Two iconic history-making pilots, the inventor of the blended winglet, an aerospace software engineer mastermind, and an aerospace hero make up the Class of 2022 at the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) in Dayton, Ohio.
Each year, the NAHF Board of Nominations, a voting body of more than 130 aviation professionals nationwide, selects from a prestigious group of nominated air and space pioneers to be recognized for their achievements with induction into the NAHF. Since its founding in 1962, 254 people have been honored with enshrinement into the only Congressionally chartered, aviation hall of fame in the United States.
The Class of 2022 includes:
- (The late) Willa Brown: The First African American female to earn a pilot’s license in the U.S., first to run for Congress, first African American to become a Civil Air Patrol officer, and trainer of more than 200 Tuskegee Airmen.
- (The late) Joe Clark: Founder of the blended winglet, which enhances the performance of airplanes by impacting sustainability in less fuel consumption, longer aircraft range, and reduced carbon emissions.
- Margaret Hamilton: Coined the term “software engineer” to describe her role in developing the in-flight systems software, and Priority Displays for the Apollo command module, lunar lander, and Skylab.
- Story Musgrave: Pilot, physician, mechanic, and former NASA astronaut. Second astronaut to fly on six spaceflights, and only astronaut to fly aboard all five Space Shuttles.
- (The late) Geraldine “Jerrie” Mock: First woman to fly solo around the world, fly around the world as pilot in command, fly across two oceans, and first to fly across the Pacific Ocean in a single engine plane.
“We believe that this is an excellent class and we are already looking forward to their induction in our home, the Birthplace of Aviation, Dayton, Ohio,” NAHF Board of Nominations Chair Tom Lodge said. “From pioneers Brown and Mock to visionaries Clark and Hamilton, and to aerospace hero Musgrave, the NAHF’s Class of 2022 represents the best in aviation.”
The Class of 2022 will be joined by the Class of 2020 for induction into the Hall of Fame Sept. 24, 2022, in Dayton. Pilot and aviation journalist Pete Muntean is lined up to be the emcee of the event and journalist Miles O’Brien will host a panel discussion of enshrinees and aviation legends as part of the weekend activities. The event will be held in conjunction with Wright State University’s Festival of Flight.