Newest Inductees to Hall of Fame Hail from Homebuilts, Warbirds, Aerobatics

The most recent batch of inductees to the EAA Sport Aviation Hall of Fame were recognized at a ceremony and dinner on November 10th.

The newest additions are Budd Davisson of Phoenix, Arizona into the Homebuilders HoF; Maurice Hunter “Pappy” Spinks into the International Aerobatic Club HoF; Tom Reilly of Douglas, Georgia to the Warbirds of America HoF;  Forrest Lovley of Jordan, Minnesota into the Vintage Aircraft Association HoF; and Gene “Bever' Borne of Reserve, Louisiana into the Ultralights HoF. Additional recognition was granted in the form of the Henry Kimberly Leadership Award to John Mellberg of Menasha, Wisconsin for his work in local aviation.

Added to the Homebuilder's Hall of Fame, Davisson "is known worldwide for his extensive writings on homebuilt aircraft, aerobatic flight, and aviation safety," according to his EAA writeup. The longtime columnist has contributed thousands of articles throughout his career, with more than 300 pilot reports completed on a spectrum of experimental amateur-built aircraft. 

Lovely earned his place with his award-winning vintage aircraft restorations, a fruit of a lifelong enthusiasm for vintage aviation. One of his more well-known works is the Chevy Vega-powered Model-A Pietenpol Sky Scout or his Kari-Keen Sioux coupe. His rebuild of the 1945 Wittman Big X remains the only example of the legendary air racer, earning him a spot in the Vintage Aircraft Hall of Fame.

FMI: www.eaa.org