National Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinees gather at Reno Sunday to honor the late Neil A. Armstrong

The NEIL A. ARMSTRONG AVIATION HERITAGE TROPHY named in his honor

(September 12, 2012 – Dayton, OH)  The National Aviation Hall of Fame confirmed that seven former Enshrinees will be at Reno to assist in renaming the National Aviation Heritage Invitational (NAHI) Trophy in honor of the late Neil Armstrong, who passed away on August 25th at age 82.  Helping NAHI partners formally unveil the Neil A. Armstrong Aviation Heritage Trophy this Sunday will be WWII ace Bud Anderson; legendary test pilot, Bob Hoover; Southwest Airlines founder and former CEO, Herb Kelleher; business aviation icon, Clay Lacy;  record-setter Dick Rutan; and aerobatic champions and air show performers, Sean Tucker and Patty Wagstaff.   Armstrong, a former Navy fighter pilot, test-pilot, engineer and the first man to walk on the moon, was enshrined in the NAHF in 1979. 

“Going way back to the Heritage Invitational’s founding some fourteen years ago, Neil often returned to Reno to assist his fellow Hall of Fame Enshrinees in personally handing the winning aircraft owners’ their awards, “ said Ron Kaplan, NAHF Enshrinement Director and Deputy Director of NAHI.  “We’re gratified to unveil this prestigious and very appropriately renamed trophy in honor of such a hero of flight, at an aviation event Neil loved to be a part of.  It’s certainly bittersweet, but I know he will be with us in spirit.”

In 1998, the National Aviation Hall of Fame partnered with Rolls-Royce North America, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the Reno Air Racing Foundation and many aviation related organizations to establish and support the National Aviation Heritage Invitational, which was created to foster the preservation of our rich aviation history by encouraging the restoration of vintage aircraft to airworthy condition. NAHI has held annual vintage aircraft competitions in both Dayton, Ohio and Reno, Nevada since 1999. The Invitational competition in Reno is held concurrently with the National Championship Air Races each September.

At each NAHI competition up until now, the Grand Champion, the aircraft judged to be the most authentic example of a vintage aircraft restored to airworthy condition, has been awarded The Rolls-Royce Aviation Heritage Trophy, which resides throughout the year in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center outside of Washington, DC.   Upon its unveiling by the NAHF Enshrinees this Sunday, the award will henceforth be known as the Neil A. Armstrong Aviation Heritage Trophy.  The owner of the winning aircraft is presented with a “keeper” trophy by members of the NAHI staff and Enshrinees of the National Aviation Hall of Fame.  Sponsoring the trophy this year is Gilbert, Arizona-based Perform Air International.

Nearly thirty vintage aircraft are registered for this year’s Invitational, competing also for trophies presented to aircraft judged to be best in their class or particular era.  Additionally, spectators at the event are encouraged to cast a vote for their favorite, the winner presented with the National Aviation Hall of Fame “People’s Choice” Award.

For more detailed information on Neil Armstrong or the National Aviation Hall of Fame, please visit:  www.nationalaviation.org. For more information on the National Aviation Heritage Invitational LLC please visit: www.heritagetrophy.com.

Or contact:
Ron Kaplan, Deputy Director, National Aviation Heritage Invitational LLC and Enshrinement Director, National Aviation Hall of Fame
e-mail: rkaplan@nationalaviation.org
Tel:      937-212-8847

Ken Perich, Executive Director, National Aviation Heritage Invitational LLC
e-mail: ken.perich@perichgroup.com                       
Tel:      703-615-3018