Includes First Woman To Command ISS, First African-American Thunderbirds Pilot

The San Diego Air and Space Museum has released the slate of honorees to be enshrined in the museum's Hall of Fame on October 13.

The ceremony will be held in the Edwin D. McKellar Pavilion of Flight. Guests from around the world are assembling for a spectacular evening of fun and extraordinary recognition, as each guest is treated to an experiential peek into the lives of these air and space legends. Since 1963, the International Air & Space Hall of Fame has honored more than 200 of the world’s most significant pilots, crew members, visionaries, inventors, aerospace engineers, business leaders, preservationists, designers and space explorers.

“We’re especially pleased to honor this exemplary Class of 2018 because these men and women are amongst the most talented figures in air and space history,” said Jim Kidrick, President & CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. “Aviation and space exploration, as embodied by the honorees in the International Air & Space Hall of Fame, directly represents the human pioneering and exploring spirit. October 3 is THE day of the year every guest will remember for the rest of their lives. Guests come from all over the globe just to be in the room with our Honorees and join in this celebration.”

Proceeds from the International Air & Space Hall of Fame celebration benefit the Museum’s youth education programs.
 
“Inspiring kids to undertake tough science and engineering challenges is a critical first step for our future,” Kidrick said. “We must also give them the resources and impetus they need to pursue science education degrees.”

The enshrinees include:

• Peggy Whitson, the first female commander of the International Space Station (ISS) and holder of the record for most days in space by a NASA astronaut
• Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in the world to go into space
• Brad Tilden, Chairman/CEO of Alaska Air Group, parent company of Alaska Airlines
• Bruce Whitman, Chairman, President and CEO of FlightSafety International
• Lloyd “Fig” Newton, the first African American pilot in the United States Air Force Thunderbirds
• Richard I. Bong, America’s Ace of Aces and recipient of the Medal of Honor, America’s highest military award
• The Corporate Angel Network / Air Charity Network, national charitable organizations whose missions are to transport those in serious need

(Source: The San Diego Air and Space Museum Hall of Fame news release)

FMI: sandiegoairandspace.org/exhibits/online-exhibit-page/international-air-space-hall-of-fame