Hail the Heroes

Founded in 1962, the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) is at once a museum, an annual awards ceremony, and a learning and research center. Based in Dayton, Ohio—a city broadly known as the Birthplace of Aviation on account of its connection to Orville and Wilbur Wright, both of whom were born and buried therein—the NAHF was chartered nationally by an act of the U.S. 88th Congress and signed into existence by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

By commemorating the tenacity, vision, persistence, skill, and courage of key aeronautical figures, the NAHF seeks in perpetuity to sustain its stated mission of: “Honoring aerospace legends to inspire future leaders.”

On 21 February 2023 the National Aviation Hall of Fame made public the names of its 2023 inductees.

Every year, the NAHF Board of Nominations, a voting body comprising over 130 aviation professionals, considers a prestigious group of nominated air and space pioneers, the estimable individual achievements of which are congruous with induction into the NAHF’s august ranks. Since its founding in 1962, only 254 persons have been so honored.

NAHF Board of Nominations Chair Tom Lodge stated: “We believe this is an excellent class, and we are already looking forward to their induction in Washington, D.C.. From pioneers Benn and Coffey to visionaries Gittens and Stimpson to aerospace heroes Haise and Sullivan, the NAHF’s Class of 2023 represents the best in aviation. We applaud the Board of Nominations for their challenging and thorough work.”

The NAHF Class of 2023 represents a dazzling company of pilots, pundits, and policymakers whose enduring contributions to the enterprises of atmospheric and space flight contemporaneously benefitted and ennobled the whole of humankind. Aero-News Network acknowledges and congratulates:

• Kathryn Sullivan: Geologist, oceanographer, NASA astronaut, U.S. Navy officer, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration administrator. The first American woman to walk in space, veteran of three Space Shuttle missions, and the first woman to visit the Pacific Ocean’s Challenger Deep.
• Angela Gittens: CEO of multiple large-hub airports, including ATL. Ground breaking shaper of airport security and policy. Director General of Airport Council International-ACI-World.
• Fred Haise: U.S. Marine, fighter pilot, test-pilot, Apollo astronaut, Space Shuttle astronaut, aerospace executive, and advocate. Best-selling author and influencer.
• Velta Benn [the late]: Aviation pioneer, WASP, 63-year/55,000-hour pilot, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), FAA Examiner and aviation safety expert.  
• Ed Stimpson [the late]: General and Business aviation legend. Four-decades acting in multiple aviation leadership roles. Driver of policies in key aerospace sectors such as fuel and education.
• Cornelius Coffey [the late]: Aviation pioneer, pilot, mechanic, proprietor of a flight-school by which over 1,500 students, including hundreds of Tuskegee Airmen, were trained.

The NAHF’s Class of 2023 will be enshrined at a ceremony to be held at Washington D.C.’s National Building Museum on 22 September 2023.

FMI: www.nationalaviation.org