The Folks Who Made This Year So.... "Interesting" (Part
Four-Final)
Each year ANN selects the person(s) who, for good or bad
reasons, made the most tangible impact on the aviation world in the
past year.
Once again, we tackle this task with a mixture of enthusiasm and
trepidation.
Presented in alphabetical order, we present the final three of
our selections amongst a dozen of the most prominent newsmakers we
covered over the past year, and why we think so…
Steven Udvar-Hazy
Whatever his reasons,
the extraordinary donation of a bazillion bucks (or so it seems to
we lowly wage-slaves) to allow the Smithsonian to build a new
facility at Dulles Airport that is already wowing flyers from all
over the world, is having a positive effect, already.
In 1999, Udvar-Hazy pledged $60 million dollars for the new
National Air and Space Museum companion facility at Washington
Dulles International Airport.
At the time, it was the largest-ever contribution by an
individual to the Smithsonian Institution, and was even increased
by an additional $5 million.
Only open for a short while, thousands of people are being
treated, every day, to an attractively expansive education in
the history of aviation. We have heard from quite a few folks that
have traveled to the new facility since it was unveiled a few weeks
ago and the rave reviews keep pouring in.
It is a gift that will come to benefit the aviation and
aerospace world in ways that we can only begin to imagine…
but the looks on the faces of those visiting this expanding
facility shows that many are being empowered in extraordinary
ways… and all of aviation will benefit far into the
future.
Mr. Udvar-Hazy's donation is not just a gift to the
Smithsonian… it is a gift to all of those who love aviation,
and want to see its past preserved and its future insured.
Thank you, sir, thank you very much.
Read About ANN's First Look At The New Smithsonian
Facility
Polly Vacher
Polly Vacher is an
amazing aviator. Her passion for flight began in 1989 when she
completed a tandem sky dive for charity. Suitably empowered by this
aero-beginning, Vacher went on to become a world-renowned flyer,
circumnavigating the world once in 2001 and started again this past
year on a brave attempt to become the first solo pilot to
circumnavigate the world via the North and South poles in a
single-engine light aircraft. Better yet; her efforts have won
international attention and funding for a number of worthy
charities… putting a bright and positive light on flyers
everywhere, and portraying us all as talented, caring members of
the world society.
But… it was something above and beyond her globe-trotting
that got our attention this year… it was an unerring sense
of fairplay and aerial camaraderie.
She demonstrated this when Jon Johanson ran afoul of entrenched
and myopic bureaucrats in an unscheduled landing near McMurdo and
was refused any aid or help in getting home - whereupon Ms. Vacher
made her fuel stash at McMurdo available to him so that he didn't
have to risk shipping his plane home in pieces.
It was a magnificent gesture.
It was the way I'd hope all aviators would feel about supporting
each other, and it was a grand demonstration of the esprit de corps
that all aviators should share… but too seldom get to
enjoy.
Bravo, Ms. Vacher, Bravo.
Orville/Wilbur Wright
I'm not sure what I expected to get out of all the hoopla we saw
this past years in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the
Wright's first powered flight, but I came away with something I
really didn't expect… an insight into the immense problems
overcome by two bicycle builders from Ohio.
I could go on and on… but I 'm going to keep this simple.
Basically, I am blown away by the brothers Wright… when I
realize that all I have learned about basic flight from some very
fine instructors (over the course of way too many years) had
to be DISCOVERED by them as they literally taught themselves to
fly, I am awestruck at the challenges they faced, and the obstacles
they overcame… but mostly I am grateful that the single most
powerful force in my life, my love for flight, was made possible by
two guys who had a dream and followed it to a phenomenal
conclusion… shaking the world to its very core.
Today, the world flies because their imaginations
soared…
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