The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) 55th Annual Enshrinement Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, taking place in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 28-29, 2017.
The formal NAHF dinner and ceremony, widely known as America’s “Oscar Night of Aviation,” will see the Class of 2017 formally inducted on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Fort Worth Alliance Airport.
Admission to the public will be by advance reservation.
Approximately 1,000 aviation business leaders, public officials and enthusiasts are expected to attend, including many participating air show performers such as 2008 enshrinee, Sean D. Tucker.
“We are thrilled that the (NAHF) board has chosen to make the most of the opportunity afforded to us by holding enshrinement at Alliance,” said Enshrinement Chairman David Brixey. “The Fort Worth Alliance Air Show is a world-class event attended by over 120,000 people annually. To present our enshrinement ceremony and the Hall of Fame’s story at such a premier aviation gathering is outstanding.”
Dayton, Ohio, the permanent home and headquarters of the non-profit NAHF, has been the host city of the ceremony and dinner since 1964.
“While the board appreciates what Dayton has provided for enshrinement, as a Congressionally-chartered national organization we are called to make our mission known to the rest of the United States,” explained Chairman Bill Harris.
According to NAHF Enshrinement Director Ron Kaplan, with the board decision now official, planning for the event begins in earnest.
“What an exciting opportunity to share the Hall of Fame’s mission while honoring our new enshrinees before over 100,000 fans of flight,” said Kaplan. “We look forward to working with the very robust Texas aviation and aerospace communities as we now bring our ceremony planning up to full speed.”
The Enshrinee Class of 2017 includes Major General Charles F. Bolden, Jr., USMC (Ret); the late Commander Malcolm Scott Carpenter, USN; test pilot Robert J. Gilliland, and the late Sir Frank Whittle.
The NAHF is located within the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. The NAHF Learning Center is open year round from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.(closed for all federal holidays).
