LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky native Fred Keller, whose record of EAA awards earns respect among homebuilders, will be inducted into the Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame during a ceremony and banquet Oct. 27.
Keller’s EAA achievements include: Best auto-powered homebuilt aircraft 1973; Grand Champion Homebuilt 1980; the 1981 Wright Brothers Award; and the 1989 Grand Champion, plans-built homebuilt. The 1989 recognition was for Keller’s STOL Prospector, and occurred after the plane had been damaged in an emergency landing during the 1989 EAA convention. Keller also built the first Defiant from Dick Rutan in 1980.
As a resident of Anchorage, Alaska, Keller has volunteered in local schools for science education. Students guided by Keller have placed in the Alaska State and National Science Olympiad with their model aircraft.
Keller and three other honorees will be inducted at a black-tie dinner held at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky at Blue Grass Airport. Reservations are $90 for museum members and $100 for others. These can be made online at AviationKy.org.
The Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame has honored natives of Kentucky and other outstanding individuals for their aviation or aerospace achievements since the first enshrinement in 1996. Previous honorees include inventors, civilian pilots, scientists, designers, military aviators, and airline executives.
For more information: 859-317-2815.
Leave a Reply