RENO, Nevada — The National Aviation Heritage Invitational (NAHI), which is held during the Reno Air Races, features some spectacular aircraft.
Adding to the glitz and glamour in 2022 are the National Aviation Hall of Fame enshrinees who will present trophies to the winners this year.
The races are slated from Sept. 14-19.
Aviation legends expected at the invitational include:
- Former Naval aviator, astronaut, and air racing champion Robert “Hoot” Gibson
- WWII Triple Ace and test pilot Clarence “Bud” Anderson
- Record-setting pilot Dick Rutan
- Aerial cinematography and aviation pioneer Clay Lacy
- World-renowned aerobatic pilot Sean D. Tucker
- Retired Army Major General Patrick Brady, a Medal of Honor recipient
- NASA astronaut and retired Air Force Brigadier General Charlie Duke
In the National Aviation Heritage Invitational, owners and restorers of aircraft that are at least 45 years old compete for the Grand Champion Neil A. Armstrong Aviation Heritage Trophy. The trophy resides at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles Airport in Virginia. The winning aircraft owner’s name and the name of the restoration facility is engraved on a plaque placed on the perpetual trophy.
Aircraft will be judged by a team of restoration experts in five categories:
- Antique
- Classic
- Military
- Large
- Contemporary
Additionally, the People’s Choice Award is determined by spectators voting on site for their favorite aircraft.
The winner of the Armstrong Trophy and each of the category winners are presented with a trophy they can keep, officials noted.
“Given the mission of the Invitational is to recognize excellence in the preservation of airworthy vintage aircraft, it’s our honor to have such heroes and legends of flight join us in presenting the winners their awards,” said NAHI Deputy Director Ron Kaplan, past executive director at the NAHF. “Worth note is that 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of our renaming the grand champion trophy in honor of the late Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon and a long-time enshrinee participant in the Invitational. The Invitational was one of Neil’s favorite annual events, and I have no doubt he’ll be smiling down upon another spectacular week at Reno.”
For more information about the National Aviation Heritage Invitational, go to HeritageTrophy.com.