July 9, 2020
Dear NAA Members and Friends,
We hope that you had a very happy (and safe) Fourth of July weekend. As we enter into the summer season, NAA continues to work on behalf of our members to provide opportunities for engagement.
On June 25, NAA hosted our second webinar in partnership with the National Aviation Hall of Fame, “SPACE: Charting the Next Trajectory.” Panelists Capt. Robert “Hoot” Gibson, Brett Alexander, Dr. Ellen Stofan, and Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden had a lively discussion about space flight – past, present, and future. If you missed the webinar, a recorded version is available here. Please save the date for our next webinar, “Aerobatics and Air Shows: Get Your Fix,” on July 24 with special guests Patty Wagstaff, Capt. Julie Clark, Vicki Benzing, and Peggy Reidinger. Additional details coming soon!
Part of NAA’s mission is identifying and recognizing those who have contributed to the “art, sport, and science of aviation and space flight in the United States.” Throughout the year, NAA presents more than a dozen awards to honor achievements in aerospace. The nomination period is NOW OPEN for the following awards:
Harmon Aeronaut Trophy: Nominations due July 15
Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy: Nominations due August 15
Distinguished Statesperson of Aviation Awards: Nominations due August 31
Brewer Trophy: Nominations due August 31
Public Benefit Flying Awards: Nominations due August 31
For questions regarding NAA awards, please contact Stephanie Griffith, Director of Awards, Events, and Membership at [email protected].
In exciting space news, NASA announced on June 23 that it has created an office within the commercial crew program, called Suborbital Crew, or SubC, that will develop a process for NASA personnel to fly on vehicles such as Blue Origin’s New Shepard, which was awarded the NAA Robert J. Collier Trophy for 2016 and Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo, which was nominated for the same trophy in 2018. “NASA is developing the process to fly astronauts on commercial suborbital spacecraft,” shared NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a tweet. “Whether it’s suborbital, orbital, or deep space, NASA will utilize our nation’s innovative commercial capabilities.” Commercial suborbital spaceflight capabilities are anticipated to be more accessible, affordable, and available than missions to the International Space Station and could provide NASA additional commercial human spaceflights to conduct such activities such as testing and additional training opportunities for astronauts and other NASA personnel.
Lastly, the application period for Women in Aviation International’s (WAI) 2021 scholarship program is now open! Every year, WAI awards more than 100 aviation and and aerospace scholarships, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, to its members. WAI members can apply for up to three scholarships each year and applications are due November 10, 2020. Interested applicants can view scholarship requirements, learn how to submit a winning application, and watch videos of past scholarship winners on the WAI website.
