest's President in July 2008.  In 2010, she co-authored a book with Ken Blanchard titled Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Success, which draws on her leadership philosophy and personal experiences as a pioneer in the aviation industry.

To read the official press release, please click here.

Barrett will be presented the trophy at the Aero Club of Washington's Wright Memorial Dinner on Friday, December 16, 2016.  For more information about the award or to view a list of past recipients, please click here.  For information regarding the Wright Memorial Dinner, please click here.


United States Air Force Crews of Weasel 41 and Weasel 51 Flight to Receive 2015 Mackay Trophy

United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Cohen, Major Seth Taylor, Captain Danielle Kangas, and Captain Mathew Park, the aircrews of the Pacific Air Forces' WEASEL 41 and WEASEL 51 Flight, have been named the recipients of the 2015 Mackay Trophy.
 
The Mackay Trophy was first presented by Clarence Mackay in 1912 and was later deeded to  the National Aeronautic Association. Administered by the United States Air Force and NAA, the trophy is awarded for the "...most meritorious flight of the year by an Air Force person,  persons, or organization."
 
As outlined in the United States Air Force nomination, on July 26, 2015, WEASEL 41 and WEASEL 51 flight arrived on scene over Hassekah, a major city in northeast Syria, where friendly Syrian Kurdish ground units were battling the last significant holdout of a group of Islamic State enemy personnel.  A firefight in the southeast portion of the city had erupted, pinning Kurdish ground units in a dense urban city block.
 
Overcoming targeting complicated by weather and limited communications, Lieutenant Colonel Cohen and Major Taylor expertly coordinated and employed several successful munitions in support of Kurdish forces despite highly restrictive attack parameters. Captain Kangas and Captain Park tracked and executed an effective attack on fleeing enemy soldiers wearing blankets to reduce their infrared signature.
 
In a four-hour period, the crews of WEASEL 41 and WEASEL 51 flight employed 15 precision guided munitions, destroying eight enemy fighting positions, with no friendly or civilian casualties.  Their dedication, professionalism, bravery, and airmanship displayed on July 26 th marked the end of a three-month operation in Northern Syria that resulted in friendly Kurdish forces retaking over 17 thousand square kilometers of territory, securing the Syria/Turkey boarder between Iraq and the Euphrates River.

To read the press release, please click here.

The Vice Chief of the Unites States Air Force, General Stephen Wilson will present the Mackay Trophy to the Crews of WEASEL 41 and WEASEL 51 flight at the NAA Fall Awards Dinner on December 8, 2016 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

The Mackay Trophy
 

NAA Names 2016 Distinguished Statesman of Aviation

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2016 Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award: Dr. Peggy Chabrian, Randall Greene, Preston Henne, and Clay Lacy.
 
The Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award was established in 1954 by the Board of Directors of the NAA.  The award honors "... outstanding Americans who, by their efforts over an extended period of years, have made contributions of significant value to aeronautics and have reflected credit upon America and themselves."
 
Dr. Peggy Chabrian
Dr. Peggy Chabrian
is the founder of Women in Aviation International (WAI), a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing networking, education, mentoring, and scholarship opportunities for both women and men who strive for careers in the aviation and aerospace industry.  In 1990, Chabrian gathered 150 people for the first Women in Aviation conference at Embry Riddle's Prescott, Arizona campus.  Four years later, with the growing success of the annual conference, the aviation industry began to recognize and accept the need for the focus and energy offered by her vision.  In December 1994, 16 founding board members, with Chabrian as Founding President, established WAI as it is today.  Presently, WAI's diverse membership of more than 13,000 includes representation from virtually every corner of the world's aviation community and the annual conference has grown to over 5,000 attendees and 200 exhibitors.  WAI has also awarded close to $11 million in scholarships at their conference since 1995.
 
Randall Greene
Randall Greene
is the Chairman, President, and CEO of Safe Flight Instrument Corporation.  He joined Safe Flight Instrument Corporation in 1972 as an engineering test pilot and advanced systems manager, where he worked until 1980 when he left to pursue other opportunities which included President, Aeronautical Systems Corp.; Founder and President, Commander Aircraft Co.; various managerial positions with AiResearch Electronics Division and Allied Signal Corp.; Manager, Systems Programs and Engineering Test Pilot, Bendix Corporation (Honeywell); and Pilot, Taos Air Taxi.  Greene holds 15 US patents and has published technical papers in numerous publications. FAA Airline Transport-rated for both airplanes and helicopters, Greene is an Associate Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and an FAA designated test pilot for FAR Part 23, 25, 27, and 29 aircraft.  He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Corporate Angel Network, is a member of the nominating committee of the board of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum (where he is an emeritus director), and is a board member of the Wings Club of New York.  Greene holds 12 NAA and Fédération Aéronautique Internationale aviation records.
 
Preston Henne
Recognized today as a visionary leader in aircraft development, 
Preston Henne began his career with McDonnell Douglas in 1969.  At the time, he was known for his work in advanced aerodynamic technology, and was responsible for the aerodynamic design of the wing on the C-17. Henne later served as the Chief Design Engineer for the MD-80 and later was VP and GM of the MD-90.  He joined Gulfstream in 1994 and led the teams responsible for the design, development, test, and certification of the Gulfstream V, G550, G450, G150, G280, and the G650.  His vision and drive put Gulfstream products first to the market with Enhanced Vision Systems, Synthetic Vision Systems, and Active Control Sidestick.  Under Henne's leadership, Gulfstream established a Research and Development Center in Savannah, Georgia to support future product development.  He is a member of the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Engineering Advisory Board, a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.  He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2003.
 
Clay Lacy
Clay Lacy
has been working actively in aviation since he became a flight instructor at the age of 16. He has actively participated in many roles in aviation, including as airline captain, military aviator, experimental test pilot, air race champion, world record-setter, aerial cinematographer, and business aviation entrepreneur. During his career, he has flown more than 300 aircraft types, logged more than 50,000 flight hours, and accumulated more hours flying turbine aircraft than any other pilot in the world.  His career highlights include making the first flight of the Pregnant Guppy, a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser modified to carry the Saturn rocket booster in support of the U.S. space program; flying the first Learjet into Van Nuys Airport, which introduced a new era of corporate aviation to the entertainment industry; founding Clay Lacy Aviation in 1968; flying a four-engine Douglas DC-7 nicknamed Super Snoopy in the California 1000 Mile Air Race (finishing sixth place with an average speed of 325 mph, and marking the first and only time a four-engine airliner ever competed in a pylon event); revolutionizing air-to-air cinematography with the development of the Astrovision camera system; retiring in 1992 as a United Airlines Captain with seniority No. 1 after 41 years of incident-free flying; and setting 29 world speed records.

To read the official press release, please click here.

The Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Awards will be presented at NAA's Fall Awards Dinner on December 8th at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.


Priscilla (Pat) Blum Named the 2016 Katharine Wright Trophy Recipient

Priscilla (Pat) Blum, founder of the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 Katharine Wright Trophy.  The trophy was established in 1981 and is awarded annually to an individual who "...has contributed to the success of others, or made a personal contribution to the advancement of the art, sport, and science of aviation and space flight over an extended period of time."
 
Ms. Blum is being recognized for "... her dedication to establishing and developing the Corporate Angel Network, a public benefit aviation charity which coordinates, manages, and arranges free air travel on business jets for cancer patients who need transportation to and from their specialized life-saving treatment centers."
 
Ms. Blum and her associate, Jay Weinberg, founded CAN in 1981.  As cancer survivors who both personally experienced the extreme hardships and rigors of long distance travel to treatment centers, Ms. Blum and Mr. Weinberg envisioned the ability for cancer patients to fly at no charge, in a private, comfortable, and dignified environment, through the generosity of American corporations that operated business jets.
 
The pair called on corporate flight departments country-wide, reached out to cancer treatment hospitals across the nation, consulted with oncologists, worked with hotels and organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House, obtained fuel and airline discounts, initiated fundraising programs, and wrote grant applications.  They also created the CAN volunteer corps comprised of 40 to 60 volunteers who managed calls from patients, confirmed physicians travel approvals, and made flight reservations with a growing number of corporations in order to fulfill each and every patient flight request.
 
The first CAN flight took place on December 22, 1981, in Safe Flight Instrument Corporation's King Air.  In 1982, CAN logged 23 cancer patient flights and by 1987 they celebrated their 650 th completed flight.  In April 2016, CAN marked their 50,000 th completed cancer patient flight - truly a remarkable feat.
 
Ms. Blum retired from CAN at the age of 80, but her idea and vision continues over three decades after the first flight.  Her dream of utilizing business aviation to help bring thousands of cancer patients closer to their life-saving cures has been a powerful aviation success story.

To read the official press release, please click here.

The Katharine Wright Trophy will be presented at  NAA's Fall Awards Dinner  on December 8th at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.


Priscilla (Pat) Blum
 

Shirley McCall to Receive the 2016 Brewer Trophy

Shirley McCall
Shirley McCall has been selected as the recipient of the Frank G. Brewer Trophy.  The trophy was established in 1943 to honor "... significant contributions of enduring value to aerospace education in the United States."
 
Ms. McCall is being recognized for 
"... dedicating 42 years to educating, leading, and inspiring students to pursue careers in aerospace through the formation of the TransSTEM Academy."
 
As an educator with the District of Columbia Public School system, Ms. McCall founded the TransTECH Academy (currently known as the TransSTEM Academy) at the Francis L. Cardozo Education Campus in 1991.  The Academy was the first transportation studies program of its kind in the Washington metropolitan area and exposed students to various aerospace education programs and real-world experiences.  The program's curriculum is also integrated with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  Over 750 students have graduated from the Academy since its inception and over 85% go on to two/four year colleges and universities.
 
The TransSTEM Academy, under Ms. McCall's leadership, has expanded in unimaginable ways including a unique partnership with the United States Department of Defense to transform an ordinary classroom into a FLEX Lab Aviation Classroom Experience (FLEX-ACE), where students are engaged in complex science, math, and technology curriculum.  The FLEX-ACE classroom has three dual-pilot flight simulators, an air traffic control tower, and nine remotely piloted vehicle stations.  The system lets students role-play in real-world missions that take place at test ranges across the country and in local air space.  The creation of this lab would not have been possible without the perseverance and commitment of Ms. McCall.
 
On June 21, 2016, the TransSTEM Academy celebrated its 25 th Anniversary.  This day also marked the retirement of Ms. McCall.

To read the official press release, please click here.

The Brewer Trophy will be presented at  NAA's Fall Awards Dinner  on December 8th at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.
 

George Carneal Honored with 2016 Henderson Trophy

George Carneal
George Carneal has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 Cliff Henderson Trophy.
 
The Henderson Trophy, which is in the collection of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, was established in 1960 to honor the creator and Managing Director of the world-renowned National Air Races from 1928-1939.  His work stimulated a generation's interest in aviation and challenged the state of the art in aviation development.
 
The trophy is awarded to "...a living individual, group of individuals, or an organization whose vision, leadership or skill made a significant and lasting contribution to the promotion and advancement of aviation and aerospace in the United States."  Previous recipients include Colonel Joseph Kittinger, USAF (Ret.), Marion Blakey, The United States Air Force Academy, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle, Senator Barry M. Goldwater, Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson, Scott Crossfield, and the 2015 recipient - Durwood "Skip" Ringo.
 
George Carneal is a Partner at the Hogan Lovells Law Firm in Washington D.C. and the founder of the firm's Aviation Practice Group.  For decades, he has been counseling clients from virtually all sectors of the aviation industry on a broad array of issues.  He has also served in the office of the President-elect, as special assistant to the Secretary of Transportation, and General Counsel of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
 
Mr. Carneal's experience includes securing varied federal approvals required for the provision of commercial aviation services, counseling as to Department of Transportation (DOT), FAA, and other federal agency regulatory compliance, the defense of enforcement proceedings, aircraft and parts certification, acquisitions and financing, airspace obstructions and management, airport environmental issues, business aviation matters, and the functioning of foreign civil aviation authorities. 

Mr. Carneal is the General Counsel of the NAA, has served as the President of the Aero Club of Washington, is a long-time member of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Aeronautical Law, served on the Board of Governors of the Flight Safety Foundation, and was the founding Chairman of the Trustee of the D.C. Bar's Clients' Security Fund.  He also speaks at a variety of professional programs and has been invited to lecture at several law schools.  Mr. Carneal was an NAA Distinguished Statesman of Aviation in 2009 and  Chambers has long ranked him as a Senior Statesman. 

To read the official press release, please click here.

The Henderson Trophy will be presented at  NAA's Fall Awards Dinner  on December 8th at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.
 

Aviation Volunteers Honored for Public Benefit Flying

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA), in partnership with the Air Care Alliance (ACA), a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 Public Benefit Flying Awards.  These awards were created to honor volunteer pilots, other volunteers, and their organizations engaged in flying to help others, as well as those supporting such work.
 
This year's recipients are:
 
Distinguished Volunteer Pilot:
 
Over the past eight years, Jeff Bennett has flown 4,938 service and therapy animals, search and rescue dogs, military working dogs, homeless and abandoned pets, and endangered wildlife for Pilots N Paws.  He has generously donated thousands of hours of his time, all fuel costs, and the use of his plane to the organization.  Bennett has helped to coordinate the Pilots N Paws Annual Fall and Spring Flyaway events, where dozens of pilots work together on a single day to move hundreds of animals.  He is a team player, incredible mentor, seasoned coach, and a fan favorite among volunteers and adoptive families of animals he has flown.
Jeff Bennett
 
Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying:
           
Rol Murrow is the cofounder and Chairman of the Air Care Alliance (ACA), a support group for more than sixty volunteer pilot aviation groups engaged in public benefit flying work nationwide and internationally.  With Murrow's expertise and guidance, ACA is able to match individuals with organizations whose volunteers fly patients for care, provide disaster relief services, support the transportation needs of veterans, perform environmental support flights, relocate animals, and provide many other services on a charitable basis.  Murrow also served on the founding board of the Alliance for Aviation Across America in order to emphasize the value of charitable aviation.
Rol Murrow

Public Benefit Flying Teamwork Award:
           
VPOIDS and the VPOIDS User Community: In 2012, Angel Flight West developed a new version of their web-based application used to support the coordination of its charity flights and released this software under an open source license for the charitable aviation community.  An organization called VPOIDS was formed to manage the software and the user community, facilitate communication between consumers, help determine priorities, identify opportunities for solving common problems, and coordinate design and development efforts.  VPOIDS has enabled its 11 Volunteer Pilot Organization's (VPO's), which comprise the user community, to save money in a number of significant ways and allowed them to focus on their core missions.  Due to the partnership of VPOIDS and the VPOIDS user community, many organizations have gained access to a technology platform that they would otherwise not have been able to afford, resulting in a greater impact and strengthening of charitable aviation as a whole.

 
To read the press release, please click here.

The Public Benefit Flying Awards will be presented at  NAA's Fall Awards Dinner  on December 8th at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.


Americans Honored with 2016 FAI Awards

NAA is proud to announce that the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) has awarded the seven diplomas and medals to the following Americans:

Gold Space Medal
The Honorable Charles Bolden

Paul Tissandier Diploma 
Bob Brown
Deborah Jean Rihn-Harvey

Vladimir M. Komarov Diploma
 Scott Kelly

Louis Bleriot Medal
Jon Sharp

Odyssey Diploma
Jonathan Clark

Frank Ehling Diploma
National Association of Rocketry (NAR) and the 
Aerospace Industries Association (AIA)

To read the official FAI press release, please click here.

The FAI Awards will be presented at  NAA's Fall Awards Dinner  on December 8th at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

President's Message
 
Greg Principato, 
NAA President & CEO
As I write this, I am in my third week as President & CEO of the National Aeronautic Association.  In the weeks since it was announced I was joining NAA, I have spent a great deal of time answering one basic question: "What is NAA, and why do you want to go there?"  (I guess that's two basic questions).
 
I tell them about our long history, going all the way back to the Wright Brothers, and that we were originally formed because many people were slow to recognize the importance and potential of aviation, and about all we have done over the years to change that.
 
They are impressed, but they often respond that aviation's importance is now obvious so why do we need such an organization.  I tell them that the fact that aviation's importance is obvious may be true, but it is all too often also taken for granted.  And taking something for granted is often just as dangerous as not understanding it.  I tell them that we need an organization like NAA as much as we ever have.  And that is why I am excited to be here.
 
Aviation has long celebrated its past, embraced its present and shaped its future.  The work we do, by our awards program honoring past achievement, and our records program honoring the accomplishments of today, helps provide the energy by which we will shape an even better future.  By looking for ways to tell the story of aviation, NAA can further honor the legacy of its founding and history by ensuring that more and more people will understand, and fewer and fewer will take aviation for granted.  By its very nature, that work will never end.
 
It has long been my view that we in the aviation community spend a lot of time talking to one another, and not enough time telling our story more broadly.  I very much hope that by the time my tenure here has come to an end, we will have made substantial progress in changing that.
 
I look forward to meeting and working with you.  Please feel free to be in touch.  My email is gprincipato@naa.aero.  My phone number is 
703-416-4888 ext 101.

Sincerely,
Greg Principato
President & CEO
NAA

Air Sport Organization News
 
U.S. Hosts Skydiving World Championships

The 2016 Fédération Aéronautique Internationale World Parachuting Championships Mondial came to the U.S. for the first time ever September 11-20 at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois. While the U.S. has hosted skydiving world championships in the past, this marked the first time for a Mondial, or all events. The Mondial included five skydiving disciplines, drawing 700 competitors from 38 nations for the Olympics of skydiving. Over the course of the event, they made 2,547 skydives from a fleet of five Twin Otters and two Cessna Caravans.
 
The event kicked off on September 11 with an opening ceremony that included a parade of nations and a demonstration jump with one of the skydivers carrying a 5,000-square-foot U.S. flag.
 
The elite U.S. Parachute Team had one of the largest delegations, with more than 70 members. The U.S. Team earned gold medals in 4-way female, 8-way and vertical formation skydiving; silver in 4-way formation skydiving, female style and female overall style & accuracy; and bronze in artistic freestyle.

The U.S. Parachute Team at the 2016 World Parachuting Championships Mondial. Photo by Chuck Akers.

 
U.S. National Aerobatic Championships Concludes in Texas

The 2016 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships came to a close at the North Texas Regional Airport (KGYI) in Denison, Texas on Friday, September 30 th , and the competition was a resounding success. Altogether, 89 pilots in nine competition categories flew, both in powered aircraft and gliders. Twenty of the competitors were glider pilots, mostly from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
 
The contest was held under the direction of Gary DeBaun who devoted most of the last year organizing the event and who was assisted by an outstanding staff of dedicated and experienced volunteers he was supported by a very active staff of volunteers working in key areas. It was IAC members at their best.
 
The new U.S. National Aerobatic Champion is Rob Holland of Nashua, New Hampshire, flying his beautiful MXS-RH. This was Rob's sixth consecutive win of the national title. He went on to win the Four Minute Freestyle event at the end of the contest as well. Rob takes home the Mike Murphy Trophy, one of aerobatics' most prestigious awards.
 
U.S. National Glider Aerobatic Champion is Eric Lentz-Gauthier of Davis, California flying an MDM Fox. This was Eric's second consecutive win of the national title and he took home the Les Horvath Trophy.
 
With all of the flying going on in all of IAC's categories, team selection for three U.S. Aerobatic Teams was also in progress. Team pilots are selected based on their standings at Nationals. The 2016-2018 U.S. Unlimited Team is Rob Holland, Bob Freeman, Mike Ciliberti, Mike Gallaway, Mark Nowosielski, Jim Bourke, Craig Gifford, and Tim Just. For the glider teams, Eric Lentz-Gauthier and Jason Stephens were selected for the Unlimited Glider Team and Guy Acheson and Mallory Lynch qualified for the Advanced Glider Team.
 
The Unlimited Team (in power) will compete at the 29 th  FAI World Aerobatic Championships in South Africa in 2017. The championships is slated to be held at Hoedspruit, South Africa on August 16 - 26, 2017 . The airfield is a joint civil-military base and is home to a South African Air Force helicopter unit. Hoedspruit is in the Limpopo province and about 280 miles northeast of Johannesburg.
 
The Glider Teams will compete in Torun, Poland which has hosted previous world championships. Details are not available as of this writing as the final bid for the event is to be reviewed by CIVA when it meets in November in Bucharest, Romania.
 
Nationals Results
 
The other category winners at Nationals were as follows:
 
Power Categories
 
Primary - Nick Meyer, Grand Forks, Nebraska (Decathlon)
Sportsman - Cory Johnson, Dodgeville, Wisconsin (Pitts S-1C)
Intermediate - David Taylor, Superior, Colorado (Staudacher S600)
Advanced - Aaron McCartan, Burt, Iowa (S-330P)
 
Glider Categories
 
Sportsman - Merrick Isley, USAF Academy, Colorado (DG1001)
Intermediate - Trevor Rogers, USAF Academy, Colorado (DG1001)
Advanced - Guy Acheson, Fair Oaks, California (MDM Fox)
 
It should be noted that non-U.S. citizens are not eligible for national titles. But we would be remiss if we did not mention the two pilots who ranked at the top of their categories but could not claim the champion titles in those categories. Luke Penner was the top placing pilot in Sportsman (power) and hails from La Broquerie, Manitoba, Canada. Top ranking pilot in Intermediate (glider) was Khorn Soonthonnitikul (also known as "Soon") of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is an exchange cadet at the Academy from Thailand and placed first last year in Sportsman (glider).
 
Complete results can be found at www.iac.org/nationals. Click on "Results" on that page and you will find the results page for the event by category. Each pilot's scoresheet can also be viewed by clicking on his or her results for each flight program. 


Volunteers and Competitors at the 2016 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships


Aero Club News
 
Aero Club of Northern California News
Steve Hinton (left) receives the Crystal Eagle Award from Eric Peterson, Aero Club of Northern California Vice President

Steve Hinton, champion unlimited air racer and former holder of the world speed record for propeller-driven aircraft, became the 34th recipient of the Crystal Eagle Award from the Aero Club of Northern California on October 15, 2016.   The award is presented annually to honor those whose aviation and space achievements are among the nation's highest.
 
Hinton, who won six unlimited air races including two national championships, is president of the Planes of Fame air museum and owner of Fighter Rebuilders, a world-renowned aviation company devoted to the restoration of Warbirds, both at Chino Airport in Southern California.

Hinton was an unlimited air race pilot for 13 years, flying the "Red Baron," "Tsunami " and "Super Corsair."  He won National Championships in 1978 in the Red Baron and in 1985 in Super Corsair.  His 1978 win of the Reno Air Races Unlimited Championship at age 26 made him the youngest champion ever until his son, Steven Hinton Jr. won the championship at age 22 in 2009.
    
On August 4, 1979, Hinton set the 3-kilometer world speed record for piston-driven aircraft at 499.018 mph in the RB-51 Red Baron, a highly-modified P-51 Mustang, at Tonopah, Nevada.  At age 27, he was the youngest person to hold that record, which stood until 1989. He retired from racing in 1990.
   
Hinton is a charter member of the Motion Picture Pilots Association, and since 1976 has worked on more than 60 films as a pilot or aerial coordinator.
   
The Crystal Eagle Award was first presented by the Aero Club in 1983 to legendary aviator Gen. Jimmy Doolittle. Among the past recipients were Gen. Chuck Yeager, Jim Nissen, Burt Rutan,  Jeana Yeager,  Darryl Greenamyer, Paul Poberezny, Wayne Handley, A. Scott Crossfield, Clay Lacy, Elgen Long, Eileen Collins, Sean D. Tucker, Steve Fossett, Phil Boyer, Mike Melvill, Brian Shul, Julie Clark, Thomas E. Leonard and Alan Eustace.
 
The Aero Club also presented National Aeronautic Association Certificate awards to unlimited air racer Dan Martin and to Warren "Carl" Honaker, manager of Moffett Field in Mountain View, CA, for their life-long contributions to the advancement of flight.
    
The club awarded scholarships to San Jose State University Aviation Department students Michelle Tripp, Tyler Hernandez and Richard Bandy.

 

Fall 2016

 

In This Issue
NAA News
President's Message
Air Sport News
Aero Club News
Upcoming Events
Call for Nominations
Records Claimed
Contact NAA
Upcoming Events 
 
December 8, 2016
Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

NAA Annual Membership Meeting

December 16, 2016
Hogan Lovells, LLP
555 13th St NW
Washington, DC 20004


December 16, 2016
Marriott Wardman Park,
Washington D.C.
Call for Nominations
Nomination Period:
Open through November 30

Nomination Period:
January 1-January 31

Show Your Support for NAA
Order NAA merchandise
  here

Membership Plaques
Baseball Caps
Polo Shirts
T-shirts
Sweatshirts
Leather Jackets
Duffle Bags
Cooler Bags
Stadium Blankets

For Record Holders:
National Certificate of Record
World Deplome de Record
Record Holder Pen

Records Claimed
July 1, 2016 to
September 30, 2016
FAI Smaller   

Aeromodels & 
Space Models
 
Distance in a Straight Line (#156):  187 mi
John A. Ellias
Class F3, Glider, 
Radio Controlled
Pioche, NV
8/9/2016

Altitude (#141):  2,470 feet
Robert Kreutz
Class S1, Total Impulse 2.51-5.00 N
Lviv, Ukraine
8/28/2016

Duration (#192):  
12 hrs 46 min 29 sec
Andre Mellin & 
David G. Brown
Class F5, Airplane, 
Radio Controlled, 
Electric Motor, COMB
Liberty, IN
9/19/2016


Aeroplanes

Aeroplane Efficiency: 
 9.19 km/kg*
Thierry Saint Loup & 
Ross K. McCurdy
Class C-1.c, Group I (Internal Combustion)
Cessna 182
1 SMA SR305
Fairfield, NJ
7/12/2016
 
Speed Over a Recognized Course:
 
Phoenix, AZ to Calgary, Canada:  475.04 mph*
Shonin Casey  Davis & Samuel R. Bennett
Class C-1.h, Group III (Jet)
Embraer Legacy 500
2 Honeywell AS907
7/5/2016
 
Calgary, Canada to Reno, NV:  435.51 mph*
Shonin Casey Davis & Samuel R. Bennett
Class C-1.i, Group III (Jet)
Embraer Legacy 500
2 Honeywell AS907
7/8/2016
 
Bedford, MA to Palm Beach, FL:  402.13 mph*
Glenn M. Gonzales & Peter J. Kriegler
Class C-1.e, Group III (Jet)
Honda Aircraft Company HA-420
2 GE Honda HF120
7/19/2016
 
Port Angeles, WA to Chattanooga, TN:  
120.91 mph*
James D. Howard & Andrew T. Newman
Class C-1.c, Group I (Internal Combustion)
Cessna 172
1 Lycoming IO-360
7/20/2016
 
Seattle, WA to Boise, ID:  158 mph
Francis J. Roman
Class C-1.c, Group I (Internal Combustion)
Piper PA-28-235 
Cherokee Pathfinder
1 Lycoming O-540
8/13/2016
 
Philipsburg, St. Martin (Netherlands) to Fort Lauderdale, FL:  456 mph
Shonin Casey Davis & Michael T. Voechting
Class C-1.f, Group III (Jet)
Embraer Phenom 300
2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E
9/1/2016
 
Salt Lake City, UT to Cheyenne, WY:  173 mph
Raymond B. Johnson
Class C-1.c, Group I (Internal Combustion)
Cessna 210
1 Continental IO-470
9/7/2016
 
Bremen, Germany to Moscow, Russia:  484 mph
Michael T. Voechting
Class C-1.h, Group III (Jet)
Embraer Legacy 500
2 Honeywell AS907
9/7/2016
 
Guernsey, UK to 
Teterboro, NJ:  456 mph
Gregory S. Panzarella & Bruce A. Egart
Class C-1.i, Group III (Jet)
Gulfstream G280
2 Honeywell HTF7250G
9/8/2016
 
Moscow, Russia to 
Paris, France:  481 mph
Michael T. Voechting
Class C-1.h, Group III (Jet)
Embraer Legacy 500
2 Honeywell AS907
9/11/2016
 
Long Beach, CA to 
Las Vegas, NV:  102 mph
Douglas R. Cairns
Class C-1.d, Group I (Internal Combustion)
Beechcraft Baron BE58
2 Continental IO-520
9/17/2016
 
Windhoek, Namibia to Dakar, Senegal:  453 mph
Jonathan N. Headley & Timothy Riddell
Class C-1.i, Group III (Jet)
Gulfstream G280
2 Honeywell HTF7250G
9/19/2016
 
Belfast, Northern Ireland to Hartford, CT:  270 mph
Travis P. Holland
Class C-1.e, Group III (Jet)
Embraer Phenom 100
2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F-E
9/20/2016


Gliders

Speed Over a Triangular Course of 750 km:  
106.71 mph*
Alan M. Polinsky
Class DM, Motorgliders, Single Place, 
General  Binder EB29
Ely, NV
7/28/2016
 
Speed Over a Triangular Course of 300 km: 
104 mph
Alan M. Polinsky
Class DM, Motorgliders, Single Place, 
General  Binder EB29
Ely, NV
8/6/2016
 
Speed Over a Triangular Course of 1,000 km: 
 95 mph
Alan M. Polinsky
Class D, Open Class, General  Binder EB29
Ely, NV
8/14/2016


Rotocraft

Highest Takeoff:  9,925 feet
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-3.b, 
Group I (Piston)
Magni M22
1 Rotax 914
Leadville, CO
8/11/2016
 
Highest Takeoff:  9,925 feet
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-3.a, 
Group I (Piston)
Magni M22
1 Rotax 914
Leadville, CO
8/11/2016
 
Altitude With 100 kg Payload:  15,630 feet
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-3.b, 
Group I (Piston)
Magni M22
1 Rotax 914
Leadville, CO
8/12/2016
 
Altitude With 100 kg Payload:  13,802 feet
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-3.a, 
Group I (Piston)
Magni M22
1 Rotax 914
Leadville, CO
8/12/2016
 
Altitude With 200 kg Payload:  9,039 feet
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-3.b, 
Group I (Piston)
Magni M22
1 Rotax 914
Cape Girardeau, MO
8/30/2016
 
Greatest Mass Carried to a Height of 2,000 Meters:  145 kg
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-3.b, 
Group I (Piston)
Magni M22
1 Rotax 914
Cape Girardeau, MO
8/30/2016
 
Greatest Mass Carried to a Height of 2,000 Meters: 
86 kg
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-3.a, 
Group I (Piston)
Magni M22
1 Rotax 914
Cape Girardeau, MO
8/30/2016
 
Time to Climb to 3,000 Meters (Without Payload):  22 min 35 sec
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-3.b, 
Group I (Piston)
Magni M22
1 Rotax 914
Cape Girardeau, MO
8/30/2016
 
Altitude With 100 kg Payload:  15,026 feet
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-1.b, 
Group I (Piston)
Robinson R44 Raven II
1 Lycoming IO-540
Cape Girardeau, MO
9/27/2016
 
Altitude With 100 kg Payload:  14,091 feet
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-1.c, 
Group I (Piston)
Robinson R44 Raven II
1 Lycoming IO-540
Cape Girardeau, MO
9/28/2016
 
Altitude With 200 kg Payload:  13,501 feet
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-1.c, 
Group I (Piston)
Robinson R44 Raven II
1 Lycoming IO-540
Cape Girardeau, MO
9/28/2016
 
Greatest Mass Carried to a Height of 2,000 Meters:  100 kg
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-1.b, 
Group I (Piston)
Robinson R44 Raven II
1 Lycoming IO-540
Cape Girardeau, MO
9/28/2016
 
Greatest Mass Carried to a Height of 2,000 Meters:  258 kg
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-1.c, 
Group I (Piston)
Robinson R44 Raven II
1 Lycoming IO-540
Cape Girardeau, MO
9/28/2016
 
Time to Climb to 3,000 Meters (Without Payload):  6 min 36 sec
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-1.b,
Group I (Piston)
Robinson R44 Raven II
1 Lycoming IO-540
Cape Girardeau, MO
9/28/2016
 
Time to Climb to 3,000 Meters (Without Payload):  9 min 43 sec
Paul A. Salmon
Class E-1.c, 
Group I (Piston)
Robinson R44 Raven II
1 Lycoming IO-540
Cape Girardeau, MO
9/28/2016
   
Except where noted by an asterisk (*), information is preliminary and subject to approval.
NAA Staff Directory
Greg Principato

President & CEO

Art Greenfield
Director,
Contest & Records
Stephanie Berry
Director,
Awards & Events,

 
Natasha Clark
Director,
Administration & Membership

 


Like us on Facebook 

Follow us on Twitter