The Robert J. Collier Trophy is awarded annually for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America,with respect to improving the performance,efficiency,and safety of air or space vehicles,the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year.
Joe Henry Engle was an American pilot,aeronautical engineer,and NASA astronaut. He was the commander of two Space Shuttle missions including STS-2 in 1981,the program's second orbital flight. He also flew two flights in the Shuttle program's 1977 Approach and Landing Tests. Engle was one of twelve pilots who flew the North American X-15,an experimental spaceplane jointly operated by the Air Force and NASA.
The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) is a federally recognized 501c3 whose mission is to advance and oversee the advancement of the art,sport,and science of aviation and space flight. The NAA achieves this by fostering opportunities to participate fully in aviation activities and promoting public understanding of the importance of aviation and space flight in the United States.
Paul Beattie MacCready Jr. was an American aeronautical engineer. He was the founder of AeroVironment and the designer of the human-powered aircraft that won the first Kremer prize. He devoted his life to developing more efficient transportation vehicles that could "do more with less".
Geraldine "Jerrie" Fredritz Mock was an American pilot and the first woman to fly solo around the world. She flew a single engine Cessna 180 christened the Spirit of Columbus and nicknamed "Charlie." The trip began March 19,1964,in Columbus,Ohio,and ended April 17,1964,in Columbus,Ohio. It took 29 days,11 hours and 59 minutes,with 21 stopovers and almost 22,860 miles (36,790 km). The flight was part of a "race" that developed between Jerrie Mock and Joan Merriam Smith who had flown from a field near San Francisco,CA on March 17,1964;Smith's departure date and flight path was the same as the aviator Amelia Earhart's last flight. Although they were not in direct competition with each other,media coverage soon began tracking the progress of each pilot,fascinated with who would complete the journey first. Mock was the first to finish. The story of this race is told in a book written by Taylor Phillips entitled,Queen of the Clouds;Joan Merriam Smith and Jerrie Mock's Epic Quest to Become the First Woman to Fly Solo Around the World (2023). Jerrie Mock was subsequently awarded the Louis Blériot medal from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in 1965. In 1970 she published the story of her round-the-world flight in the book Three-Eight Charlie. While that book is now out of print,a 50th anniversary edition was later published including maps,weather charts and photos. Three-Eight Charlie is a reference to the call sign,N1538C,of the Cessna 180 Skywagon Mock used to fly around the world. Before her death,Mock,mother of three children,resided in Quincy,Florida;northwest of the state capital,Tallahassee.
Fay Gillis Wells was an American pioneer aviator,globe-trotting journalist and a broadcaster.
Olive Ann Beech was an American aerospace businesswoman who was the co-founder,president,and chairwoman of the Beech Aircraft Corporation. She founded the company in 1932 with her husband,Walter Beech,and a team of three others. She earned more awards,honorary appointments,and special citations than any other woman in aviation history and was often referred to as the “First Lady of Aviation”.
The Tony Jannus Award recognizes outstanding individual achievement in scheduled commercial aviation by airline executives,inventors and manufacturers,and government leaders. The award is conferred annually by the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society and was first bestowed in 1964 in Tampa,Florida,U.S. Its namesake,aviation pioneer Tony Jannus,piloted the inaugural flight of the St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line on January 1,1914,the first scheduled commercial airline flight in the world using heavier-than-air aircraft. In addition to preserving the legacy of Tony Jannus,the non-profit society also offers financial assistance to college students pursuing studies in aviation and conducts an annual essay contest for high school students to encourage careers in aviation.
Barbara McConnell Barrett is an American businesswoman,attorney and diplomat who served as the United States secretary of the Air Force from 2019 to 2021. She is also an instrument-rated pilot,and cattle and bison rancher.
Jack G. Real was an aerospace pioneer and Howard Hughes confidant.
Cheryl Stearns is an American skydiver.
Nicole A. Avant is an American producer and political activist. She served as the United States Ambassador to the Bahamas from 2009 to 2011.
Julie E. Clark is a retired American aerobatic air show aviator and commercial airline pilot. She started her commercial flying career with Golden West Airlines as a first officer and ended it in 2003 as a Northwest Airlines Airbus A320 Captain. She was one of the first female pilots to work for a major airline,and has been voted as "Performer of the Year" several times over the years for her air show performances.
Walter J. Boyne was a United States Air Force officer,Command Pilot,combat veteran,aviation historian,and author of more than 50 books and over 1,000 magazine articles. He was a director of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution and a Chairman of the National Aeronautic Association.
AERO Specialties,Inc. is a manufacturer and international distributor of new and refurbished aircraft ground support equipment (GSE). AERO Specialties was founded in 1987 by President Matt Sheehan to supply GSE products to corporate,fixed-base operator (FBO),commercial,military,and general aviation customers globally. AERO Specialties manufactures aircraft diesel-electric hybrid ground power units (GPUs),lavatory,potable water,cleaning,and oxygen/nitrogen servicing carts,as well as aircraft towbars and heads. AERO Specialties is an authorized U.S. distributor for TLD,Clyde Machines,Powervamp,LiftSafe,and more.
Donald Davenport Engen was a United States Navy vice admiral,former Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and former Director of the National Air and Space Museum.
Jenijoy La Belle is an American professor emeritus of English literature at California Institute of Technology. Hired in 1969,she became the first female untenured professor in Caltech history. She is known for her fight to attain tenure in the early '70s,also at Caltech. She was granted tenure in 1979. She retired in 2007.
Doris Estella (Rhoads) Lockness was a pioneering American aviator. Two of her sons,Dave Rhodes and Ron Rhoads were Olympic cyclists.
Rolf Julius Engen was an American businessman,inventor,basketball player,volleyball player,coach,and entrepreneur in the American fine wine market.
Ruby Ann Cooper-Darling is a Bahamian politician and stateswoman.
