NAA Header
TopNAA Record                                              October 2012

 

 

Aviation Giants to Receive

Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award

   NAA announced that the Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award recipients for 2012 are Keith Ferris, Dick Koenig, Christopher Columbus Kraft Jr., Henry Ogrodzinski, and Dr. Irving Statler. They will be honored at the NAA Fall Awards Banquet on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

Ferris
Keith Ferris

   Ferris, a 52-year veteran of the Society of Illustrators Air Force Art Program, has flown in and participated in missions of almost every jet aircraft type in the Air Force inventory all over the world. He is past president of the American Society of Aviation Artists and is probably best known for paintin

Koenig
Dick Koenig 

g the two 75-foot murals at the National Air and Space Museum on The Mall in Washington, D.C. titled "Fortresses Under Fire."

   Koenig is a proven and respected advocate  of aviation who has made significant contributions to the business and general aviation community for over 40 years. He is currently the publisher of FLYING magazine, which has more than 450,000 subscribers worldwide.

Chris Kraft 

   Kraft is a retired NASA engineer and manager who was instrumental in establishing the agency's Mission Control operation. Assigned to the flight operations division, Kraft became NASA's first flight director. He was on duty during such historic missions as America's first human spaceflight, first human orbital flight, and first spacewalk. He was Director of the Manned Space Flight Center (renamed Johnson Space Center) from 1972 - 1982.  

   Ogrodzinski is President & CEO of the
Ogrodzinski
Henry Ogrodzinski
National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) which he joined in 1996. During his career, Ogrodzinski has served in a number of important positions in aviation to including Co-Chairman of the US Aviation Security Advisory Committee Working Group on General Aviation, Board of Nominations of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, Board and Executive Committee of NAA, and President of the Aero Club of Washington.

   Statler has made outstanding contributions

Statler
Dr. Irving Statler 

to aviation safety through research and innovation in fields that include stability and control, data analysis and monitoring, and human factors. Much of Dr. Statler's 60-year career has been in direct service to his country, including the Army Air Corps during World War II, serving as a Research Scientist for the Army, Director of the NATO Advisory Group for Aerospace R&D, and as a NASA Research Scientist.

   "As the Distinguished Statesman Award is synonymous with lifetime achievement, these individuals together have contributed immensely to five very distinct aspects of the aviation and aerospace industry," said NAA President and CEO Jonathan Gaffney, Chairman of the Selection Committee. "Each has left an indelible mark in their areas of expertise. They have truly enhanced the history of this most important award."

   The Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award was established in 1954 to honor outstanding Americans, who, by their efforts over a period of years, have made contributions of significant value to aeronautics, and have reflected credit upon America and themselves.


Back to Top

Major Award Winners to be Honored at 
November 13 NAA Fall Awards Banquet

   NAA will present several major awards and recognize recent aviation record setters at the annual NAA Fall Awards Banquet, to be held November 13, 2012 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 7:00 p.m. Register to attend online by November 5.

   The following award presentations are scheduled:

  • General Mark Welsh, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force will present the Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious Air Force flight of 2011 to the twenty members of Pedro 83 Flight Crews for the daring rescue of two United States Army pilots downed in enemy-controlled territory east of Bagram, Afghanistan.
  • John and Martha King will receive the Frank G. Brewer Trophy for aviation education.
  • The Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesmen of Aviation Award to Keith Ferris, Dick Koenig, Chris Kraft, Henry Ogrodzinski and Irving Statler.
  • The Katharine Wright Award to USAF Captain Laura Easton.
  • NCASE's Dr. Mervin Strickler Award for Aviation Education Leadership to the Federal Aviation Administration's Aviation and Space Education (STEM-AVSED) Team.
  • World and United States Aviation Record Setters including the University of Maryland Gamera Human Powered Helicopter Team which continues to better their previous records.
  • F�d�ration A�ronautique Internationael (FAI) Awards including the Charles Lindbergh General Aviation Diploma to NBAA President Ed Bolen.

   Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 13; it promises to be a great evening. Register online or contact [email protected] for further information.


Back to Top 

John and Martha King to Receive

2012 Brewer Trophy for Aviation Education

     John and Martha King will receive the prestigious Frank G. Brewer Trophy for Aviation Education "...for their passion and dedication in making aviation knowledge more accessible to pilots worldwide by combiBrewer Trophyning elegant technology with clear, fun teaching featuring course ware that simplifies complex concepts for students."  The Brewer Trophy is presented annually for significant contributions of enduring value to aerospace education in the United States.

     NAA President and CEO Jonathan Gaffney, Chairman of the Selection Committee, said, "We're very proud of accomplishments of Martha and John King and all they have done to support aviation and aerospace education in the United States. They are truly some of the great ambassadors of the excitement and opportunity which exists in our industry."

    John began his aviation career as a child; his dad had an airplane and took John for rides. So began his love of aviation. He soloed in 1960. Then John met Martha at Indiana University in the 1960s, they married and had a business franchise dealing with truck fleets. In 1969, they sold the business and decided to get their pilot's licenses. They moved to California and launched their flying business out of a spare  

Kings
John and Martha in their Dassault Falcon 10

 bedroom in their house. Today King Schools operates out of a dedicated complex in San Diego that includes a television and software production facility.

The Kings currently have their own Dassault Falcon 10, swapping captain and copilot duties on each leg when they fly.  

 

They have flown as pilots in every continent of the world except Antarctica, including a trip completely around the world via the length of Russia.

     John and Martha are the first couple to each hold every category and class of FAA rating on their pilot and instructor certificates. Martha is the first and only woman to achieve this complete ratings sweep. In 2001, Martha was appointed by President Clinton to the First Flight Centennial Advisory Board and received NAA's Henderson Trophy in 2005.

     Both have received many aviation honors and accolades, including Pro Pilot's Aviation Educators of the Year, 100 Distinguished Aviation Heroes, and 100 Most Influential Women In Aviation (Martha).

     Members of the Brewer Trophy Selection Committee were: Frank G. Brewer III, President, Brewer Trophy Aviation Education Association; Rob Brewer; Shelly Simi, Jeppesen; and former Brewer Trophy recipients Dr. Tom Connolly (1995), Debbie Gallaway (2004) and Dr. Peggy Chabrian (2009).

     The award will be presented at the NAA Fall Awards Banquet on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.   

 

Back to Top

At NAA Luncheon, Elon Musk Lays

Out Vision for Colonizing Mars

   For Elon Musk, CEO and Chief Designer for Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), a company he founded, colonizing Mars is not such a far-fetched idea. Certainly the distance is far, but he fully expects to transport people to Mars to begin a colony there within the next 10-15 years.

   At the October NAA Luncheon, Musk spoke about this and other aspects of space exploration and travel that his company is now carrying out. Musk

   The key to colonizing Mars, he said, is developing a reusable rocket that can make roundtrip journeys between Earth and the red planet. On Mars, he envisions tapping the CO2 in the ground and in the polar ice caps to create an atmosphere where people can go outside and breathe using an oxygen mask. Later, as plants are grown to add oxygen to the atmosphere, he foresees a day when people would be able to breathe the atmosphere on Mars.

   Once people are on Mars, he believes it will further drive development of space transportation technology.

   "Years ago people questioned the wisdom of a building a railroad to California because there were no people living in California," he observed. "But now there are many people living in California. It requires a bit of faith" to envision the same result for colonizing Mars.

   He predicted that his company "will be able to safely transport people into orbit in about three years. Right now the Russians make quite a bit of money transporting people, including Americans, to the space station and we could do that."

   Muck added that his company is "looking to do defense launches and classified satellite launches."

   So far, SpaceX has succeeded in developing Falcon 1, the first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit. In 2008, the company won a NASA contract to commercially provide the cargo transport function of the space shuttle, which was retired in 2011.

   In 2010, SpaceX became the first commercial company to successfully recover a spacecraft from Earth orbit with its Dragon spacecraft. In 2012, the Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial vehicle to successfully attach to the International Space Station and return cargo to Earth.

   Musk has a strong track record of making companies succeed. NAA Board member John Langford, President of Aurora Flight Sciences, introduced Musk by calling him "the definition of a serial entrepreneur," noting that he "started at least five companies," including Zip2, PayPal, Tesla Motors, and SolarCity, in addition to SpaceX.

   Musk noted that some of the technology developed at Tesla Motors can be adapted for SpaceX rockets and vice versa, making for a good synergy between the companies. "The aerospace industry is good at mass optimization and the auto industry good at building complex vehicles," he said.

Back to Top

President's Message
Where In The World Is...

   GaffneyIn carrying out the NAA mission to represent and work with all sectors of the aviation and aerospace industry, Art Greenfield, NAA's Director of Contest and Records, and I frequently travel to all parts of the United States (and even around the globe) to attend air sport competitions, aero club events, awards and records presentations, and more. The goal is pretty simple: To demonstrate our support for all those who support NAA and the aviation industry.

During just the past two months, Art and I traveled to the events listed below. On each trip, we were delighted to connect with many people who are passionate about aviation and represent all that is great about our industry. We always learn a lot in the process.

   Every future edition of the newsletter will include a map of our trips, and maybe we will have seen you on one of our trips. As the National Aeronautic Association serves as the "Aero Club of the United States," we believe it is important to make these visits.

 

NAA TRAVEL LOG AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2012 

  Presidents Map

 

Aero Club of Atlanta

August 9

Atlanta, Georgia

 

FAI World Gliding Championships

August 12-15

Uvlade, Texas

 

Visit of FAI President John Grubbstrom to the Academy of Model Aeronautics

August 16-17

Muncie, Indiana

 

FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship

August 20-23

Battle Creek, Michigan

 

FAI World Rally Flying Championship

September 2-9

Castell�n, Spain

 

Wichita Aero Club and Cessna Visit

September 26-27

Wichita Kansas

 

Jonathan Gaffney

  NAA President and CEO

 


Back to Top
Air Sport Organization News

 

USPA Urges FAA to Withdraw Landing Area Proposal

   In comments filed August 27, 2012 with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the United States Parachute Association (USPA) urged the agency to withdraw its proposed standard for parachute landing areas (PLAs) for airports that have received federal grants.

   With 20 pages of comments supported by 32 pages of attachments, USPA showed that the FAA proposal is not supported by any history of incidents or accidents; that the proposal will not allow new PLAs to be established safely and efficiently, as the agency claims; and that the retroactive application of the PLA standard to current skydiving businesses will be economically harmful and may even decrease the current level of safety at some airports.

   "There is no safety justification for the FAA's proposed standard," said USPA Executive Director Ed Scott, "and it's clear that the FAA has not fully considered the economic harm that will occur to skydiving businesses. Nor have they considered the unintended safety consequences of their proposal."

 

Aero Club News

Aircraft Leasing Pioneer Steven Udvar-H�zy to Receive Howard Hughes Memorial Award from ACSC

   The Aero Club of Southern California (ACSC) will honor Steven F. Udvar-H�zy, Chairman and CEO of Air Lease Corporation, with its 2012 Howard Hughes Memorial Award. The award is presented annually to an aerospace leader whose accomplishments over a long career have contributed significantly to the advancement of aviation or space technology. It will be presented at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles on February 13, 2013.

Udvar-Hazy    Udvar-H�zy is the 34th recipient of the award. Previous honorees include Jack Northrop, Jimmy Doolittle, Neil Armstrong, Chuck Yeager, Fred Smith and Bob Six. He will receive a medallion made from silver from the Hughes mines in Nevada. A commemorative sculpture bearing the names of award recipients is on permanent display at the Flight Path Museum at Los Angeles International Airport.

   Udvar-Hazy co-founded the aircraft leasing business that became International Air Finance Corporation (IAFC) in 1973. As Chairman and CEO, he led IAFC from its inception, through its initial public offering in 1983 and subsequent sale to American International Group for $1.3 billion in 1990, and ultimately to become the largest aircraft leasing company (by fleet value) in the world, with a fleet of over 1,000 jet aircraft as of December 31, 2009.

   In February, 2010 he formed Air Lease Corporation (ALC), which has been the fastest-growing commercial aircraft lessor since its founding. ALC has nearly 300 new jet airliners on order from Airbus and Boeing. Udvar-Hazy is an airline transport pilot with type ratings on multiple jet aircraft and has over 30 years of experience flying jets.

   The awards banquet is open to the public. For more information call 310-331-1551 or visit www.aeroclubsocal.org.

 

Air Show Star Julie Clark to Receive

Crystal Eagle Award from ACNC

   Air show star Julie Clark will become the 30th recipient this fall of the prestigious Crystal Eagle Award, presented annually by the Aero Club of Northern California (ACNC) to honor people whose achievements are among the highest in aviation and aerospace endeavors.

   ACNC will hold the awards dinner November 9, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, California.

   Clark has flown in air shows since 1980 when she formed American Aerobatics. At the controls of her Beechcraft T-34A Mentor, a much-modified Air Force trainer from the 1950s, she flies a patriotic presentation, "Serenade in Red, White and Blue,'' which is choreographed to Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA.''

   A pilot for more than 40 years, she is a retired Northwest Airlines captain who is rated in 66 types of aircraft. In 33 years of solo aerobatic air show flying, as well as at the controls of an airliner, she has logged more than 31,000 hours accident-free.

 

Atlanta Aero Club Features Scott Ernest

And Larry Flynn as Luncheon Speakers

   The Atlanta Aero Club (AAC) August luncheon featured guest speaker Scott Ernest, President and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Corporation. More than 160 members and guests attended the event at the Capitol City Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

AAC Luncheon
Scott Ernest, President of Cessna (R) with Dustin Cordier  (L) and Troy Wheeler (C).
The AAC will also host a November 29 luncheon with guest speaker Larry Flynn, President of Gulfstream Aerospace. Fl
Flynn2
Larry Flynn
ynn was named president of Gulfstream in 2011. He also serves as a vice president of General Dynamics Corp., Gulfstream's parent company. 

   He was previously the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Gulfstream Aerospace. He was responsible for worldwide sales of the company's business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream was awarded the 2011 AAC Epps Award for outstanding Aviation Achievement in the state of Georgia.

   For more information and to register, visit www.atlantaaeroclub.org.

 

ACONE to Host Reese Dill Lectureship

   The Aero Club of New England (ACONE) will host the first annual Reese Dill Aviation Aviation Safety Lectureship on November 14, 2012 at the historic Constitution Museum in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Patty Wagstaff, champion aerobatic pilot, will be the featured speaker at the celebration. Wagstaff has received many awards and is the winner of three U.S. National Aerobatic Championships.

   The Reese Dill Safety Lectureship Series has been initiated in memory of Reese Dill, past President of ACONE and an aerobatic pilot, who died flying his T-6 Texan in 2010. For more information, contact Dan Schrager at 781-274-0303.

    

NAA Logo

In This Issue
Distinguished Statesman Awards
NAA Fall Awards Banquet
Brewer Trophy Winners
Elon Musk Luncheon Remarks
NAA President's Message
Air Sport News
Aero Club News
Upcoming Events
Call for Nominations
Featured Member Orgs
Records Claimed
Air Sports Link
NAA Credit Card


Upcoming Events
Fall Awards Banquet

Tuesday,

November 13, 2012

Awarding of the Mackay Trophy, Distinguished Statesman Awards, The Brewer Trophy and more

Click here to register

 

December Luncheon

Tuesday,

December 11, 2012

Featuring:  

David Hess,

AIA Chairman & Pratt & Whitney President on the 

Effects of Sequestration.

 Click here to register

 

Call for Nominations

The Stinson Award

Nominations Close 11/30/12

Awarded in recognize a living woman for an outstanding and enduring contribution, a meritorious flight, or a singular technical development in the field of aviation, aeronautics, space or related sciences.

Click here for details and nomination guidelines


Featured 
NAA member
organizations:
___________________ 
DRS Technologies   

GE Aviation   

AOPA  

A4A

AIAA  



Records Claimed
August 1 - 31, 2012     

FAI Smaller   


Aeroplanes

 

Speed Over a Recognized Course

St. Louis, MO to Burlington, IA: 90 mph

Paul S. Pillar

Class C-1.b, Group I (Internal Combustion)

Cessna 172

1 Lycoming O-320

8/5/2012

 

Speed Over a Commercial Airline Route

San Francisco, CA to Hong Kong, China: 562 mph

Eric L. Hendrickson & Trond H. Einemo

Class C-1

United Airlines Boeing 747-400

4 Pratt & Whitney PW4056

8/18/2012

 

Human-Powered Aircraft

 

Duration: 1 min 5 sec

Colin Gore

Class IE, Rotorcraft, General

University of Maryland Gamera II

Landover, MD

8/28/2012

 

Parachutes

 

Largest Head-down Formation: 138 parachutists

Class G-2, Performance, General

Ottawa, IL

8/3/2012

 

Except where noted by an asterisk (*), information is preliminary and subject to approval.

 

 

 

 

Featured
Air Sport
Organization

USUA logo  
NAA Credit Card

Apply now for an NAA Rewards Visa� Card.  With every new account opened and every purchase made, a contribution will be made to NAA - at no additional cost to you!  Support NAA and earn Rewards points towards cash back, air travel, merchandise, and more - all with no annual fee and a low annual percentage rate!

Apply Now
Back to Top