Awards Presented To Aviation Over-Achievers At Airventure

By ANN Contributor Christopher Armstrong

The Theater In The Woods is AirVenture's largest gathering place. It is small enough to feel intimate. But with three sides open to the surrounding woods an enormous crowd can gather around the theater. That was the case Thursday night in Oshkosh (WI), when the EAA and FAA presented some of their most prestigious awards to several of aviation's best.

The EAA's highest honor, the Freedom of Flight Award, was presented to Dick "Van" Van Grunsven, the most successful kit plane design of all time. More then 3600 of his designs have been built and flown. Thousands more are under construct, and EAA President Tom Poberezny quipped that EAA had to expand the convention grounds several times because of Van's amazing success.

The Freedom of Flight Award is presented each year to the person whose contributions to aviation closely mirror the integrity and high standards that the EAA has established over its 50-plus year history. Past recipients include aviation legends Steve Wittman, Chuck Yeager, Burt and Dick Rutan, Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Neil Armstrong, and Paul Poberezny.

Van Grunsven never would have predicted the level of his own success. Accepting the award he said. "It was inconceivable 30 years ago that anyone would end up producing more airplanes than some of the major manufacturers, but that's the way it has evolved."

Poberezny also lauded Bob Hasson, Butch Joyce and Lloyd Richards with the President's Awards. It provides Poberezny with a chance to personally acknowledge members whose participation and contributions represent the "essence" of EAA.

Following the Freedom Of Flight presentations, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey handed out three general aviation industry awards, as well as FAA's National Aviation Safety Counselor Award.

The industry awards program honors the National Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year, the National Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year and the National Avionics Technician of the Year. The winners this year were:

• CFI Of The Year: Douglas "Doug" Stewart, North Egremont (MA)
• Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year: Gary Stephen Goodpaster, Cincinnati (OH)
• Avionics Technician of the Year: Keith Bryan Lewis, Spartanburg (SC)
• Aviation Safety Counselor of the Year: Walter Schuyler "Walt" Schamel, Winter Haven (FL)

FMI: http://www.airventure.org