Seven Great Aviators Inducted At 27th Annual Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame

BLOOMINGTON, MINN. – The Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, a nonprofit organization that honors Minnesotans for their contributions to aviation, recognized seven aviators at a banquet, April 30, 2016, at the new Hyatt Regency Bloomington. A record 420 people attended the event.

Inductees include aviators and others who have made – or are making – significant contributions to aviation. Amongst this year’s inductees included:

Lloyd Alsworth (1906-1992), a native of Sherborne, Minn., ran Fairmont Flying School from 1949-75 where he trained an estimated 3,500 students as private and commercial pilots with various ratings. The terminal at Fairmont airport is dedicated in Alsworth’s honor.

Julie E. Clark (1948-) was the first female pilot hired by a major airline. Beginning at Hughes AirWest, Clark eventually landed a position as captain with Northwest Airlines. Her storied career from 1976-2004 includes a logbook with 66 aircraft types, 33,000 flight hours, and the restoration of a T-34 Mentor, which she has flown in airshows for more than three decades.

Edward L. Erickson (1930-2014) was a key player in the early days of the Waconia airport. Erickson’s airline career began in 1956 with North Central Airlines as a DC-3 captain and ended in 1990 with Northwest Airlines. In retirement, Erickson flew a Pitts S1S with an airshow troop, and became chief pilot for AmJet.

Melvin J. Maas (1898-1964) was born in Duluth, Minn. He joined the Naval Air Reserve after World War I and rose to the rank of Lt. Col. Maas was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1928 and served on the House Naval Affairs Committee where he introduced the bill that would become the 1938 Naval Reserve Act.

Edward T. Newberg (1954-) has been airport manager and fixed base operator at the Hector airport since 1977. He has built a successful aerial spraying business, mentors youth in aviation, and as airport manager, produces one of the largest fly-in breakfasts in the state each year.

James L. Oberstar (1934-2014) built his 34-year career as a U.S. Congressman from Minnesota’s 8th district on transportation issues and policy. In Washington, he pushed to enact aviation funding and safety measures. At home, he promoted efforts to expand regional airports to foster tourism and economic development, and spearheaded light rail, bridges, and trails.

Boris Popov (1946-) invented the Ballistic Recovery System (BRS) – an aircraft parachute system that is standard equipment in many aircraft, including all Cirrus aircraft; Cessna 172/182s,  Diamond DJET (in development); Flight Design’s Model CT (standard); light sport aircraft; and more than 300 designs of ultralights. The ballistic recovery system has saved hundreds of lives, and Popov remains an active member of the BRS board.

In addition to inductees, the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame named Frank Cuden “Aviation Artist of the Year;” presented Reverend Linton L. Scott with a “Special Service Award;” and named Dave Weiman, Editor/Publisher of Midwest Flyer Magazine, “Minnesota Aviation Writer of the Year.”

Three scholarships were presented to aspiring aviators, aerospace leaders and innovators. John Chisham, Jr. received the “Don Hinz – Red Tail Project Scholarship;” Joey Schimnich received the “Ken Dahlberg Scholarship;” and Michael Wrona received the “Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame Scholarship.”

MAHF Chairman Noel Allard recognized all former inductees who have passed away since the 2015 investiture ceremonies. Among them are Elizabeth “Liz” Wall Strohfus, 96, of Faribault, Minnesota, who served her country as a Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) during World War II. Strohfus passed away March 6, 2016. Also recognized was Bryan Moon, 87, of Randolph, Minn., and Sarasota, Fla., who founded the organization “MIA Hunters” to locate downed aircraft and the remains of their crews that went missing in action during World War II. Moon – an aviation artist and retired Northwest Airlines executive – died on Nov. 28, 2015.

Board members include Noel Allard, chairman; Raymond Rought, vice chairman; Jim Hanson, secretary; Peter Gavin, treasurer; and directors Darrell Bolduc, Patrick Halligan, Robert Hearn, Russell Jensen, Bruce Kitt, Terry Marsh, Stan Ross, Tom Schellinger, Robert Steinbrunn, and alternates Tim Barzen, Marty Coddington, Roger Gomoll, and Thomas Lymburn. For additional information on the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, refer to the organization’s website: www.mnaviationhalloffame.org.

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