NAA Newsbite: October 1, 2020

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Dear NAA Members and Friends,

The beginning of the fall season is an exciting time at NAA, as many of our award recipients are announced during this period. Over the course of the last few weeks, NAA has held selections for the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, Distinguished Statesman and Stateswoman of Aviation Award, and the Brewer Trophy. We are pleased to present the recipients of the above-mentioned awards:

The 2020 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy to Charles F. Bolden Jr. for "... his impassioned commitment to public service in aviation and aerospace as an aviator, astronaut, and leader and his dedication to excellence for the advancement of all humanity."

The 2020 Class of Distinguished Statesmen and Stateswomen of Aviation

Brigadier General John Allen, USAF (Ret.) for "... his 35 years of leadership as a regulator, operator, and civil and military pilot, with significant contributions to setting industry standards and improving aviation safety for all."
Captain Julie Clark for "... her decades-long contributions to the art of aerobatic airshow flying, inspiring millions of fans who have witnessed her expertly choreographed routines, and for blazing a trail for women in aviation as one of the first female pilots to be hired by a major U.S. airline."
Einar Enevoldson for "... his visionary and persistent quest to advance the progress of aeronautics by researching and exploring the stratosphere in a glider utilizing high altitude waves."
David Franson for "... his fervent dedication as an aviation communications executive and founder of the Wichita Aero Club, and for his 40 years of service in continuing to advance the future of aviation."
Colonel & Doctor Kathryn Hughes, USAF (Ret.) for "... her pioneering accomplishments in aviation and aerospace medicine, passion for advancing human systems integration, and unceasing drive to mentor future generations."
Michael Quiello for "... his life-long devotion to aviation as a military aviator, commercial airline captain, industry executive, and non-profit leader."

The 2020 Brewer Trophy to Professor James Gregory, Ph.D. for "... his enduring contributions and leadership in engaging the public and students in the science of flight through videos series, innovative laboratory experiences, and world-record-setting testing of unmanned aerial vehicles."

NAA would like to extend our sincere congratulations to this esteemed group of award recipients!

Our next bi-weekly newsbite will include the announcement of the Public Benefit Flying Award. If two weeks is too long to wait, you can be the first to hear about NAA award notifications by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

Please mark your calendars for October 22 at 11:00 a.m. EDT for our next webinar in partnership with the National Aviation Hall of Fame. The webinar will explore exciting new innovations in the aircraft of tomorrow. Panelists include Blake Scholl, CEO, Boom Aerospace and Amanda Simpson, Vice President, Research and Technology, Airbus Americas. Additional panelists, details and the registration link will be shared via email invitation and on our social media sites in the coming days. If you missed our last webinar Sustainability and Innovation: Ensuring the Future of Aviation, you can view a recorded version here.

Many of NAA's member organizations have also announced exciting news or initiatives in the past several weeks. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) recently shared that they will host their first virtual awards show on October 6 to honor this year's class of inductees to Business Aviation's Top 40 Under 40. The Top 40 Under 40 program recognizes young professionals in the industry for their career accomplishments, dedication to their field, and commitment to their communities. Viewers can expect guest appearances from industry leaders, as they speak to the impact of the inductees and how they will transform and move the industry forward in the future. More information and registration details are available here.

This past weekend, many in the aviation community gathered in Washington DC in anticipation of the Arsenal of Democracy Flyover, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Unfortunately, the flyover of iconic warbirds was cancelled due to inclement weather, but the group instead presented a video tribute featuring the rarest World War II aircraft and interviews with veterans scheduled to participate in the event. The video tribute can be viewed here or on the Arsenal of Democracy Facebook page.

Taking a look back to this week in aviation history, on September 28, 1924, two United States Army Air Service planes completed the first ever circumnavigation of the globe, landing at Sand Point Airfield in Seattle, 175 days after their mission began. The two Douglas Air Cruisers were part of a larger group of four planes that set out on the 30,000 mile journey, however, two of the large, single engine biplanes were lost (without crew injury) as they flew along the route from Seattle, north to Alaska, south and west along the coastline of Asia to India, across Turkey, Europe, and the United States to San Francisco, then back up the coast to Seattle. When the two planes touched down at Sand Point at 1:37 p.m. a cheering crowd of 40,000 spectators greeted them. The historic flight earned the U.S. Army Air Service the NAA Robert J. Collier Trophy for 1924.

Remembering these historic accomplishments allows us to bridge the gap between the past, present, and future of aviation. Over the course of NAA's 115-year history, we have been honored to recognize many individuals, groups, and achievements spanning from before the first circumnavigation of the globe in 1924, to our industry leaders being honored with NAA awards this year.

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