American Heroes Honored at

NAA Fall Awards Banquet

   A remarkable group of distinguished Americans and elite award-winners were on hand for the NAA 2010 Fall Awards Banquet on November 8, 2010.

   Well-known luminaries included astronaut Neil Armstrong; Barron Hilton (the head of Hilton Hotels and regarded by many as the "Patron Saint of Sport Aviation"); Lieutenant General Philip Breedlove, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Requirements; Gene Kranz (who led the NASA Mission Control team that rescued the

Barron Hilton (left), Neil Armstrong (center), and Gene Kranz (right)

Apollo 13 crew); the new President of the F�d�ration A�ronautique International (FAI) Dr. John Grubbstr�m; and three former FAA Administrators: Alan McArtor, Marion Blakey, and Bobby Sturgell.

   Other American heroes on hand included the four-man Air Force crew of Pedro 16, which landed a Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter under enemy fire in Afghanistan and rescued nine American troops.

   As the evening progressed, it was evident that every person honored brought a unique and meaningful accomplishment and story to the world of aviation.

   The Pedro 16 crew received the Clarence Mackay Trophy, awarded for the most "meritorious" Air Force flight that demonstrated "gallantry, intrepidity, initiative, resourcefulness, and achievement of outstanding results in combat or non-combat conditions."

   "The crew of Pedro 16 honored our great nation and performed magnificently," Breedlove said. "They distinguished themselves and the U.S. Air Force."

   Captain Robert Rosebrough, First Lieutenant (now Captain) Luke Will, Master Sergeant Dustin Thomas, and Staff Sergeant Tim Philpott accepted the trophy from Lieutenant General Breedlove, who himself is confirmed for appointment to the grade of general with assignment as Vice Chief of Staff at U.S. Air Force Headquarters.

General Philip Breedlove (left) and NAA Chairman Walter Boyne (right) flank the four Pedro 16 crewmembers.

   In accepting the award, Captain Rosebrough said, "It could have been any Air Force crew on that mission and the outcome would have been the same - it is what we are trained to do."

   Dr.  Grubbstr�m presented the FAI Gold Air Medal to Hilton for his contributions to the development of aeronautics by his activities, work, achievements, initiative, and devotion to the cause of aviation. Hilton has been a strong financial and inspirational supporter of aviation progress for more than 60 years, including helping to launch the Barron Hilton Cup, an international contest for long-distance motorless flight.

   "This is the greatest honor I have ever received,"

Hilton said. "I am grateful to my good friends at

Dr. John Grubbstr�m

EADS who have sponsored the competition for the past 15 years."

Jonathan Gaffney (left) and Barron Hilton (center) are shown with Phil Umphres of the Soaring Society of America.

Grubbstr�m also presented the FAI Gold Space Medal to Elon Musk, Founder and CEO of SpaceX, the company that built the first privately-developed rocket to deliver a commercial satellite to Earth orbit. "I hope to take the next step and extend life beyond Earth and become a multi-planetary species," Musk said. "My long-term goal is to transport people to Mars."

Elon Musk

   The prestigious Katharine Wright Award, presented annually to a woman 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, went to Master Sergeant Kimberly L. Muhlecke, USAF.

   Muhlecke is an Air Force Aerospace Physiological Technician and over the past 18 years has become one of the leading experts in the fields of physiology training, human performance training, altitude chamber training, endurance management, and U-2 pressure suit operations.

Muhlecke (center) received her award from Susan Larson, President of the Ninety-Nines (left) and the two are joined here by NAA President Jonathan Gaffney (right).

    Four men received the Wesley L. McDonald Elder Statesman of Aviation Award. Gene Kranz, who served in the U.S. Air Force, worked on many NASA projects, directed the Skylab program, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for leading the team that returned the Apollo 13 crew to Earth, and authored the book, Failure is Not an Option.

   Major General Charles D. Metcalf, USAF (Ret.), who is Director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force also received the award, as did Robert L. Taylor, who served with the U.S. Air Force in World War II and the Korean War and then worked on a long list of civilian and military aircraft. He also founded the Antique Airplane Association.

   The fourth award winner was Barry Valentine, a decorated U.S. Air Force fighter pilot who went on to become a senior government official who made significant policy decisions benefiting the aviation industry and fostered international harmonization.

NAA Chairman Walter Boyne (left) and NAA President Jonathan Gaffney (right) flank Elder Statesman Award recipients (left to right) General Charles Metcalfe, USAF (Ret); Robert Taylor; Barry Valentine; and Gene Kranz.

Sandy Schlitt of the Air Force Association (left) and Lisa L Bacon (center) received their awards from Sheila Bauer (right) of the National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education.

  The Marvin K. Strickler Aerospace Education Awards went to the Air Force Association and Lisa W. Bacon. The Air Force Association has supported and led aerospace education since its founding in 1946 and recently initiated three new important education programs. Bacon is the Program Manager for Pre-College and College Student Conferences at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. She has inspired thousands of students to study math and science by designing and delivering programs such as the World Space Congress.

Remarkable Aviation Flight Records

Recognized at Fall Awards Banquet

   Each year, hundreds of aviation records are recognized by NAA as they are added to the record books; new record claims are publicized each month in the NAA Record newsletter.

   However, a select few are also honored each year at the NAA Fall Awards Banquet for their extraordinary accomplishments.

Rod Skaar, Chairman of the NAA Contest and Records Board, and Art Greenfield, Director of NAA Contest and Records, presented plaques honoring four outstanding record achievements.

Jeremiah Jackson (right) receives the certificate for his record-setting flight from Rod Skaar.

  Jeremiah D. Jackson was honored for his transcontinental speed record of 173.18 mph on a flight from San Diego, CA to Jacksonville, FL and back. "I flew 24 hours in a cockpit the size of a trash can punctuated by moments of sheer terror," Jackson said. "My wife gave me the inspiration to get home safe and the FAA was my guardian angel and guided me home with a good sense of humor." The record was set January 31, 2010 in Van's RV-6A aircraft and set a record in Class C-1.b, Group I (Internal Combustion Aeroplanes, 1,102 < 2,205 lbs.).

Michael Bob Starr, William P. Alcorn, Scott Hall, and Brian C. Owen were honored for a record time of 2 minutes, 26 seconds to climb to 3,000 meters with a 5,000 kg payload. The crew made the climb on May 1, 2010 in a Rockwell International B-1B aircraft at Dyess Air Force Base, TX, and set a record in Class C-1.q, Group III (Jet Aeroplanes, 330,693 < 440,924 lbs.). The crew made the flight in honor of the 25^th anniversary of the B-1. "The record is a testament to the airplane and the General Electric engines more than us," Starr said. "One of them is over Afghanistan right now and has more life left in it."

Rod Skaar (left) presented plaques to the B-1 record-setting crewmembers.

   During the two days leading up to this flight, two other crews also set climbing records in the same aircraft.

   Brian P. Wallace and Michael S. Gerney were recognized for a record time of 3 minutes, 26 seconds to climb to 6,000 meters with a 5,000 kg payload. They made the climb on April 30, 2010 in a Rockwell International B-1B aircraft at Dyess Air Force Base, TX, and set a record in Class C-1.q, Group III (Jet Aeroplanes, 330,693 < 440,924 lbs.).

   Stephen A. Gerken, Paul R. Jones, Justin W. Boldenow, and Matt G. McKinney were honored for a record time of 4 minutes, 47 seconds to climb to 9,000 meters with a 5,000 kg payload. They made the climb on April 29, 2010 in a Rockwell International B-1B aircraft at Dyess Air Force Base, TX, and set a record in Class C-1.q, Group III (Jet Aeroplanes, 330,693 < 440,924 lbs.).