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Burt Rutan Honored with 2015 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy
Burt Rutan, recipient of the
2015 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy

Burt Rutan has been selected as the recipient of the 2015 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."
 
Rutan is a world-renown aerospace engineer noted for his originality in designing light, strong, and energy-efficient aircraft.  He designed the record-breaking Voyager, which was the first plane to fly around the world without stopping or refueling, and the sub-orbital spaceplane Spaceship One, which became the first privately funded spacecraft to enter the realm of space twice within a two-week period.  Rutan also has five aircraft on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

To read the official press release by Jim Albaugh, Chairman of NAA, please click here.

Rutan will be presented the trophy at the Aero Club of Washington's Wright Memorial Dinner on Friday, December 11, 2015.  For more information about the award or to view a list of past recipients, please visit www.naa.aero.  For information regarding the Wright Memorial Dinner, please visit www.aeroclub.org. 

United States Air Force Crew of Ironhand 41 Flight to Receive 2014 Mackay Trophy

Captain Gregory R. Balzhiser, USAF, and Captain David A. Kroontje, USAF, the aircrew of  the Pacific Air Forces' Ironhand 41 Flight, have been named the recipients of the 2014 Mackay Trophy.
 
Administered since 1912 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 Air Force nomination, in early August 2014, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) overran several Iraqi towns, home to the ethnic minority Yazidis.  Over the next several days, ISIL forces began mass executing Yazidi civilians causing over 40,000 Yazidi civilians to flee north to the elevated terrain of Mount Sinjar with only the supplies in which they could carry.  Faced with 120-degree temperatures and no respite, the US provided humanitarian airdrops of food and water, but the Yazidis remained trapped by ISIL blockades and were subject to constant gunfire by entrenched ISIL fighters.
 
Capt Balzhiser and Capt Kroontje, flying F-16Cs, orchestrated four flawless attacks during an eight hour night, flying 500 miles over enemy-controlled terrain.  Their attacks destroyed three ISIL blockades, multiple armored vehicles, one observation post, and killed ISIL fighters who were attacking Yazidi civilians on the mountain.
 
Their outstanding battle management caused the cessation of ISIL indirect fires on civilians, ended ISIL freedom of movement around Mount Sinjar, facilitated the evacuation corridor by reducing pressure on Peshmerga ground forces, and ultimately saved the lives of 40,000 civilians including women, children, elderly, and the infirm.
 
Capt Balzhiser and Capt Kroontje's dedication to duty, professionalism, bravery, courage, and airmanship displayed during the Ironhand 41 Flight reflects great credit upon themselves and the United States Air Force.

To read the official press release, please click here.
 
The Mackay Trophy will be presented at the NAA Fall Awards Ceremony on December 3, 2015 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.
  
MacKay
The Mackay Trophy

NAA Names 2015 Distinguished Statesmen of Aviation

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2015 Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award: 

Harold "Buck" Adams
Bill Boisture
Patrick Epps
Ken Gazzola
Allan McArtor
Jay Pardee
 
The Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award was established in 1954 by the Board of Directors of the National Aeronautic Association.  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."

To read the official press release, please click here.

The Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Awards will be presented at NAA's Fall Awards Ceremony on December 3rd in Arlington, Virginia.

Two Eagles Balloon Flight to Receive 2015 Harmon Trophy

Troy Bradley and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of the Two Eagles Balloon Flight, have been selected as the recipients of the 2015 Harmon Trophy.  The trophy was established in 1926 by Colonel Clifford B. Harmon and is to be awarded annually for "... the most outstanding international achievement in the art and/or science of aeronautics (ballooning)..."
 
Bradley and Tiukhtyaev are being recognized for "... the World Record distance and duration flight of the Two Eagles gas balloon across the Pacific Ocean from Saga, Japan to Baja California, Mexico."
 
On the morning of January 24, 2015, the Two Eagles gas balloon lifted off from Saga, Japan and flew for 160 hours, covering more than 10,700 km (6,600 statute miles), landing just off the coast of Baja California, Mexico on the morning of January 31, 2015. 
 
These achievements have been certified as U.S. National Records by the NAA and as World Records by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.  The Two Eagles surpassed the previous duration record of 137 hours set by the Double Eagle II flight in 1978 and the distance record of 5,200 miles set by the Double Eagle V in 1981.

To read the official press release, please click here.

The Harmon Trophy will be presented on a date and location to be determined.

Troy Bradley (left) and Leonid Tiukhtyaev (right) of the Two Eagles Balloon Flight

Patricia Pearce Named 2015 Katharine Wright Trophy Recipient
2015 Katharine Wright Trophy Recipient, Patricia Pearce

Patricia Pearce, Deputy Chief of the High Speed Systems Division at the Air Force Research Laboratory, has been selected as the recipient of the 2015 Katharine Wright Trophy.  The trophy was established in 1981 and is awarded 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."
 
Ms. Pearce is being recognized for "...dedicating over 28 years to advancing the state of the art in hypersonic propulsion systems and aerospace system fueling technology in addition to serving as a mentor for female engineers and students pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) ."

To read the official press release, please click here.

The Katharine Wright Trophy will be presented at the NAA Fall Awards Ceremony on December 3rd 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 2015 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.

The 2015 recipients are:

Distinguished Volunteer Pilot:
Steven Danz, Angel Flight West
Jane Nicolai, LightHawk

Distinguished Volunteer:
Richard Cohen, Angel Flight East

To read the official press release, please click here.

The Public Benefit Flying Awards will be presented at the NAA Fall Awards Ceremony on December 3rd in Arlington, Virginia.

 

Americans Honored with 2015 FAI Awards
FAI

The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) has awarded Paul Tissandier Diplomas to Randall Greene, Richard Hanson, and Mark Van Tine, and an FAI Group Diploma of Honor to the Aero Club of America, North Carolina Chapter.
 
The Paul Tissandier Diploma was established by the FAI in 1952 and is named after Mr. Paul Tissandier, Secretary General of FAI from 1919 to 1945. The diploma is awarded to those who have served the cause of Aviation and Sporting Aviation, by their work, initiative, and devotion or in other ways.

Established by FAI in 1965, the FAI Group Diploma of Honor recognizes groups of people that have contributed significantly to the progress of Aeronautics and Astronautics during the previous year or years.

To read the official press release, please click here.

The Paul Tissandier Diplomas will be awarded to Mr. Greene, Mr. Hanson, and Mr. Van Tine on a date and location to be determined.  The FAI Group Diploma of Honor will be awarded to the Aero Club of America, North Carolina Chapter at NAA's Fall Award Ceremony on December 3, 2015 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.
NAA 2015 Luncheon Series
 
November Luncheon
 
Lt. General Jon M. Davis, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, United States Marine Corps
 
November 9, 2015
Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

With guest speaker, Lt. General Jon M. Davis, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, United States Marine Corps

To register, please click here.

NAA gratefully acknowledges the support of our 
2015 Luncheon Sponsors:  
Aerojet Rocketdyne, Boeing, GE Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rolls-Royce North America, UTC/Pratt & Whitney, 
Aurora Flight Sciences, and The Ringo Group
Air Sport Organization News
 
PITTS 70th Anniversary Celebration
Success at Air Venture
 
A grand celebration the 70th Anniversary of the Pitts first test flight was held in July at Air Venture, Oshkosh, WI, USA by the International Aerobatic Club (IAC).  The excitement could be felt at the beginning of the week as the first of over 70 Pitts aircraft began arriving from around the United States and Canada. 

There were many highlights of the week-long celebration, but one of the high points was the arrival and display of the precise replica of Pitts N86401, which was the second Pitts that Curtis built and later was purchased by Betty Skelton with a new paint scheme later in life and its registration changed to N22E.

That plane now hangs in the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. The builder, Peter Gauthier, brought the project from California for the event - a journey of 2,178 miles (3,505km) by truck.

The IAC Pavilion housed a special Pitts 70th Anniversary Exhibit, which featured 16 vertical panels hanging from the ceiling in the main room of the pavilion, along with dozens of photographs that document the history of the Pitts and the pilots who flew them to fame and honor.  A stream of hundreds of people were attracted to the exhibit and the newly renovated IAC Pavilion.

A wide variety of forums were offered throughout the week which were oriented toward the celebrated Pitts aircraft. Standing room only crowds were treated to a seminar by Budd Davisson, one of the foremost instructors and experts on landing the Pitts. Don Taylor, IAC Hall of Fame recipient, spoke on the Pitts Aircraft and its effect on Aerobatics in the National and International arenas.  Kevin Kimball of Jim Kimball Enterprises and the builder of the Pitts Model 12 spoke about the plane and its history. Curtis designed and flew the plane in the mid 1990's, soon afterwards Jim Kimball Enterprises acquired rights to the plane.  They have been improving and maintaining the unmistakable "Pitts "look and excellent flying qualities ever since. In total 20 forums were presented.

During the Air Venture Air Show, Sammy Mason flew his family's restored Pitts S-1S to honor the 70th Anniversary.  At 16, Mason was the youngest air show pilot in the world doing aerobatics in a motor glider. Now 21 and a member of the U.S. Advanced Aerobatic Team, he started flying lesson at 12. Both his parents are pilots, his uncles and aunts fly as well. Named after his grandfather, who was a civilian trainer in World War II, Sammy has flown 50 types of aircraft and logged more than 2,000 hours in the air.

Some noteworthy aircraft that graced the lawn around the IAC Pavilion during the week were:

  • Pitts S-1C N125RA owned by Robert Armstrong. This aircraft began its competition career in 1981. Robert later flew the airplane in Unlimited competition, qualified for the U.S. Team and flew it at the World Aerobatic Championships in Le Havre, France in 1992.
  • Pitts S-1S N169CM owned by Gregory Baker. This aircraft was one that Debby Rihn-Harvey flew in the World Aerobatic Championships in the 1980's.
  • Pitts S-2AM N8028 Owned by Dan McGarry. Dan is one of the original IAC members (IAC 30) since the 1970s. N8028 started life as a stock S-2A but has been extensively modified over the years for more performance, including a turbocharged engine. Dan flew it in the Advanced category for decades.
  • Pitts S-2A N80003 Owned by Charlie Sikes. This S-2A is the airplane in which the famous air show pilot Jim Holland performed in the 1970s. It is also the airplane actor William Shatner flew with Jim on a sports TV program. 
  • Pitts S-1-11B N111PU Owned by Sean Worthington. One of only about 10 Pitts S-1-11Bs in existence and one of the last aircraft Curtis designed, this model of the Pitts was flown at the World Aerobatic Championships in 1996 by Robert Armstrong. 

PITT's Pilots at Air Venture 2015

American Rob Holland Wins Gold at WAC2015
Rob Holland

United States National Aerobatic Champion and US Team pilot Rob Holland won the Gold in the "Final Freestyle" at the World Championships -- the Four Minute Free as it is known in the USA. Fourteen pilots flew in this final program of the 28th FAI World Aerobatic Championships (WAC) on August 29th prior to the huge airshow that was staged at the Chateauroux, France airfield which served as home for the WAC from August 20th through August 29th.

This was Holland's third consecutive victory in this program, scoring almost 300 points ahead of the second place pilot, Martin Sonka of the Czech Republic.  Never before has a pilot achieved three victories in a row in this program. Holland flew his MXS in the competition after shipping it via cargo aircraft to Europe earlier in the month.

"Rob is such a master of that flight that he just smokes everybody," said International Aerobatic Club President Mike Heuer. The judge's scores reflected their appreciation of Rob's flight sequence, which was highlighted with his creative ability to balance his performance with a variety of high energy maneuvers enhanced with smoke and the charging tune from Pirates of the Caribbean. "It's just wide open," Heuer said. "He can do anything he wants in the [aerobatic] box."

Winner of four consecutive US National Aerobatic Championships, a run accomplished by only two other pilots in history, Rob is also a well-known, innovative and respected air show pilot. In 2012, the International Council of Airshows (ICAS) honored Rob with the prestigious Art Scholl Award for Showmanship, the highest honor any airshow pilot can receive.

A pilot since 1992, Rob has accumulated more than 11,000 hours flight time in more than 170 different types of aircraft. He spends his time through competition and air shows inspiring people to pursue their dreams with the same focus and dedication that has propelled him to realize his own dreams and goals.


U.S. Team Triumphs at Canopy Piloting World Cup
  
Left to right: U.S. Parachute Team medalists Nicholas Batsch, Greg Windmiller, Justin Price, and Curt Bartholomew at the 2015 World Cup of Canopy Piloting.
The U.S. Canopy Piloting Team won big at the 8th Fédération Aéronautique Internationale World Cup of Canopy Piloting at Nouvel Air Skydiving Center in Farnham, Canada, in late August. The 12-person team earned seven of the top 10 overall places and eight of the 12 total medals awarded among the international field of 77 canopy pilots. USA's Nicholas Batsch earned the title of overall World Cup Champion, ahead of Spain's Pablo Hernandez and USA's Curt Bartholomew. Also from the U.S., Greg Windmiller and Justin Price placed fourth and fifth overall.

In canopy piloting, often called "swooping," skydivers fly high-performance parachutes that can generate high vertical and horizontal speeds. By performing speed-inducing maneuvers, these very experienced skydivers can glide inches above the ground for hundreds of yards at speeds approaching 90 mph. The canopy piloting championships include competitions in speed, in which pilots try to fly as quickly as possible through a course; distance, which involves flying as far as possible across the ground; and zone accuracy, in which canopy pilots must stop on an exact spot for maximum points.

In the speed event, the U.S. Team swept the first four places: Batsch in first, Price second, Windmiller third and Ian Bobo fourth. In the distance event, Cornelia Mihai from the United Arab Emirates became the first woman to win an FAI first-category canopy piloting event. Batsch took silver and Windmiller bronze. Bartholomew took the gold in the zone accuracy event. Price finished fourth and Batsch placed fifth.

The U.S. Parachute Association (USPA) selected the U.S. Team from the top finishers at the 2015 USPA National Championships of Canopy Piloting this past June in Raeford, North Carolina.

 
New AMA Webcast -"Air" Premiered
October 1st

The Academy of Model Aeronautics launched its first webcast series "Air" on October 1, 2015. The monthly airing will highlight the month's biggest aeromodeling news, features, and events through a 15 minute video webcast. The general tone of the show is conversational and will open with the top trending stories then lead into a prepackaged field story.  The show continues with an interview and closes by celebrating one of the many great accomplishments recently achieved by a club or modeler.   Episodes will be released on the first of each month. Viewers can learn more about the show and how to subscribe by clicking here.
 
AMA Foundation Launches "Foundation for the Future Sweepstakes - California Dream Flight"

 
Starting October 12, 2015 the AMA Foundation will begin accepting entries for its "Foundation for the Future Sweepstakes-California Dream Flight." There is no cost to enter the sweepstakes, which includes a grand prize of a trip to AMA Expo January 8-10, 2016 and a ride in Lady Alice, a P-51 Mustang. The grand prize package includes airfare for two, lodging for two, rental car, and a food and fuel stipend. 

The AMA Foundation was established to support the benevolent programs managed by the Academy of Model Aeronautics. As it continues to grow the AMA Foundation will provide funding for AMA's current and future programs related to preserving the past, building the future, and continuing to protect model flying activities. Donations will be accepted, but will not improve a participant's chances of winning the sweepstakes. 
 
AMA Launches UAS Competitive Education Program

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has launched a new program to encourage teamwork, competition, and success through a STEM-based education platform. The new UAS4STEM program will provide student teams of four to eight people with training, insurance, licensing, and equipment to compete in search-and-rescue challenges. Kits for the program will be available in the fall of 2015. For more information about the program. please click here.

 
AMA President Updates Modeling Community on Media Outreach Regarding Safe Operations

With the increase in the number of "irresponsible use of drones by hobbyists" stories and, most recently, the FAA's data on "drone sightings near airplanes" released by the media, AMA has become very concerned and has been working on several fronts to work with the media to discuss AMA's safety policies and long history of success.

AMA is currently working on an analysis of the FAA's data that will determine the credibility of this information and what role AMA could help play to advance safe and responsible flying. The finalized report will be shared with the public and all AMA members.

AMA has continued its push for safety by all pilots, specifically with the Know Before You Fly campaign. AMA spearheaded the launch of this campaign last year with the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), and continues to help sign on new supporters of the campaign each week. Many of these supporters have enabled AMA to place Know Before You Fly brochures inside the boxes of model aircraft and unmanned systems sent to consumers. A short summary of the media success AMA has had the past few months including news stories, OP-ED columns, and published letters to the editor are also included in the media report found by clicking here.


 
New Powered Parachute Pilot Training Textbook Takes New Approach

Powered parachutes became a recognized category of aircraft by the FAA in 2004. Since that time, no writer or publisher has taken on the task of writing a complete textbook that covers all aspects of powered parachute flight. That changed recently with the introduction of Roy's Powered Parachute Book.

Roy Beisswenger, author of the book, is a 22-year veteran of powered parachute instruction and became the first sport pilot, certified flight instructor, and FAA designated pilot examiner (DPE) for powered parachutes when the FAA began transitioning pilots to the sport pilot program in 2005. Since then he has continued to instruct and offer check rides to aspiring powered parachute pilots.

The large-format, 472 page book is organized into twenty-six chapters and two appendices. It contains a lot of never-seen-before content, particularly on powered parachute aerodynamics. For more information about Roy's Powered Parachute Book, please click here. 
 
30th Anniversary of Larry Tudor's FAI World Record

On August 4, 1985, Larry Tudor launched his hang glider from Horseshoe Meadows in the Owens Valley (near Bishop, California). What was most remarkable at the time was not his flight of 8 hours and 15 minutes or landing almost 200 miles away just short of his goal of Gabbs, Nevada but, during the flight he set the FAI "Gain in Height" World Record, gaining 4,343 meters (14,250 feet). This exceeded the then-current world record (set in 1981) by 3%.

Tudor's World Record still stands today, 30 years later. For more on this record-breaking flight and the hang gliding "sky god" who made it, read the full story here.
 
Free Flight Film Festival & Sweepstakes

US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association Chapters around the country are hosting the first-ever USHPA Free Flight Film Festival. This wonderful assortment of films showcases hang gliding, paragliding, and mini-wing flying combined with stories that will appeal to all audiences. The imagery is of professional quality, including footage from a Cineflex camera stabilization system mounted to a helicopter. But what is most compelling are the stories: pilots working on projects with communities in Nepal, flying and camping over vast mountain ranges, and the journey of one woman learning to hang glide. For a list of upcoming showings, click here.

In additional to the Film Festival, there is also a Sweepstakes with prizes including a new paraglider, harness, or flight instrument. After viewing five amazing films, prospective and current pilots can win gear to take them on their own journey skyward. For more information, click here.
 
2016 Soaring Society of America Convention

February 18-20, 2016, Greenville, SC. 

See the latest sailplanes on the market, as well as instruments, trailers and more. Also, enjoy three tracks of quality speakers each day. 

For more information, click here.

Aero Club News
 
Alan Eustace to Receive Aero Club of Northern California's 2015 Crystal Eagle Award
Alan Eustace, Recipient of the 2015 Crystal Eagle Award
Alan Eustace, who set the world record for the highest-altitude free fall jump, is the 2015 recipient of the Crystal Eagle Award presented by the Aero Club of Northern California (ACNC).

Eustace worked with Paragon Space Development Corporation for three years to create the self-contained pressure suit and life-support system he wore while setting the record. On October 24, 2014, he began his balloon-powered ascent from Roswell, NM, reaching 135,889 feet, before his free fall to Earth, which lasted 15 minutes and reached a speed of more than 821 miles per hour. Eustace, who recently retired as a vice president of Google, is a pilot and flies a Citation jet and an AirCam on floats.

The Crystal Eagle is awarded annually to "an individual(s) whose lifetime achievements have significantly contributed to the advancement of aviation or aerospace technology." Eustace joins a list of aviation legends who've received the award, including Jimmy Doolittle, Chuck Yeager, Burt Rutan, and Steve Fossett.

"We had a number of nominations for the award, which reflects the strength and depth of contributions being made today by many people in the aviation and aerospace world," said Max Trescott, president of the Aero Club of Northern California. "Alan's innovative approach to setting his world record stood out, and we congratulate him on the winning the award."

The award will be formally presented at the annual Crystal Eagle Dinner on November 14, 2015 at the Hiller Aviation Museum at the San Carlos Airport in San Carlos, CA. For ticket information or to view a complete list of previous recipients of the Crystal Eagle, please click here.

Andre Borschberg Meets with Aero Club of Northern California
 
Alan Eustace (left) and Andre Borschber (right).
Solar Impulse 2 pilot Andre Borschberg met with ACNC board members and invited guests on September 7th at Palo Alto Airport for a briefing about his record-setting solo flight from Japan to Hawaii in the solar-powered aircraft. It took Borschberg 118 hours -- five days -- to make the 4,480-mile flight across the Pacific. Borschberg is one of two pilots alternating on the legs of what is planned to be a round-the-world odyssey. Among the guests was Alan Eustace, who last year set the world record for the highest-altitude free fall jump with a 15-minute descent from 135,889 feet. Eustace will be the 2015 recipient of the ACNC's Crystal Eagle Award.

Aero Club of Northern California Members Tour NASA Ames Research Center
 
Aero Club of Northern California Members touring NASA Ames Research Center
Aero Club of Northern California members toured the UA Army/NASA facility at NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field in Mountain View, CA, on August 19th. On the nearly three-hour tour they were  briefed on the NASA Blackhawk and Rotocraft program and had the opportunity to enter the center's huge 80- by 120-foot wind tunnel. 

Pat Groves Receives Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
 
Aero Club of Northern California member Pat Groves recently received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, which recognizes pilots who have maintained safe flight operations for 50 or more years. To date there are fewer than 3,300 pilots who have ever achieved this recognition. A couple of notable honorees are Bob Hoover and Clay Lacy. 

Pat has had a varied career, initially in the tech sector, transitioning to professional pilot at age 49. At that time, he started teaching at San Jose State's Aviation Department, eventually being elected department chair. Today, Pat is an active professional pilot flying for a select group of clients through his company Groves Pilot Service. Along with his wife Kathy, he flies a variety of aircraft for clients including Citations and Hawkers and owns a Beechcraft Baron and a Diamond Star.

Aero Club of Northern California member Pat Groves

Apollo Astronaut Jim Lovell to Receive the Aero Club of Southern California's 2015 Howard Hughes Memorial Award

James A, Lovell, Jr. has been selected by the Aero Club of Southern California to receive the 2015 Howard Hughes Memorial Award. Established in 1978 by the Hughes family, the Award is presented annually to an aerospace leader whose accomplishments have contributed significantly to the advancement of aviation or space technology.

Lovell will receive his Award at a banquet at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles, on Wednesday, February 10, 2016.

Previous recipients of the award include Chuck Yeager, Barry Goldwater Sr., Neil Armstrong, Burt Rutan, James Albaugh, Bob Hoover, Steven Udvar-Hazy, and Elon Musk.

Lovell is a former NASA astronaut and a retired Captain in the United States Navy, most famous as the Commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which suffered a critical failure en route to the Moon but was brought back safely to Earth by the efforts of the crew and mission control. Lovell was also the command module pilot of Apollo 8, the first Apollo mission to enter lunar orbit.

He is a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon, the first of only three people to fly to the Moon twice, and the only one to have flown there twice without making a landing. He was also the first person to fly in space four times.

In the Navy, Lovell specialized in all-weather aircraft carrier night flying and served as program manager for the F-4H Phantom fighter. In 1962 NASA selected him to serve in the second group of astronauts for the Gemini program.

The Aero Club is a 501 (3) (c) tax-exempt charity, with proceeds going toward the Club's scholarship programs. To order tables, tickets or advertisements in the souvenir program, please click here.

The media contact is Nissen Davis at avroy@aol.com, tel. 310-729-6510.
 
Atlanta Aero Club Highlights
 
The Atlanta Aero Club's June Meeting featured a Panel Discussion on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, with the speakers each receiving the "Atlanta Aero Club Speakers Freedom Eagle Award".  

From left to right: Captain John D. Lambert, US Navy, Retired - Nexutech; Will Wheeler, UAS Operator, Phoenix Air Unmanned; Steve Champness, Atlanta Aero Club President; Paul Ferguson, CNN; and Captain Michael K. Wilson, US Navy, Retired - Federal Aviation Administration. 


At the August meeting, Steve Champness, President of the Atlanta Aero Club presented the "Atlanta Aero Club Speakers Freedom Eagle Award" to Steven Brown, Chief Operating Officer for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

Steve Champness, President of Atlanta Aero Club (left) and Steven Brown, COO of NBAA (right).

Join the Atlanta Aero Club for the October 22nd luncheon with honored guest speaker, Jack R. Crisler, VP, F-35 Business Development and Strategic Integration with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. In this position, he serves as the primary Aeronautics interface, senior company advisor and advocate for all F-35 Domestic and International Business Development matters. He ensures key long-term customer relationships are developed and maintained, while developing and implementing long-range plans for the F-35. He is also responsible for supporting communications strategy, international industrial strategy, teaming agreements, international sustainment strategy, and block development.

For more information on the AAC please click here.

 

Fall 2015

 

In This Issue
Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy
Mackay Trophy
Distinguished Statesman of Aviation
Harmon Trophy
Katharine Wright Trophy
Public Benefit Flying Awards
FAI Awards
NAA 2015 Luncheon Series
Air Sport News
Aero Club News
Call for Nominations
Records Claimed
Upcoming Events 

 

Monday, Nov 9, 2015

 

With Guest Speaker General Davis, USMC

 

Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington

 


Fall Awards Dinner

 

Thursday, Dec 3, 2015

 

With General Welsh, Chief of Staff, USAF

 

Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington

 

 

Wright Memorial Dinner

 

Friday, Dec 11, 2015

 

Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington DC

Call for Nominations

 

Nomination Period Closes November 30

 

New NAA Corporate Members



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
June 1, 2015 to
August 31, 2015
FAI Smaller   

Aeromodels 
 
Distance in a Straight Line #156:  142 mi
John Ellias
Class F3B, Radio Controlled Glider
Pioche, NV
8/9/2015
 
Duration #25a: 
22 min 50 sec
Yuan Kang Lee
Class F1D, Indoor Extensible Motor
Dunwoody, GA
8/15/2015


Aeroplanes

Speed Over a Recognized Course:
 
Paris, France to Washington, DC:  
491.43 mph*
Eric S. Parker & 
Mark S. Assaid
Class C-1.m, Group III (Jet)
Gulfstream G650ER
2 Rolls-Royce BR725
6/1/2015
 
Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland to Reykjavik, Iceland:  348.85 mph*
Judith A. Rice
Class C-1.e, Group III (Jet)
Cessna 510 Citation Mustang
2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F-A
6/15/2015
 
Mojave, CA to Reno, NV:  252 mph
Elliot D. Seguin
Class C-1.c, Group I (Internal Combustion)
homebuilt GT400
1 Continental IO-520
6/16/2015
 
Mojave, CA to Reno, NV:  206 mph
Justin Gillen
Class C-1.b, Group I (Internal Combustion)
Team Tango RAI-1
1 Continental IO-520
6/16/2015
 
London, UK to New York, NY:  300 mph
Travis P. Holland & Bradley Amoils
Class C-1.e, Group III (Jet)
Embraer Phenom 100
2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F-E
7/7/2015
 
Ontario, CA to 
Portland, ME:  195 mph
Damon G. Meyer
Class C-1.b, Group I (Internal Combustion)
COZY
1 Lycoming O-320
7/13/2015
 
Sioux City, IA to 
Oshkosh, WI:  183 mph
Bruce J. Mayes
Class C-1.c, Group I (Internal Combustion)
Meyers 200B
1 Continental IO-550
7/15/2015
 
Bridgeport, CT to 
Oshkosh, WI:  133 mph
John E. Shavinsky & Daniel M. Wilson
Class C-1.c, Group I (Internal Combustion)
Piper PA-32R-301T
1 Lycoming TIO-540
7/22/2015
 
Oshkosh, WI to 
Bridgeport, CT:  201 mph
John E. Shavinsky & Daniel M. Wilson
Class C-1.c, Group I (Internal Combustion)
Piper PA-32R-301T
1 Lycoming TIO-540
7/25/2015
 

Gliders 
 
Speed Over a Triangular Course of 300 km:  98 mph
Alan M. Polinsky
Class DO, Open Class, General
Schleicher ASH 31 Mi
Ely, NV
6/13/2015
  
Speed Over a Triangular Course of 500 km: 101 mph
Alan M. Polinsky
Class DO, Open Class, General
Schleicher ASH 31 Mi
Ely, NV
6/26/2015
 
Speed Over a Triangular Course of 100 km: 119 mph
Sibylle  Andresen
Class DO, Open Class, Female
Schleicher ASH 26 E
Ely, NV
7/16/2015
 
Speed Over a Triangular Course of 1,000 km:
91 mph
William H. Gawthrop
Class DO, Open Class, Single Place, General
Jonker JS1
Ely, NV
7/30/2015

  
Except where noted by an asterisk (*), information is preliminary and subject to approval.
NAA Staff Directory
Jonathan Gaffney

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

 
Natasha Clark
Director,
Administration & Membership

 


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