Awards - Balloon Federation of America

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Harmon The Harmon Aeronaut Trophy is awarded for the most outstanding international achievement in the art and/or science of aeronautics (ballooning) for the calendar period of July 1 - June 30 of the previous year.

NOMINATION PERIOD: April 15 - July 15

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In 1926, Colonel Clifford B. Harmon, an early balloonist and aviator, established international trophies to be awarded annually to the world's outstanding aviator, aviatrix, aeronaut (balloon or dirigible) and astronaut (added in 1969).

Today, NAA continues to uphold the tradition by giving out the aeronaut (ballooning) trophy, awarded for the most outstanding international achievement in the art and/or science of aeronautics (ballooning) for the previous year.

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Distinguished Statesman The Statesman awards were established in 1954 to honor outstanding Americans who, by their efforts over an extended period of years, have made contributions of significant value to aeronautics, and have reflected credit upon America and themselves. The award was renamed in 2007 in honor of former NAA Chairman Wesley L. McDonald and is presented at NAA's Fall Awards Dinner.

NOMINATION PERIOD: May 1 â€“ August 31

LINK TO NAA AWARD SITE

The Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award was established on October 16, 1954, by the Board of Directors of the National Aeronautic Association. The purpose of the award is to honor outstanding living Americans who, by their efforts over an extended period of years, have made contributions of significant value to aeronautics, and have reflected credit upon America and themselves.The Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award was established on October 16, 1954, by the Board of Directors of the National Aeronautic Association. The purpose of the award is to honor outstanding living Americans who, by their efforts over an extended period of years, have made contributions of significant value to aeronautics, and have reflected credit upon America and themselves.

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Collier Full View The Robert J. Collier Trophy is awarded annually "for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year." The list of Collier winners represents a timeline of aviation, as many of the awardees mark major events in the history of flight.

In addition to being an aviator, humanitarian, and sportsman, Mr. Collier (the only son of Collierâ€™s Weekly publisher P.F. Collier) was a prominent publisher whose family created the popular Colliers Weekly. While President of the Aero Club of America, National Chapter (now the National Aeronautic Association), Collier commissioned the trophy in 1910 with the intent to encourage the American aviation community to strive for excellence and achievement in aeronautic development. The 525 pound trophy was commissioned of Baltimore sculptor Ernest Wise Keyser and was originally called the Aero Club Trophy. It was officially renamed the Robert J. Collier Trophy in 1944 and put on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum in 1951.

In recognizing the worth and future of aviation, Mr. Collier proclaimed the ideal that, "the flying machine should be unselfishly and rapidly developed to its ultimate potential for economic advancement in America." In support of his statement, Collier was the first person to purchase an airplane from the Wright brothers for personal use. Shortly thereafter, he loaned his aircraft to the U.S. Army for flight evaluations at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, which led to the first military orders for a flying machine. Robert J. Collier died in 1918 after completing his military service in World War I.

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US Ballooning Hall of Fame Award

Nominations due before May 1 of award year.

The US Ballooning Hall of Fame Award is a partnership effort between the Balloon Federation of America and the National Balloon Museum. The award is designed to recognize individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the history, development or growth of ballooning in the United States. The selection of an inductee to the United States Ballooning Hall of Fame is a merit-based selection.

A call for US Ballooning Hall of Fame candidates will be made each year after the BFA Director's annual meeting. Candidate information forms will be available on the BFA web site and can be submitted at any time for future consideration. Any candidate information form received by the BFA Office after May 1 each year will be considered the following year along with those candidates previously identified and not selected.

Click the following link to access the Candidate form.

US Ballooning Hall of Fame Award recipients are Notable Balloonists as identified by the BFA Hall of Fame Committee. Click the following link to access the biographies and other information on US Hall of Fame Award recipients and other Notable Balloonists.

Biographies

BALLOON FEDERATION OF AMERICA

Hall of Fame Committee

Orvin Olivier – Committee Chair

3208 E 31st Street

Sioux Falls, SD 57103

(605)366-2343

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Debbie Spaeth

PO Box 674

West Bend, WI 53095

(262) 338-2300