Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame


The Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame recognizes aviation pioneers and contributors associated with the state of Georgia. The museum was created in 1989 by Governor Joe Frank Harris signing House Bill 110. The law called for a 15-member board to oversee the hall of fame, and for it to be housed at the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base.
Candidates may be living or deceased, but must have been born in Georgia, lived in Georgia for at least four years, or made their contribution to aviation or aerospace in Georgia. The first class of seven was inducted at a banquet on August 26, 1989. A second group of seven was inducted at Robins on May 18, 1991 and a third class of five was inducted on November 7, 1992. Additional inductions have continued into 2020, with the hall of fame now containing 120 individuals.

Inductees

NameImageBirth–DeathYearArea of achievement
2006Military engineer who pioneered using observation balloons during combat
2011Educator of aviators
2013Civil aviation businessman, creator of the Candler Field Museum
2009World War I aviator
2002Aircraft manufacturer Ayres Corporation founder
2016Decorated Vietnam War veteran of the U.S. Army
2015U.S. Air Force
2007
2013Delta Air Lines pilot
2005Delta Air Lines pilot
2000
2014Aviator and skydiver
2000
2000
2015U.S. Air Force
2009Civil aviation business
2009Civil aviation business
1995Former NASA astronaut and former Director of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center and Langley Research Center
2017Greenland Expedition Society, restorer of vintage military aircraft
1989World War I aviator, the first African-American military pilot
2003Aviator, writer and member of Mercury 13 female astronauts group
1992NASA astronaut who flew on STS-33
2006
2015Vietnam War fighter pilot, author of "My Enemy…My Friend"
1997U.S. Air Force officer who was commander-in-chief of the North American Air Defense Command, the Continental Air Defense Command, and was also a commander of Aerospace Defense Command
2002American aviation pioneer and one of the most prominent racing pilots of her generation
1996US Army Air Corps aviator during World War II
2012U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Delta Air Lines
2002
2001
1991The first United States Marine Corps officer who became an aviator
2003
1991
1998World War II aviator, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, author of A-Train: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman.
1995Marine Corps aviator who was the first aviator to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II
1989Aviation pioneer called “Georgia’s First Aviator”, namesake of Athens Ben Epps Airport
2011Greenland Expedition Society
1994
2018Television aviator
2003
2003
2003Helped develop the autogyro at Pitcairn Aviation
2016Public safety aviator
1996Senior Leader of the US Air National Guard
2016U.S. Army skydiver, one of the original Golden Knights
1991
1995Civilian research pilot at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center after a U.S. Air Force career
2014Delta Air Lines executive
2000United States Army Air Corps officer in World War II
1994World War II pilot who participated in the Battle of Midway
2006
2011Grumman and Gulfstream executive
2012Supervised creation of Atlanta’s main airport
2002World War II Marines Corps aviator with the so-called Black Sheep Squadron
2001U.S. Air Force officer long associated with Georgia bases including Moody and Robins; made significant contributions to aircraft engineering
2005Executive for Delta Air Lines, Continental Air Lines, Air Canada and World Airways
1994Former president and CEO of Lockheed Corporation
1997Aviation fire safety pioneer who flew for Delta and the Royal Air Force
2004Civil aviation pioneer, early aerial traffic reporter, Hill Aviation Service
2006
2020U.S. Air Force, Delta Air Lines
1996
1994One of the first WASPs in World War II, one of the first women air traffic controllers, organized first all-woman squadron in Civil Air Patrol.
2020Young Eagles program
1991Founder and former chairman of Southern Airways
1989World War I aviator, Georgia’s only flying ace
1998Vietnam War aviator for United States Air Force, Medal of Honor recipient
2018U.S. Army Air Corp, Lockheed test pilot
2013AirTran airline founder
2004
2014Air mail aviator and aerial acrobat
2019Lowe's Aviation in Macon
1996Founder of Lowe's Aviation in Macon
2009Artist
2010Educator of aviators, early member of WAVES
1998World War II bomber pilot
1992Civilian aircraft manufacturer with Maule Air
1999Civilian aircraft manufacturer with Maule Air
2007
1999United States Navy fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient
1997United States Army major killed in action during World War II, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
2018U.S. Air Force
2012Educator of aviators
1989U.S. Navy World War II aviator
1998
1991Educator of aviators, including Charles Lindbergh in 1923
2007
2010U.S. Air Force
2007
2004United States Air Force major general associated with Robins Air Force Base
2016Civil aviation
2003
2002
2000Air Force lieutenant general who was deputy commander in chief, U.S. Readiness Command
2000Major General in the United States Air Force who served as Director of Plans and Policy for the United States Readiness Command
2005
2010U.S. Air Force
1992Aviation businessman
1991Designer of a series of aerobatic biplanes known as the Pitts Special
2012United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War who received the Medal of Honor
1989U.S. Army AIr Corp, World War II aviator, “Georgia’s First Lady in Flight”, a Georgia Woman of Achievement
2011Air America pilot
1999fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient; long associated with Eastern Air Lines which was based in Atlanta
199774th Governor of the state of Georgia, who encouraged airport construction throughout the state
1991Early proponent of Atlanta's airport Candler Field, helped convince his friend William B. Hartsfield it was a good idea
1989U.S. Air Force, World War II aviator, author of "God Is My Co-Pilot”
2014U.S. Air Force
2009U.S. Army, World War II aviator, aviation instructor
2006Delta Air Lines pilot who competed in aerobatics competitions
2020U.S. Air Force Major General; Aviation and military commentary on TV
2005
1989World War I aviator
2019Aviation insurance industry
201952 year career with Delta Air Lines
2004United States Navy admiral and pioneer naval aviator
1995United States Navy fighter pilot, former astronaut for both the United States Air Force and NASA, eighth NASA Administrator. He was the first former astronaut to head the space agency.
2001Vietnam War pilot for United States Air Force, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor
2010World War II aviator
1992Delta Air Lines co-founder
2001
NASA astronaut, naval officer and aviator, test pilot. Ninth person to walk on the Moon during Apollo 16, commanded STS-1, STS-9.