International Air & Space Hall of Fame

32.7262°N 117.1544°W / 32.7262; -117.1544

The 2016 induction gala for the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.

The International Air & Space Hall of Fame is an honor roll of people, groups, organizations, or things that have contributed significantly to the advancement of aerospace flight and technology, sponsored by the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Since its founding in 1963, over 200 individuals have been inducted into the Hall, with new additions inaugurated at an annual gala.[1]

History

The International Aerospace Hall of Fame (IAHF) was incorporated on 27 September 1963 as a nonprofit with the mission "to honor the great achievers of aviation and space endeavors"[2] and the first induction ceremony took place on 18 March 1965 at the San Diego Convention Hall. Although originally housed in the San Diego Air & Space Museum, the Hall of Fame was a separate entity with its own board of directors, until the two institutions merged in 1993.[3] On 22 February 1978 arsonists destroyed the Balboa Park Electrical Building, containing both the Air & Space Museum and the Hall of Fame.[4] The blaze consumed the Hall of Fame's entire portrait gallery, incinerating more than 60 original paintings crafted to represent each inductee. Replacement of the portraits was overseen by the board of directors, who enlisted local artists and encouraged creative depictions of each figure in their era. Additionally, the board instructed the artists to include in each painting a representation of the figure's achievement, usually in the form of an aircraft or rocket, a practice which continues today.[5][6]

After the fire, $4.5 million was the set goal for the San Diego Aerospace Museum and Hall of Fame Recovery Fund, a sum met in large part through contributions from aviation corporations and foundations, donations from private citizens, and support from the government. Though the Museum and Hall of Fame had planned to reopen triumphantly on 17 December 1978, the 75th anniversary of the Wright Brother's first successful flight, delays in renovation and aircraft delivery forced continual postponement of the opening date for over a year.[7] Finally, exactly two years after the fire, the Hall of Fame reopened on 22 February 1980 in the historic Ford Building.[8]

Inductees
  • member (year of induction)

See also

References
  1. "International Air & Space Hall of Fame to Enshrine Distinguished Class of 2018". Warbirds News. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  2. Sprekelmeyer, Linda (2011). These We Honor: The International Aerospace Hall of Fame. San Diego: San Diego Air & Space Museum. p. 1.
  3. Pescador, Katrina (2014). Celebrating San Diego Air & Space Museum. San Diego.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. "Fire Destroys Aerospace Museum-St. Joseph Gazette. February 23, 1978. Retrieved February 23, 2013".
  5. Hoffman, Andrea (14 November 1978). "Museum Gets a Paint Job". Los Angeles Times.
  6. Sprekelmeyer, Linda, ed. (2006). These We Honor: The International Aerospace Hall of Fame. Donning. ISBN 978-1-57864-397-4.
  7. Jones, Jack (26 May 1980). "The Air Was Turbulent, but Museum Made It". Los Angeles Times.
  8. "From Out Of The Ashes, The Phoenix Shall Rise: The San Diego Aerospace Museum Fire Revisited". Times of San Diego. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
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