National Aviation Hall of Fame

08/29/2026

We are honored to partner with so many incredible sponsors for Enshrinement 2026. Without their support, the 2026 Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony would not be possible. 🏅

A special thanks to our presenting sponsor Hillwood.

There is still time to join this illustrious group of Enshrinement Sponsors or purchase a ticket!

The 62nd Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony
Thursday, September 24, 2026
The Anthem, Washington DC

Learn more at nationalaviation.org/programs/enshrinement

08/27/2026

We love sharing stories of aviation legends! But today, we want to hear from YOU! ✈️✨ Do you remember the thrill of your very first flight? Was it the roar of the engines, the view from above, the feeling of adventure? Share your memories in the comments and let’s celebrate the moments that sparked our love for flight together!

08/25/2026

NAHF Enshrinee Joseph Sutter developed a fascination with aviation at a very young age, but unlike his friends young Joe didn’t dream of piloting airplanes, he dreamed of designing them. Trained as an aviation engineer at the end of his service during WWII, Sutter was offered jobs by both Douglas and Boeing (The Boeing Company) immediately post-war. Although he had initially been determined to take the Douglas position, he would go on to work at Boeing for four decades. Sutter held many key positions at Boeing including: head of the aerodynamics unit and technical staff for the development of the Boeing 727, Chief Engineer of the Boeing 747 program (1965), head of the 747 program (1970), and Boeing Vice President (1971).

Sutter and his team invented the “wide body” aircraft concept, and he is credited as the “Father of the 747.” The Boeing 747 was the largest jumbo jet ever made at the time–it was so large in fact that Boeing had to construct a building that encompassed almost 200 million cubic feet of space (5.56 million cubic meters) in Everett, Washington. Today, it encompasses more than 472 million cubic feet of space (13.4 million cubic meters) with an indoor area of 98.3 acres, and it is the Guinness Book of World Recorders holder for largest building in the world by volume.

Joseph Sutter was instrumental in bringing about Boeing’s new generation of cutting-edge airliners, the 757, 767, 747, and 737, to the public. In 1978, he became the Vice President of Operations and Product Development for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. In 1981, his final promotion saw him as the Executive Vice President for Engineering and Product Development, although he continued to consult for Boeing throughout his retirement. In 1986, Sutter was appointed to the President’s Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident.

08/24/2026

Great aviation leaders often begin with great teachers.

The A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Education Teacher Award honors K-12 educators who use aerospace education to inspire students, encourage STEM exploration, and spark interest in future aerospace careers. Founded by NAHF Enshrinee A. Scott Crossfield, this award recognizes teachers who go above and beyond to create meaningful learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.

Nominate an outstanding educator today: nationalaviation.org/annual-crossfield-teacher-of-the-year-award

Pictured: Thomas Sando, Aviation Instructor at Williston Basin CTE Center, recipient of the 2025 A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Education Teacher Award

08/21/2026

NAHF Enshrinee Colonel John P. Stapp dedicated his career to understanding how the human body responds to the extreme forces of flight. As a United States Air Force flight surgeon, he conducted groundbreaking rocket sled experiments, often serving as the test subject himself. His research led to safer ejection systems, improved safety harnesses, advancements in spaceflight, and even influenced the development of modern automotive safety. Colonel Stapp's legacy continues to protect lives in the air and on the ground.

Follow the National Aviation Hall of Fame for more stories about the pioneers whose innovations shaped aviation history! ✈️

08/20/2026

This month, we recognize Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, an acclaimed airline captain whose calm leadership under pressure became a defining moment in aviation history. In 2009, Sullenberger safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, saving all 155 people on board in what became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

His actions made him a global symbol of professionalism, skill, and heroism in aviation. In the years since, he has continued to serve the industry as a leading advocate for aviation safety, pilot training, and public service, including his role as U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization. As a member of the new enshrinee class, his induction recognizes a career defined by leadership, service, and an unwavering commitment to safety in aviation.🏅✈️

Join aviation enthusiasts, industry leaders, and history makers in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, September 24 for NAHF's 62nd Annual Enshrinement Ceremony to witness the Class of 2026 receive aviation’s highest honor. Purchase your ticket today at https://ow.ly/l1Mb50ZqP3V

08/19/2026

What better way to celebrate National Aviation Day than by honoring the innovators, leaders, and pioneers who move aviation forward?

The Neil Armstrong Outstanding Achievement Award, named after the first person to walk on the Moon and 1979 NAHF Enshrinee Neil Armstrong, recognizes extraordinary achievements in aviation. From breakthrough technologies to exceptional demonstrations of skill and lifelong dedication to service, this award celebrates those whose contributions represent the very best of flight.

Give recognition where it’s deserved. Nominate today at nationalaviation.org/the-neil-armstrong-outstanding-achievement-award

Pictured: Michael Williams, Founder & CEO of Jetaire, recipient of the 2025 Neil Armstrong Outstanding Achievement Award

08/17/2026

NAHF Enshrinee Sean Tucker began his flying career with a deep fear of flying caused by both the traumatizing death of a friend as they learned to skydive as teenagers and by his time aiding his aviation trial lawyer father sort files during which he saw countless aircraft crashes and victims. He passed his pilot check ride by the skin of his teeth before turning to an aerobatic flying school in San Jose, California where experiencing and mastering dangerous maneuvers helped him turn his fear into the unrelenting, burning passion for aviation that he is well-known for. He soon began his own crop-dusting business, but the allure of aerobatics proved too sweet to resist. He studied under two aerobatic legends: seven-time US National and World Aerobatic Champion Leo Loudenslager and legendary test and air show pilot Bob Hoover (Tucker’s fellow NAHF Enshrinee). In 1988, after much determination, perseverance, and sacrifice, he captured the U.S. National Advanced Aerobatic Championships title which led him to becoming a sponsored airshow performer and absolute star. He joined the ICAS - International Council of Air Shows , and has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions and originated many original, awe-inspiring aerobatic maneuvers. His most famous aircraft is his Oracle Challenger III (now on display at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution , designed by famed aerobatic aircraft builder Steve Wolf and Tucker’s own team. Tucker has over 26,000 flight hours and has performed in well over 400 air shows.

Perhaps Tucker’s most lasting legacy, however, is his endless dedication to aviation and to bringing more young people into the industry. He founded his flight training and aerobatic school, Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety, and co-founded Bob Hoover Academy, which helps engage at-risk teens with STEM educations and careers. He also served as chairman for the EAA - The Spirit of Aviation ’s Young Eagles program. Sean Tucker’s boundless enthusiasm for aviation is infectious and he has and continues to inspire countless youngsters to dare to dream sky-high.

They dreamed the dreams. They harnessed the technologies. They created a world where the sky was no longer the limit. The National Aviation Hall of Fame honors them for their service to country, their ingenuity, their courage, and their vision. The stories of our NAHF enshrinees are stories of Ameri...

08/16/2026

On August 16, 1960, NAHF Enshrinee United States Air Force Colonel Joseph Kittinger set a world record highest parachute jump of 102,800 feet (or 31,333 m) while testing high altitude parachute escape systems in Project Excelsior. He free fell for over 80,000 feet lasting 4.5 minutes reaching speeds up to 614 mph!

08/13/2026

NAHF Enshrinee Captain Joseph Kittinger joined the Air Force in 1949 and quickly earned his wings. After being assigned to Ramstein Air Base in West Germany, he volunteered as a test pilot flying F-86 Sabre jets. His success in this program led to his assignment to the Air Force Missile Development Center at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico where he met fellow NAHF Enshrinee Colonel John P. Stapp, who was testing the effects of gravity and immense force on the human body, vital research for the United States’ fledgling space program. Stapp had already been experimenting with a ground-based rocket sled which he used to study the effects of high G forces on the human body, often using himself as the test subject. He had set a land-speed record of 632 mph and survived experiencing over 46 Gs, proving the human body could withstand much more force than previously believed and leading to the development of improved safety procedures and equipment for pilots, astronauts, and the regular American citizen (as his research led to improved safety harnesses for automobiles).

Thoroughly impressed by Stapp, Kittinger transferred to the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (88th Air Base Wing) in Dayton, Ohio to be a part of Stapp’s high-altitude research program: Project Manhigh. Kittinger became an aeronaut, flying into near space enclosed in a gondola attached to a balloon and reaching an altitude of 96,800 feet in June 1957. In their next project, Stapp wanted to test a new multi-stage parachute design that aimed at eliminating the deadly flat-spin that had been experienced at high altitudes up to that point. The test subject? Joseph Kittinger. Project Excelsior saw Kittinger go up in an open gondola three times. The first two he went up 76,400 and 74,700 feet respectively on November 16 and December 11, 1959. His third and final flight took place on August 16, 1960, and it almost began with disaster. One of the gloves of his protective suit had failed to pressurize, and his hand swelled to twice its normal size, causing him much discomfort. Kittinger wasn’t going to let a little swelling of the hand stop him though, and after a short prayer, he stepped out of the gondola at an absolutely unbelievable 102,800 feet. He free-fell for over 80,000 feet lasting 4.5 minutes and reaching speeds up to 614 mph! Stapp and Kittinger’s research and experiments were vital to the development of the U.S. space program as it proved that people could survive the extreme conditions of space with the correct equipment.

Kittinger wasn’t done sailing high. In 1962, as part of Project Stargazer, he and a naval astronomer went up to 82,000 feet to test a telescope above Earth’s atmosphere, setting the stage for future space telescopes Hubble and Web. He served three tours as a fighter pilot in Vietnam before being shot down and spending 11 months as a prisoner of war. In 1978, he retired from the military and began competing in balloon competitions, becoming the first man to solo the Atlantic Ocean in a gas balloon in 1984. Kittinger’s highest skydive world record held for 50 years until it was broken in 2012 by Swiss balloonist Felix Baumgartner who leapt from 128,100 feet. Kittinger mentored Baumgartner and handled the communications while he was in the balloon.