Among Five Inductees At Saturday's Ceremonies

Steve Fossett -- one of the world's greatest adventurers, holding 116 records in five different sports, many of them historic "firsts," including completing a solo balloon trip around the globe; Sally K. Ride, America's first woman in space; and three others were inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) at the 46th annual ceremony in Dayton, OH Saturday.

Also inducted were Walter J. Boyne, former director of the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum, aviation historian, and best-selling author; Evelyn Bryan Johnson, a flight instructor who logged more flight hours, trained more pilots, and given more FAA checkrides than any other woman; and Frederick W. Smith, former Marine Corp pilot and founder, CEO, and chairman of FedEx Corporation.

Their induction, considered the highest individual tribute in aviation, brings to 200 men and women aviation pioneers to be so honored for their individual achievement and significant contributions made towards advancing flight, reported the Associated Press.

Said Fossett, 63, to the 1,000 gathered as he accepted the medallion signifying his induction, "I'm hoping you didn't give me this award because you think my career is complete, because I'm not done."

"You may ask, what's the secret of flying solo? The secret is a great support team," he said, thanking the ground team.
Fossett plans to go to Argentina in November in an effort to break a glider record.

In 2002, he became the first person to fly around the world alone in a balloon and three years later became the first person to fly a plane solo around the world without refueling. He and a co-pilot also claim to have set a world glider altitude record of 50,671 feet during a flight last August over the Andes Mountains.

Sally Ride, 56, became the first US woman in space when she flew aboard the space shuttle Challenger, STS-7, in 1983. She returned to space aboard the Challenger in 1984 and served on the board that investigated the 1986 Challenger accident.

"I had a chance to float around weightless for a week ... I got to float over to the window and take a look at the world below, a very breathtaking view," she said.

A non-profit founded in Dayton (the hometown of the Wright brothers) in 1962, the NAHF was chartered by the Congress in 1964. Wilbur and Orville Wright were the first enshrined.

The NAHF honors America's outstanding air and space pioneers through a 17,000 square-foot public Learning Center featuring interactive exhibits, a character education program using its enshrinees as positive role models, national outreach events, and its annual enshrinement celebrations. 

FMI: www.nationalaviation.org