National Aviation Hall of Fame reveals Class of 2016

During last week’s National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas, the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) revealed the names of the four individuals who have been elected for enshrinement at its annual formal ceremony next October in Dayton.

Each year, the NAHF Board of Nominations, a voting body comprised of more than 120 aviation professionals nationwide, selects a handful of nominated air and space pioneers to be recognized for their achievements. Since its founding in 1962, 229 men and women have been honored.

The NAHF Class of 2016 includes:

• Capt. Robert L. Crippen, USN (Ret), a former Naval Aviator who later joined the NASA astronaut corps, piloting the first NASA Space Shuttle mission, STS-1, and three others before transitioning to Shuttle mission director roles.
• The late Col. George “Bud” Day, USAF (Ret), a Marines Corps combat veteran of World War II who became an Air Force fighter pilot in Korea and S.E. Asia; he was shot down and spent 67 months as Vietnam War POW, earning the Medal of Honor.
• Christopher “Chris” Kraft, Jr., a NACA aeronautical engineer who became NASA’s first flight director, creating, implementing and directing its Mission Control Center for manned space flight programs.
• Tom Poberezny, two-time former aerobatic champion and airshow performer who later served as president, chairman and CEO of the Experimental Aircraft Association. He established the EAA Young Eagles program to encourage youth to become pilots.