“[The class of 2024] represents the true pioneering spirit of aviation and space exploration, from the quest to travel across the globe faster, more safely and efficiently, to inventing the scientific inventions necessary to reach the moon,” said Jim Kidrick, president and CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. “Achievements in aviation and space, as embodied by the honorees in the prestigious International Air & Space Hall of Fame, directly represent the human pioneering spirit and pursuit of mankind’s future frontiers.”

Among the members of the IASHF, which was established in 1963, are the Wright brothers, pilots Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Chuck Yeager, and Jackie Cochran,  astronauts Neil Armstrong, Bill Anders, and Jim Lovell, and engineers and aircraft designers such as Igor Sikorsky, Wernher von Braun, Jack Northrop, William Boeing Sr., Reuben H. Fleet, and Glenn Curtiss.

The gala event to welcome the honorees is set for November 9 in the Edwin D. McKellar Pavilion of Flight.

This year’s honorees include:

• Stephen Altemus: Altemus is the co-founder, president, and CEO of Intuitive Machines, a company that develops designs to advance both human and robotic exploration of the moon, Mars, and the planets beyond. Altemus and Intuitive Machines partnered with NASA and are a key player in the plans for a manned return to the moon.

• Bell Flight: Bell has been developing helicopters since 1939. The Bell 47, also known as the MASH helicopter, is one of its more famous designs. Known for its versatility, there is hardly a television news department, medical service provider, or law enforcement agency in a large city that hasn’t used a Bell aircraft, a testament to the versatility of the rotor-wing designs. And, of course, the Bell X-1 was the vehicle that ushered in the age of supersonic flight.

• Salvatore “Tory” Bruno: The president and CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA) will be recognized for his leadership at the nation’s most reliable and experienced launch service provider. Since 2006, ULA has made more than 150 consecutive launches using Atlas and Delta rockets. The company is continuing its efforts with the new Vulcan rocket family that will be used for future launches.

• International Council of Air Shows (ICAS): The International Council of Air Shows is the organization behind many of the aviation events that attract thousands to airports around the world. The organization was established in 1967 by airshow professionals and has evolved into a globally recognized authority on airshow safety. ICAS plays a pivotal role in advancing best practices, addressing regulatory and safety concerns, and fostering collaboration with military and civilian stakeholders, resulting in entertaining and safe events.

• Katherine Johnson: The former NASA mathematician was celebrated in the 2016 biopic movie Hidden Figures. Johnson’s calculations in orbital mechanics, done on a chalkboard or with pencil and paper, were instrumental in the success of America’s first crewed spaceflights, including the Apollo moon landings. At the time there were very few women or people of color involved in the space program. Johnson, being both, often had to deal with the stereotypes to have her work recognized and accepted.

• Laurans “Larry” Mendelson: In 1990, Mendelson, with the help of his sons Eric and Victor, took a small Florida-based public company, HEICO, and turned it into an international supplier for aerospace and electronics. Under their leadership, the company makes hundreds of thousands of parts and employs approximately 10,000 team members in 21 states in North America and 15 countries.

• Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider: The B-21 Raider is the next generation of long-range strike bombers. Designed for endurance and stealth as well as manned and unmanned operations, the advanced aircraft is intended to be a key player in the U.S. Air Force strategic bomber fleet.

• Blake Scholl: ,In 2014, Scholl wanted to make high-speed travel a reality as a means to foster deeper global connections, so he founded Boom Supersonic. Through the development of Overture, the world’s fastest commercial airliner, the company strives to create faster, more affordable, and more environmentally sustainable air travel.

The complete list of Hall of Fame members is available here.

The post International Air & Space Hall of Fame Announces 2024 Inductees appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

“The International Air & Space Hall of Fame represents those elite leaders and organizations, which have made lasting contributions regarding aviation and space; and who will be remembered as visionaries and risk-takers, pioneers unwilling to live with the status quo knowing there can be better and more innovative solutions to even the most complex challenges,” said James G. Kidrick, San Diego Air & Space Museum president and chief executive officer.

The 2021 inductees include: 

• NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen
• Space Shuttle Commander Eileen Collins
• Astronaut Charlie Duke
• Federal Express (company founder and CEO Fred Smith accepted the award)
• Former president and executive vice president of the Aerospace Group General Dynamics Corp. Bryan Moss
• Dee O’Hara, the first aerospace nurse assigned to NASA’s first seven astronauts
• The Commemorative Air Force

“It is an enormous privilege to be part of the aviation community, and to be inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame is an honor beyond description,” Bolen said in response to his inclusion on the 2021 honor roll.

Last year, the organization honored Barbara Barrett, an American business person, attorney, and diplomat, and Tammie Jo Shults, retired airline pilot and one of the first women fighter pilots for the U.S. Navy. 

Shults is also famous for leading the crew that successfully handled an uncontained engine failure on a Southwest flight in 2018.

How to Visit the Museum

The San Diego Air & Space Museum sits in Balboa Park in central San Diego. It’s open seven days a week, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The post International Air & Space Hall of Fame Celebrates Honorees appeared first on FLYING Magazine.