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February Open Kids Labs: Ready to Soar

February 4, 2026

February’s Open Kids Labs will be buzzing with hands-on, drone-inspired STEM activities that spark curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving: exploring electronic circuits building a 3D Mars Ingenuity helicopter model assembling a drone tangram puzzle creating and experimenting with different drone models in the lab’s wind tunnel completing drone activity sheets Each activity is inspired by these NAHF Enshrinees, who have shaped unmanned and autonomous flight: Eileen Collins: Helped deploy SPARTAN satellites and autonomous payloads that collected data independently, early examples of space-based drones Dr. Min Kao: Advanced autonomous flight through Garmin innovations such as Autoland, influencing modern drone and UAV technologies...

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The National Aviation Hall of Fame Welcomes Basil Papayoti

August 14, 2025

DAYTON, Ohio – August 15, 2025— The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) is proud to announce theappointment of Basil Papayoti to its Board of Trustees. Basil Papayoti brings extensive leadership experience in aviation maintenance, engineering, and technical operations to the NAHF Board of Trustees. Currently serving as Vice President of Delta TechOps Commercial, Delta’s MRO business with a strategic focus on sustained growth for one of the largest and most complex airline maintenance organizations in the world. His deep expertise in aircraft maintenance, innovation in airline operations, and commitment to safety excellence will greatly strengthen NAHF’s mission to honor...

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First NAHF Aviation Camp Gets Rave Reviews

April 10, 2025

Is there a better way to spend a week off from school when you’re a kid than surrounding yourself with bottomless LEGOⓇ piles? That’s what a lucky group of students got to do during the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s inaugural spring break camp, “Discovering Flight: Mission Brixilated Bravo Alpha,” at the Joe Clark Innovation Lab. The camp merges LEGO builds with aerospace history, giving young people a chance to explore aeronautical milestones by creating and testing LEGO models of legendary aircraft. Each participant got a packet of official mission paperwork—including a daily flight log to complete—and a name badge. And...

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North Dakota teacher named 2025 A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Educator of the Year

April 10, 2025

DAYTON, OH, March 26, 2025—The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) is proud to announce that Thomas M. Sando, aviation instructor at Williston High School and the Williston Basin CTE Center in Williston, North Dakota, has been selected as this year’s A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Educator of the Year. Sando has developed a dynamic classroom that includes hands-on projects, field trips to industry-leading facilities, and mentorship that guides students toward careers in aviation. For example, his creation of a rotating module that can be used across schools in the Williston region has expanded aerospace education access, engaging students from multiple...

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Outgoing GAMA CEO Pete Bunce and Team Honored with 2025 Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award

April 10, 2025

DAYTON, OH, April 10, 2025—The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) is proud to announce that Pete Bunce, former President and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), and the GAMA team are the recipients of the 2025 Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award. This prestigious honor recognizes their collective leadership, advocacy, and lasting contributions to the advancement of general aviation. Under Pete Bunce’s leadership, GAMA consistently championed safety, innovation and workforce development within the aviation sector while promoting the broader societal benefits of general aviation. Through initiatives like the Aviation Design Challenge, which engages high school students in...

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Leader in Aviation Safety: Jetaire Group Founder Named 2025 Neil Armstrong Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient

March 25, 2025

DAYTON, OH, March 25, 2025—The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) is proud to announce that Michael Williams, founder of Jetaire Group will be honored with The 2025 Neil Armstrong Outstanding Achievement Award. A visionary in aviation safety and a transformative figure William’s innovations have revolutionized the field. Motivated by a close encounter with tragedy in 1982, Williams has dedicated his career to making aviation safer. In 1996, in the wake of the devastating ValueJet Flight 592 disaster, he began work on what would later become the groundbreaking INVICTA Fuel Tank Flammability Reduction System, the proprietary reticulated polyurethane foam technology...

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National Aviation Hall of Fame’s Annual Member Meeting 2024

November 7, 2024

We’re pleased to invite you to the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s Annual Member Meeting, a gathering where we celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and share exciting plans for the future. This meeting provides a wonderful opportunity for members like you to connect with our mission, learn about our latest initiatives, and help shape our vision for the coming year. Date: December 5, 2024 Time: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Location: Innovation Lab at the National Aviation Hall of Fame Virtual Option: Click for Link Your input is invaluable to us as we continue to honor the legacy...

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2024 Enshrinement – Oh What A Night

September 19, 2024

The 60th Annual Enshrinement of the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) was an unforgettable evening that honored aviation legends. With the backdrop of the rich history of flight at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, this milestone celebration brought together aviation enthusiasts, industry leaders, and distinguished guests to recognize individuals who have profoundly impacted the world of aviation and aerospace. It was more than just an awards ceremony—it was a gathering of visionaries, dreamers, and pioneers. Honoring the 2024 Class of Inductees The evening was dedicated to celebrating the outstanding contributions of this year’s Inductees. Each...

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NAHF’s Wings of Women 2016: The best WOW conference yet!

November 8, 2016

Wings of Women is an annual mentoring program offering girls 13 to 17 years old an opportunity to meet and be inspired by successful women in the many fascinating and challenging fields of aviation. The day-long event is filled with career exploration, discovery, inspiration and fun! Each girl walks away with an inspiration for dreams and many resources to reach for those dreams. WOW’s aim is to stir girls’ interest in their futures, introduce them to  career opportunities, resources that are available, and demonstrate that it is possible to achieve success in aviation, and in life. The WOW Conference is...

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13th Annual Combs Gates Award goes to filmmaker for “Flying the Feathered Edge: The Bob Hoover Project”

October 20, 2015

Kim Furst to receive $20,000 prize from National Aviation Hall of Fame at NBAA Convention (DAYTON, Ohio – October 20, 2015)  The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) announced today that a documentary about one of its legendary enshrinees, Robert A. “Bob” Hoover, has earned its producer/writer/director, Kim Furst, of Kilo Foxtrot Productions, the 13th Annual Combs Gates Award.  “Flying the Feathered Edge: The Bob Hoover Project,” tells the life story of the man many consider to be “the pilot’s pilot” and was inducted into the NAHF in 1988.  Ms. Furst will be presented the $20,000 award on November 18th at the...

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National Aviation Hall of Fame reveals names of “Class of 2014” at Wright Brothers Anniversary dinner

December 17, 2013

Six to be enshrined in October of 2014 include first female U.S. jet airline captain, Apollo astronaut, air racer, pioneering test pilot and aircraft designing duo (Dayton, Ohio – Dec. 17, 2013) Tonight the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) revealed the names of six individuals who have been elected for enshrinement at its annual formal ceremony in Dayton on October 4, 2014.  The six will join a roster of 219 men and women air and space pioneers who have been inducted by the NAHF since its founding in 1962. The names and photos of the incoming Enshrinee Class of...

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50th Anniversary Enshrinement Attracts “Who’s Who” of Air and Space Legends

October 3, 2012

National Aviation Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary Enshrinement Attracts “Who’s Who” of Air and Space Legends Astronauts, military heroes, industry leaders and aviation buffs to descend on Dayton this Saturday to celebrate four pioneering enshrinees into Hall (Dayton, Ohio – October 3, 2012) The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) today officially announced the participants taking in part in the 50th Anniversary Enshrinement Dinner & Ceremony, to be held at the Dayton Convention Center on Saturday, October 6th. The Master of Ceremonies will be former Good Morning America show host, producer, and writer, David Hartman, a long-time NAHF supporter. Hartman...

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49th Annual Enshrinement

June 14, 2010

When it comes to appropriately and publicly saluting our nation’s aviation pioneers, there may be no other event as significant as the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s Enshrinement gala. Not surprisingly the spectacular formal dinner and ceremony has become known as America’s “Oscar Night of Aviation.” The 2010 edition of historic event will again see a freshman crop of air and space legends inducted before an anticipated audience of 1,000 or more peers and admirers.

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937-256-0944

Location:

1100 Spaatz Street
Dayton, Ohio 45433

Mailing Address:

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Dayton, Ohio 45437

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