Organization Presents its Meritorious Service to Aviation Award

As a part of its 2025 Convention and Exhibition, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) will be presenting its highest honor to Game Aerospace co-founder Steuart Walton. The Meritorious Service to Aviation Award will be handed over in Las Vegas this October.

“Steuart Walton is a visionary and generational leader who is transforming Northwest Arkansas into a model of aviation excellence,” expressed NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “His pioneering work provides a vivid demonstration of the many ways aviation can inspire, connect, promote innovation, generate jobs, spur economic development, assist in responding to natural disasters and promote sustainability.”

Walton co-founded Game Aerospace alongside Philipp Steinbach in January 2013. His company manufactures the FAA-certified, composite aerobatic GB1 GameBird and is currently working on the GB2 StormBird. This will serve as a purpose-built aerial firefighting aircraft.

Bentonville Municipal Airport - Louise Thaden Field (VBT) has also reaped the benefits of Walton’s passion. He assisted in becoming a well-rounded general aviation field, hosting a flight school, playground, exhibition hangar, FAA testing center, park, and cafe. It has become a host city for the UP.Summit, an annual event dedicated to the promotion of advanced air mobility (AAM) innovations.

Walton has a vast collection of World War II-era warbirds, with over 70 accessible to the public. He has restored and flown a P-51 Mustang, Goodyear F2G-1 Super Corsair, F8F Bearcat, and Supermarine Spitfire.

While much of his career has been dedicated to aviation, Walton has used his expertise in a variety of fields. He chaired the Arkansas Economic Recovery Task Force in 2020, assisting business owners and rebuilding the economy once the COVID-19 pandemic passed over.

In honor of his work, the NBAA will be presenting its highest honor to Walton at this year’s NBAA-BACE in October. He will follow Jimmy Doolittle, Kelly Johnson, Bob Hoover, the Tuskegee Airmen, and many other iconic recipients of the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award.

FMI: www.nbaa.org