EAA’s Sport Aviation Hall Of Fame Recognizes Leaders And Recreational Flying

EAA is honoring five new inductees into their Sport Aviation Halls of Fame at a dinner ceremony on November 10, in the Founders’ Wing of the EAA AirVenture Museum. The five inductees have dedicated their lives to their respective areas of aviation and join an esteemed group of individuals who represent the spirit of EAA in the highest form.

Ultralights: Tracy Knauss
Tracy Knauss, longtime publisher of Glider Rider, which became Light Sport and Ultralight Flying magazine, helped knit together the small community of hang glider and ultralight pilots with the publication he started in 1976.

When Tracy discovered hang gliding in 1976, he saw the need for a publication that informed pilots about news, warnings, new products, flying tips, and, yes, even gossip. He formed a company called Glider Rider and started a magazine by the same name.

In its 40th year of publication, and now titled Light Sport and Ultralight Flying, the magazine continues to cover hang gliders and ultralights of all kinds, both powered and unpowered.

International Aerobatic Club: Robert Armstrong
Robert Armstrong “blames” his aviation career on his junior high school, which was located right next to an airport, providing ample opportunity to gaze longingly at the airplanes through the window.

Robert built an S-1C Pitts Special and flew it first to Oshkosh, then down to Fond du Lac, WI for his first aerobatic contest. Robert was the highest-scoring first-time competitor in Sportsman, and he counts that trophy as one of his most cherished. In 1988 Robert competed in the U.S. Nationals for the first time, winning second overall. Robert later began flying the CAP 231 and in his aerobatic career has flown in a total of 10 World Aerobatic Championships.

Vintage: Phil Coulson
Phil Coulson of Lawton, Michigan, has been immersed in aviation for all of his adult life. Phil enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and, on his return to Michigan, learned to fly in a prewar Piper J-5 Cruiser. Phil had discovered a passion for sport aviation, and began attending the early EAA conventions at Rockford starting in 1962.

Phil began volunteering with EAA at Rockford, and then at Oshkosh, where he became an advisor in the Antique/Classic Division in 1985, followed by election to its board in 1987. During this period, Phil acquired a Waco UPF-7 open-cockpit biplane. Phil was named the founding president, a leadership position he continued until his retirement in 2013.

As a director of the Vintage Aircraft Association, Phil has chaired the annual Vintage Parade of Flight during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and served as a long-term senior judge in the Antique category. Phil chose to take emeritus status with the VAA board in the fall of 2015 after nearly 30 years of active, involved, and dedicated service to both EAA and the VAA.

Warbirds: Doug Champlin
Doug Champlin dedicated his life to the historic preservation of military fighter aircraft, including 27 examples from World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. All of these aircraft were maintained in flyable condition and represented combat pilots from the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, Japan, and Germany. The aircraft were based at the Champlin Fighter Museum in Mesa, Arizona, from 1980 through 2002.

The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, is now honored to be the permanent home of the Champlin Collection, proudly displaying Doug’s treasured airplanes throughout their Personal Courage Wing gallery. Doug was a member of the Museum of Flight’s board of trustees, and was gratified to see his collection remain intact when it was acquired by the museum and put on display in 2004.

Over the years, as he devoted his life to the acquisition, restoration, and display of so many rare and historic aircraft. Doug passed away in May of 2013.

Homebuilding: Jim Bede
Jim Bede, an Ohio native, made his first foray into the experimental aviation world with his original BD-1. The airplane had a number of innovative features including the use of bonding the aluminum structure instead of riveting. Jim followed that design with the record-breaking BD-2, and then the iconic BD-4. It was the first homebuilt aircraft to be offered in kit form.

In 1971 Jim started the aviation world buzzing with the introduction of the BD-5 Micro. After the first flight, stability issues required a redesign, and Jim hired Burt Rutan to head the flight test department. The BD 5 face a number of challenges because of powerplant concerns, and one version was even jet powered.

Jim was an active member of Chapter 1252, and there was no doubt about his passion for aircraft design. Jim passed away on July 9, 2015.

More detailed information about the inductees is available on the EAA website.

(Images from EAA shown in order from left to right; top to bottom)

FMI: www.eaa.org