Hintons to be Enshrined in International Air & Space Hall of Fame

SAN DIEGO – Steve Hinton Jr., Steve Hinton, Sr., their family, The Boeing Company, Apollo 15 Astronaut Al Worden, Coast Guard Aviation, Dale Myers, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the “Non-Skeds”, and ORBIS International Flying Eye Hospital are among the honorees being enshrined during this year’s International Air & Space Hall of Fame Celebration.  Tickets are on sale now!

Join the San Diego Air & Space Museum in celebrating the honorees on Thursday, November 17, 2016, in the Museum’s Pavilion of Flight. Guests from around the world are assembling for a spectacular evening of fun and extraordinary recognition, as each attendee is treated to an experiential peek into the lives of these air and space legends. Since 1963 the International Air & Space Hall of Fame has honored more than 200 of the world’s most significant pilots, crew members, visionaries, inventors, aerospace engineers, business leaders, preservationists, designers and space pioneers.

The Distinguished Class of 2016 includes: America’s Aviation Family of Excellence: The Hintons and Maloneys, Air Racing and Warbird Legends; The Boeing Company, celebrating its 100th Anniversary as one of the world’s elite aircraft and aerospace pioneers; the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the world’s largest pilot community is dedicated to making flying safe, fun and affordable; Al Worden, Command Module Pilot to for Apollo 15 and the first man to conduct a spacewalk in deep space; The Boeing Company, which in 2016 is celebrating 100 years as one of the world’s elite aircraft and aerospace pioneers; Coast Guard Aviation, which for 100 years has been a vital element of everything the Coast Guard does; Dale Myers, whose remarkable career spanned developmental work at North American, through the successful landing of Apollo 11 to the Space Shuttle program; the “Non-Skeds” which developed successful airlines from surplus WWII airplanes; and ORBIS International Flying Eye Hospital, a nonprofit development organization dedicated to saving eyesight worldwide.

The honorees are selected for their qualitative achievements and historic contributions to aviation, space and aerospace innovation or expanding the public’s aviation and space awareness to the world. Their contributions are prime examples of endurance and the adventurous exploring spirit in the pursuit of knowledge and scientific advancement.

“We’re especially pleased to honor this exemplary Class of 2016 because these pioneers have not only made significant contributions in air and space exploration, they’ve also become strong positive role models for today’s youth,” said Jim Kidrick, President & CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. “Aviation and space exploration, as embodied by the honorees in the International Air & Space Hall of Fame, directly represents the human pioneering spirit. November 17 is THE evening of the year every guest will remember for the rest of their lives. We honor these legends on behalf of San Diegans, and really everyone in the world. People come from all over the globe to be at this celebration.”

The International Air & Space Hall of Fame is the most prestigious induction of its kind in the world and is composed of hundreds of air and space pioneers, engineers, inventors and innovators, along with adventurers, scientists and industry leaders. NASA Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts and Russian cosmonauts are honored in the Hall of Fame, plus famous legends such as the Wright brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Chuck Yeager. Notable inductees include Igor Sikorsky, Wernher von Braun, Jack Northrop, William Boeing, Sr., Reuben H. Fleet, Glenn Curtiss, Walter Zable Sr., Fran Bera, Wally Schirra, Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, T. Claude Ryan, Jimmy Doolittle, Frederick Rohr, Waldo Waterman, Bob Hoover, Harrison Ford, Patty Wagstaff, the NBAA, and many others. See the following link: http://sandiegoairandspace.org

Proceeds from the evening benefit the Museum’s youth education programs.

“Inspiring kids to undertake tough science and engineering challenges is a critical first step for our future,” Kidrick said. “We must also give them the resources and impetus they need to pursue science education degrees.”

The Class of 2016:

America’s Aviation Family of Excellence: The Maloneys and Hintons, Warbird and Air Racing Legends
Planes of Fame Air Museum is the oldest aviation museum west of the Rockies. Founded in 1957 by Edward Maloney, who, inspired by Gen “Hap” Arnold to save one of each and keep ‘em flying, amassed a collection of over 150 aircraft and warbirds, 35 of which are flyable. Many of these aircraft are the last of their type, saved by this visionary who passed away in August of 2016. His passion to preserve aviation history has been passed on to his children John and Karen, his son-in-law Steve Hinton, Sr. and their grandson Steven Hinton, Jr. who currently serve on the museum’s Board of Directors.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) - Founded in 1939, this nonprofit has been protecting the freedom to fly for more than 75 years. This organization started small, but today the world’s largest pilot community is dedicated to flying safe, fun and affordable. Initiative, teamwork, service, integrity and excellence are the simple but important values AOPA represents.

Al Worden - As Command Module Pilot for Apollo 15, the first extended scientific exploration of the Moon, Al Worden spent six days orbiting our neighbor in space, including three days completely alone, the most isolated human in existence. During the return to earth he also conducted the first spacewalk in deep space, becoming the first human to see both the entire Earth and Moon simply by turning his head. The Apollo 15 flight capped an already-impressive career as an astronaut for Worden, including important contributions on the pioneering Apollo 9 and Apollo 12 missions, as well as the perilous flight of Apollo 13.

The Boeing Company – 100th Anniversary
In 2016, the International Air & Space Hall of Fame congratulates The Boeing Company as it celebrates 100 years as one of the world’s elite aircraft and aerospace pioneers.  During those 100 years, The Boeing Company’s contributions to technology and innovation in aviation and space have contributed to virtually every scientific field. Throughout this remarkable journey, The Boeing Company led truly from the ‘front’. Previous Boeing luminaries have also taken their rightful places in the International Air & Space Hall of Fame, including founder William E. Boeing (enshrined in 1984), his son Bill Boeing Jr. (2014), legal counsel and President William Allen (1975), and former senior executive leader and President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally (2015).

Coast Guard Aviation – 100th Anniversary
“You have to go out, but you don’t have to come back!” This unofficial motto of the Coast Guard dates to an 1899 United States Lifesaving Service regulation, which states in part: “In attempting a rescue…he will not desist from his efforts until by actual trial, the impossibility of effecting a rescue is demonstrated.” From assisting with the establishment of crucial aids to navigation, to conducting medical evacuations of mariners at sea, to transporting endangered sea animals from coast to coast, Coast Guard aviation is a key element in nearly every Coast Guard mission.

Dale Myers had a remarkable career beginning in the mid-1940s, with his developmental work on various aircraft including the North American F-82 Twin Mustang. During the next two decades, he experienced steady advancement into missile development at Rockwell International, and by 1964, had culminated with contract work for NASA’s space program where he became Program Manager of the Apollo program’s Command/Service Module Program. From 1970 to 1974, Dale was the Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight at NASA, a period he most often described as the highlight of his career. He was in charge of Apollo 13 to 17, and Skylab, and led the initial planning of the Apollo/Soyuz and Shuttle Programs.

Non-Skeds - The “non-skeds airlines” were formed by a group of WWII pilots looking to continue flying after being discharged from the Air Force. Using DC-3’s, DC-4’s, C-46’s, and other war-surplus aircraft, this upstart airline was set to challenge the dominance of the airways held by the scheduled airlines. The Non-Scheduled Airlines were the direct product of the economic model of supply and demand. The supply side in 1945 included the large numbers of motivated pilots and surplus aircraft that came out of the Armed Forces after World War II. The demand side was the huge untapped market of potential air travelers who wanted fast, low-cost transportation. Stan Weiss, Hal Cope and Ralph Cox were at the forefront of the entrepreneurs who saw this opportunity and capitalized on it.

ORBIS International Flying Eye Hospital - ORBIS International is a nonprofit development organization dedicated to saving eyesight worldwide. At the heart of ORBIS is the world’s only Flying Eye Hospital—a DC-10 aircraft containing an innovative teaching facility and ophthalmic surgical center. Volunteer pilots from FedEx Express and United Airlines fly the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital around the world, and its international medical team conducts treatment and training programs. Leading eye surgeons volunteer their time to perform surgery and teach aboard the aircraft during programs specifically designed to suit the skill level of host countries.

More than 500 regional, national and international business, air and space leaders are anticipated to attend the 2016 International Air & Space Hall of Fame Gala, including prominent representatives from the Boeing, Coast Guard Aviation, AOPA. ORBIS, as well as numerous living honorees.

The San Diego Air & Space Museum is California’s official air and space museum and education center. The Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and it was the first aero-themed Museum to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Now showing: Da Vinci: The Ultimate Innovator, a special exhibition showcasing more than 90 robotics, machines and artworks from the greatest inventor of all time. The Museum is located at 2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101. The Museum and gift store are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with admissions until 4:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Original news release courtesy of Warbird News