Two iconic history-making pilots, two groundbreakers in aviation policy, an Apollo-era astronaut, and a commercial aerospace pioneer and one of the richest men on the planet, make up the Class of 2023 for the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
The Class of 2023 includes:
- (The late) Velta Benn: An aviation pioneer who began as a Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) and went on to fly for more than 63 years, amassing 55,000 flying hours as a CFI, FAA examiner, and safety expert.
- (The late) Cornelius Coffey: An aviation pioneer who, despite racial barriers, became a pilot and mechanic who opened a flight school that trained more than 1,500 students, including hundreds of Tuskegee Airmen.
- Angela Gittens: A ground-breaking leader who shaped airport security and policy as the CEO of multiple large-hub airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and Director General of Airports Council International.
- Fred Haise: Marine, fighter pilot, test pilot, Apollo astronaut, Space Shuttle astronaut, aerospace executive, and best selling author.
- (The late) Ed Stimpson: Business aviation legend, who served in multiple leadership roles and drove policy in key areas such as fuel, education, and was essential in the General Aviation Revitalization Act in 1994. He served as president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association for 25 years.
- Elon Musk: Entrepreneur and founder of Space X, the first private company to put crewed spacecraft in orbit and dock with the ISS.
“From pioneers Benn and Coffey to visionaries Gittens, Stimpson, and Musk, and to aerospace hero Haise, the NAHF’s Class of 2023 represents the best in aviation,” said Tom Lodge, chairman of the NAFH Board of Nominations.
The Class of 2023 will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame during a ceremony in the fall of 2023.
For more information: NationalAviation.org