Mon, Aug 02, 2004
Awards Presented To Aviation Over-Achievers At Airventure
By ANN Contributor Christopher Armstrong
The Theater In The Woods is AirVenture's largest gathering
place. It is small enough to feel intimate. But with three sides
open to the surrounding woods an enormous crowd can gather around
the theater. That was the case Thursday night in Oshkosh (WI), when
the EAA and FAA presented some of their most prestigious awards to
several of aviation's best.
The EAA's highest honor, the Freedom of Flight Award, was
presented to Dick "Van" Van Grunsven, the most successful kit plane
design of all time. More then 3600 of his designs have been built
and flown. Thousands more are under construct, and EAA President
Tom Poberezny quipped that EAA had to expand the convention grounds
several times because of Van's amazing success.
The Freedom of Flight Award is presented each year to the person
whose contributions to aviation closely mirror the integrity and
high standards that the EAA has established over its 50-plus year
history. Past recipients include aviation legends Steve Wittman,
Chuck Yeager, Burt and Dick Rutan, Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Neil
Armstrong, and Paul Poberezny.
Van Grunsven never would have predicted the level of his own
success. Accepting the award he said. "It was inconceivable 30
years ago that anyone would end up producing more airplanes than
some of the major manufacturers, but that's the way it has
evolved."
Poberezny also lauded Bob Hasson, Butch Joyce and Lloyd Richards
with the President's Awards. It provides Poberezny with a chance to
personally acknowledge members whose participation and
contributions represent the "essence" of EAA.
Following the Freedom Of Flight presentations, FAA Administrator
Marion Blakey handed out three general aviation industry awards, as
well as FAA's National Aviation Safety Counselor Award.
The industry awards program honors the National Certificated
Flight Instructor of the Year, the National Aviation Maintenance
Technician of the Year and the National Avionics Technician of the
Year. The winners this year were:
- CFI Of The Year: Douglas "Doug" Stewart, North Egremont
(MA)
- Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year: Gary Stephen
Goodpaster, Cincinnati (OH)
- Avionics Technician of the Year: Keith Bryan Lewis, Spartanburg
(SC)
- Aviation Safety Counselor of the Year: Walter Schuyler "Walt"
Schamel, Winter Haven (FL)
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