Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award Spirit of Flight Award

The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is the world’s largest rocket contest, with nearly 5,000 students nationwide competing annually. The contest provides students in 6th – 12th grades the opportunity to design, build, and launch model rockets and gain hands-on experience solving engineering problems.

Martin Baker has been a leader in ejection and crashworthy seats around the world.  From their early days developing and testing the company’s first prototypes to today knowing that they have saved over 7,600 people around the world, MBA’s existence provides pilots worldwide a primary added layer of safety.

The USAACE sets the standard for Army Aviation around the world.  From their early days with spotter aircraft to the critical use of versatile aircraft seen in use by the Army today, Army Aviation is a formidable opponent to those who threaten the American way of life

Founded in 1980 by Julius Alexander, serves to introduce and train young adults in various careers in aerospace.  While individuals from disadvantaged, at-risk and minority backgrounds are particularly served by ACE, the inclusive all-volunteer program provides any youth interested in aviation the opportunity to explore the services provided by the cutting edge program.

Founded on July 15, 1916, Boeing has been making the impossible, possible. From producing a single canvas-and-wood airplane to transforming how we fly over oceans and into the stars, The Boeing Company has become the world’s largest aerospace company.

The Pioneers of Stealth is a cadre of government and contractor personnel who collectively pioneered the revolutionary discipline of low observable aircraft design, development, manufacture, test and operations.  Their work was instrumental to the successful development of the B-2, F-117, F-22, F-35 and other aircraft and systems relying on stealth technology, of which much remains classified today.

Since 1992, the EAA Young Eagles Program has utilized a volunteer force of over 40,000 member/pilots to provide nearly two million young people ages 8 to 17 their first flight, for free, in the U.S. and over 100 countries.  In addition to their structured introduction and educational flight, ancillary programs and scholarships support young peoples’ interest in continuing their flying experience and exploring aviation career opportunities.

WAI began in 1990 and was formally established in 1994, providing resources to assist women professionals in aviation and to encourage young women to consider aviation as a career.  Its 9,000-plus members include corporate, commercial and military pilots;  astronauts;  airport managers;  air traffic controllers;  journalists;  students and more.  WAI additionally promotes public understanding of the accomplishments and contributions of women in aviation.

The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization that seeks to transport America’s veterans, at no cost to them, to Washington, D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices in WWII, the Korean and Vietnam wars.  Founded in 2005, Honor Flight is open to all men and women serving stateside or overseas and gives top priority to the most senior heroes – those who served in WWII.

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, popularly known as the Blue Angels, was formed in 1946 and is currently the oldest formal flying aerobatic team.  The mission of the Blue Angels has long been to enhance Navy and Marine Corps recruiting, to credibly represent Navy and Marine Corps aviation to America, and to serve as goodwill ambassadors internationally.  It is estimated that the Blue Angels have performed for than 427 million spectators worldwide since their inception 65 years ago.

Since its founding in 1947, NBAA has been the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful.  The association represents more than 8,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show.

Though we’ve not been back to the moon – yet, the accomplishments of the Apollo Astronauts did not cease on the distant lunar surface or in the vacuum of space.  These courageous adventurers are explorers in the truest sense.  They stretched our imagination, redefining the realm of possibility, lifting our spirits and gifting generations with inspiration, hope, and the wonder of it all.

The X PRIZE Foundation incites innovation by tapping into our competitive and entrepreneurial skills, rather than awarding money to honor past achievements or directly funding research. An X PRIZE is a multi-million dollar award given to the first team to achieve a specific goal, set by the X PRIZE Foundation, which has the potential to benefit humanity.

Physician pilots promoting safety, education and human interest projects relating to medicine and aviation while enjoying the fantasy of flight.

Dedicated to the improvement and public appreciation of aerospace art.

The Whirly-Girls are dedicated to advancing professionalism in helicopters, while providing women helicopter pilots a forum for the exchange of information and opportunities.

Aerospace Medical Association is the largest most-representative professional organization in the fields of aviation, space and enviromental medicine. AsMA membership includes aerospace medical specialists, scientists, flight nurses physiologist and researchers in the field.

For its instumental role in the advancement of aviation.