The Australian Aviation Hall of Fame (AAHOF) held its annual induction dinner at its new home for the first time last Saturday night.
AAHOF inducted six new members at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) at Illawarra Regional Airport in Albion Park, NSW, which will be the hall of fame's permanent home.
More than 130 people watched the inductions surrounded by some of Australia's most iconic aircraft, including the HARS DC3 and DC4, de Havilland Vampire, Grumman Tracker, General Dynamics F-111 and CAC Avon Sabre.
The 2017 inductees were:
- Edward Connellan AO, CBE – highly respected NT aviator and businessman. Established the successful Connellan Airways in 1943
- John Corby – distinguished aviation engineer and designer of the Corby Starlet
- James Strong AO – highly-regarded CEO and board member of Qantas. Oversaw the successful merger of Australian Airlines (previously TAA) and Qantas
- Bob Tait – renowned aviation educator, pilot and publisher
- Nancy-Bird Walton AO, OBE – in 1934 the youngest woman to obtain a commercial licence in the British Empire and founder of the Australian Women Pilots’ Association.
Trans-Australian Airlines (TAA) was recognised with the Southern Cross Award for an organisation that made an outstanding contribution to aviation in Australia.
Forty-two aviation identities and pioneers have been inducted since the initial ceremony in 2012, and alongside them six organisations have been honoured with the Southern Cross Award, and the indigenous people of Australia were given a special honour in 2012 for developing the boomerang.