Advancing the art, sport, and science of aviation since 1905

From the President's Chair

As we kick off 2026, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be the "source of truth" in an industry that’s moving at Mach speed. The NAA has a storied legacy, and to stay relevant for the next century of flight, we have to move as fast as the innovators we honor. My primary focus for the next one to three years is simple: Modernizing our mission and reclaiming our seat at the head of the table.



Trimming the Sails for Speed

For the NAA to be a true leader, we have to be efficient. We are currently undergoing a "Digital Transformation," which is really just a fancy way of saying we’re stripping away the old manual hurdles that slow us down. By automating all we can, we’re freeing up our team to stop pushing paper and start pushing the boundaries of what this organization can do for you. We’re leaning into our operations to spend more time on high-value engagement and less time on logistics.

Shaping the Conversation

We’re also taking a hard look at our awards to make sure they carry gravitas in a world of commercial spaceflight and autonomous tech. We aren’t just a historical society; we’re a data-driven authority. By launching new initiatives like our Innovator's Summit (more soon!), we are leveraging our amazing membership to guide future conversations rather than just documenting them.

Our goal is to make the NAA the most agile, tech-forward version of itself - an organization that doesn’t just remember where aviation has been, but actively predicts where it’s going. We’re sharpening our focus, clearing our desks, and getting ready for a very big year.

If there is one award that captures the "higher, faster, farther" spirit of aviation, it’s the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Established in 1911, it has evolved from a local prize for "flying machines" into the ultimate seal of excellence in aerospace.

The Collier Trophy isn't just a piece of bronze; it’s a living record of human persistence. It reminds us that every "impossible" feat—be it staying in the air for more than a minute or landing a car-sized robot on Mars—was achieved through the collaboration of visionaries who refused to look down.

✈️ The Birth of an Icon (1911–1913)

The trophy was commissioned by Robert J. Collier, a publisher and early aviation enthusiast who bought the first Wright airplane for personal use.

The Intent: Originally called the Aero Club of America Trophy, it was designed to recognize the "greatest achievement in aviation in America" during the previous year.

The First Winner: In 1911, Glenn Curtiss took the inaugural prize for developing the hydro-aeroplane (the first practical seaplane). It proved that flight wasn't just for land—it was for the world’s oceans, too.

🚀 Pushing the Sound Barrier and Beyond

As technology moved from wood-and-fabric biplanes to supersonic jets, the Collier Trophy tracked every major milestone.

• 1947 – Breaking the Barrier: Chuck Yeager and the crew of the Bell X-1 won for the first supersonic flight. It was the moment humanity officially "outran" sound.
• 1962 – The Mercury 7: The award transitioned from machines to people, honoring the first American astronauts for proving that we could survive—and work—in the vacuum of space.
• 1969 – Apollo 11: Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins were honored for the Moon landing, marking perhaps the most significant "achievement" in human history.

🛰️ Modern Frontiers

Today, the trophy reflects a world where aviation and space are deeply integrated into our daily lives and our curiosity about the universe.

• GPS (1992): The Global Positioning System team won for creating a technology that changed how every person on Earth navigates.
• Mars Curiosity Rover (2012): This win celebrated the "seven minutes of terror" landing on another planet, proving that our reach now extends far beyond our own atmosphere.
• James Webb Space Telescope (2022): Recognized for peering back to the beginning of time itself.

It has been a high-velocity start to 2026 for the NAA and our members. From fresh leadership appointments to major technical milestones,

here is the current pulse of the industry.

NAA Highlights & Award Winners

Industry News & Major Awards

Beyond the NAA, other major organizations have recently announced their premier honors for the year:

AIAA 2026 Premier Awards:

• Boom Supersonic XB-1 Team: Won the Reed Aeronautics Award for achieving "Boomless Cruise" during supersonic flights in 2025.
• ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization): Received the Goddard Astronautics Award for the historic Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing.
• Jenna L. Eppink (NASA Langley): Named AIAA Engineer of the Year for her breakthroughs in fluid-physics measurement.

Aviation Week Laureates (March 2026 Preview):

• LATAM Airlines CEO Roberto Alvo and Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic are set to be honored for their corporate turnarounds and strategic leadership.
• Southwest Airlines will be recognized for its industry-leading Safety Management System (SMS).

What We're Watching

🤖 The Rise of Agentic AI

We have officially moved past simple automation into the era of Agentic AI. Companies like Skyryse (a 2024 Collier finalist) are revolutionizing helicopter controls by simplifying operations, while a new generation of innovators works to certify electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis for urban mobility.

Another vanguard is Electra.aero, which is redefining regional mobility with its ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) technology—blending the efficiency of electric power with the ability to operate from spaces as small as a soccer field. Supported by leadership from across the industry, the NAA is working to ensure that as AI takes a larger role in the flight deck, the standards for safety and record-keeping remain the gold standard.

☀️ Mastery of the Vacuum

The conversation is shifting from how we reach orbit to what we achieve once we arrive. The Parker Solar Probe Team (the 2024 Collier Winner) recently made history by "touching the Sun," demonstrating our ability to deliver science from within the solar corona. This achievement has set a new benchmark for operations in extreme environments.

Now, companies like Blue Origin are leading the charge toward sustained orbital infrastructure. With strategic insight from across the aerospace sector—including experts from Northrop Grumman—the NAA is ensuring that our records reflect achievements that happen entirely in the vacuum of space.

⚡ The Return of Supersonic Speed

Supersonic travel is no longer a "someday" dream. With NASA’s X-59 QueSST (developed with Lockheed Martin) successfully completing its historic first flights in late 2025, we are finally seeing the data that could lift the overland supersonic ban.

With industry leaders from Lockheed Martin helping to drive this frontier, the NAA is ready to serve as the official validator as companies like Boom Supersonic pursue new and historic speed records. We are entering an era where quiet, efficient, and record-breaking speed will once again be a hallmark of American aviation.

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