National Aviation Heritage Invitational

an invitation to restorers of treasured aircraft . . .

Rolls Royce, The Reno Air Racing Association, The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and the National Aviation Hall of Fame invite those restoring our Nation's aviation treasures to become part of the 2006 National Aviation Heritage Invitational competitions.

2005 Heritage Trophy Western Region ceremony [left to right] Rolls-Royce's Ken Perich, Apollo Astronauts Gene Cernan and Neil Armstrong, RARA's Mike Houghton, 2005 Western Region winners Kent and Sandy Blankenburg, Stephen Udvar-Hazey, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Jack Dailey, and Aviation Hall of Fame Executive Director Ron Kaplan.

The twice-yearly Invitational is dedicated to the recognition of excellence in the preservation and restoration of vintage aircraft in airworthy condition and is designed to encourage aviation history conservation. The Rolls-Royce Aviation Heritage Trophy resides in alternate years in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia and in the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio.

history of the competition

The first Invitational was held in 1999 in conjunction with the National Championship Air Races at Stead Airport in Reno, Nevada. The 1999 trophy was awarded to Bob Odegaard, of Kindred, North Dakota, for his rare F2G-1D Corsair. The 2000 trophy was awarded to Ray and Sherri Dieckman, owners of a World War II era FG1D Corsair.

Due to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the Invitational in Reno was canceled for that year. However, interest increased to the point that the Eastern Region Invitational was added at the 2002 Dayton [OH] Air Show to allow a larger number and broader array of vintage aircraft to participate.

The fourth annual Western Region Invitational was held September 12-15, 2002, in Reno in conjunction with the National Championship Air Races and Air Show. That competition was won by a Fairey Firefly owned by Captain Eddie Kurdziel of Del Mar, California. This spectacular aircraft received both the Rolls-Royce Aviation Heritage keeper trophy and the National Aviation Hall of Fame's People's Choice Award Trophy.

The winner of the fifth annual Western Regional event was won by Larry and Doris Beck with their classic Beechcraft G17-S S.

At the sixth annual Western Regional competition, Ben Scott won the overall trophy with his Stearman "Speedmail Jr." Other winners included:

• Classic, post 1935 [Paul E. Garber Trophy]: LeRoy Peterson, Mesa, AZ, Howard DGA-15
• Antique: Chris Woods, Tiburon, CA, Waco UBF-2
• Military [Henry 'Hap' Arnold Trophy]: Chuck Wahl, North American T-28C
• People's Choice Award: Mike Pupich, San Fernando, CA, North America B-25J

At the 2005 National Championship Air Races and Air Show, the following winners of the seventh annual Western Regional competition were announced:

Among the 2005 Western Regional Heritage Trophy winners was this 1953 Douglas AD-5 [A-1E] Skyraider, owned by Danny Sommers.

• Heritage Trophy [Rolls-Royce Aviation Heritage Trophy]: Kent and Sandy Blankenberg, 1948 Luscombe Sedan 11A
• Classic, post 1935 [Paul E. Garber Trophy]: Mike Meloche, 1948 Cessna 195
• Antique: Bill Allen, 1930 Stearman C3R
• Warbird [Henry 'Hap' Arnold Trophy]: Steve Harjer, 1955 North American F-100D Super Saber
• People's Choice Award: Danny Sommers, 1953 Douglas AD-5 [A-1E] Skyraider

The following winners of the eighth annual Heritage Trophy competition were announced at the September 2006 National Championship Air Races and Air Show:

• Overall: 1918 Curtiss JN-4H owned by Frank Schelling, Pleasant Hill, CA.
• Classic: 1939 Lockheed 12A owned by Les Whittlesey, Coto de Caza, CA.
• Antique: 1932 Waco QDC owned by Alan Buchner, Fresno, CA.
• Military: 1942 Curtiss P-40K owned by Ron Fagen, Granite Falls, MN.
• People's Choice: 1918 Curtiss JN-4H owned by Frank Schelling, Pleasant Hill, CA.

The ninth annual Heritage Trophy competition winners were announced at the September 2007 National Championship Air Races and Air Show:

• Overall: 1944 North American P-51D Mustang owned by Bill Wiemann of Alpine, WY.
• Classic: 1937 Spartan Executive 7W owned by Steve Marini.
• Antique: 1929 Travel Air 4-D owned by Bruce McElhoe.
• Military: 1944 North American P-51D Mustang owned by Bill Wiemann of Alpine, WY.
• People's Choice: 1937 Spartan Executive 7W owned by Steve Marini.

Visit the official Web site of the National Aviation Heritage Trophy for more information about the event and past winners, or to submit an entry for the 2008 competition on-line.