Waco QCF Manufactured In 1931 Is The Grand Champion At Reno

National Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinees joined presenting sponsor Perform Air International in awarding the Grand Champion Neil A. Armstrong National Aviation Heritage Trophy to the 1931 Waco QCF owned by Chris Galloway of Woodland, California.

Assisting in the trophy presentations to the winning owners were National Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinees Dick Rutan, Robert ‘Hoot’ Gibson and Col. Clarence ‘Bud’ Anderson and Clay Lacy. The late Neil A. Armstrong’s son, Mark was there to assist on presenting our ‘Grand Champion’ trophy in honor of his father, who loved and supported NAHI.

Presenting Sponsor, Perform Air International is joined by ISTAT Foundation, Jim and Kay Guyette, Air Lease Corp., Reno Air Racing Association, National Aviation Hall of Fame and Air and Space Smithsonian Magazine.

Air & Space Smithsonian Magazine in their dedication to the preservation of aviation history as our 2019 trophy sponsors.

Winners in other categories were:

• Classic: Paul E. Garber trophy:  1952 Cessna 195 owned by Bela Havasreti of Kent, Washington
• Antique: Orville and Wilbur Wright trophy: 1936 Stinson SR-8B – owned by David Lunsford of Bayfield, Colorado
• Military: Henry ‘Hap’ Arnold trophy: 1945 Piper L4J – owned by Ken Schmitt of Springfield, Oregon.
• Large: Herb Kelleher trophy: 1939 Grumman Goose – owned by Gary Filizettii of Milpitas, California
• Contemporary: 1962 Meyers 200 -owned by Bruce Mayes of Honolulu, Hawaii
• People’s Choice - Airplane of the Year: A tight race—The winner is the 1931 Waco QCF -owned by Chris Galloway of Woodland, California.

The National Aviation Heritage Invitational encourages preservation of aviation history through the restoration of aircraft to original flying condition. The Invitational was founded in 1998. A five-member panel, including representatives of the National Air and Space Museum, judges each aircraft on its technical merit and how well it represents the aircraft early in its career. Authenticity to the original manufacturer’s condition is the “gold standard” for each plane.

(Source: Stihl National Championship Air Races news release)

FMI: www.heritagetrophy.org