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Mulling the Missing in Aviation Halls of Fame

Honoring worthy individuals certainly has its place, but there remain so many unsung heroes.

The Hogan brothers who built an airport at Hamilton, Ohio, and flew air taxis, instructed, maintained, and did things with airplanes that were flat-out phenomenal. [Credit: FLYING Magazine archive]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • There is a vast proliferation of aviation Halls of Fame across states, military services, and various organizations, each with unique and often obscure selection processes.
  • The criteria for induction have evolved from well-known heroes to include a broader range of contributors, non-pilots, and wealthy supporters, with selection sometimes influenced by "nomination politics."
  • Despite their well-intentioned efforts and celebratory events, these Halls of Fame are inherently limited and cannot adequately honor the countless "unsung heroes" who make significant, selfless contributions to aviation.
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When I was thinking about listing and describing, as nearly as possible, every aviation Hall of Fame in the country, I had no idea what I was getting into. And it was obvious the editor wouldn’t give me that much space or that anybody would read it. You’ll be glad to know I abandoned the project, so keep reading. 

See, nearly every state (curiously, not Ohio), plus every military service, every organization of sport pilots, aerobatic pilots, glider pilots, warbird pilots, helicopter pilots, black pilots, women pilots, and maybe even drone and RC flyers annually elect and celebrate people they want to honor as worthy of note. The nominating and electing processes are a little obscure. Some names are submitted by members of the organizations and then selected by a smaller board. Others are chosen…well, I’m not sure how or why. In most organizations, many Hall of Famers have already passed on…except the Living Legends of Aviation group in California, where, by definition, the person, often not a pilot, must be alive to be elected. 

Martha Lunken

Martha Lunken is a lifelong pilot, former FAA inspector and defrocked pilot examiner. She flies a Cessna 180 and anything with a tailwheel, from Cubs to DC-3s.

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