PLANES OF FAME AIR MUSEUM TO BECOME THE NEW HOME OF THE
NATIONAL AVIATION HERITAGE INVITATIONAL (NAHI)

EAA AirVenture " Steve Hinton, President of the Planes of Fame Air Museum, is proud to announce that their annual Central Coast AirFest, now at the Santa Maria Airport, will become the new home for the National Aviation Heritage Invitational (NAHI) vintage aircraft competition. "NAHI will bring some of the finest restored vintage aircraft in the country to our ramp and provide our guests and sponsors a new and exciting element to our airshow."

NAHI was founded in 1998 at the Reno Air Races by four well-known aviation-oriented organizations; Rolls-Royce, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the Reno Air Racing Association. NAHI was created to HONOR our rich aviation heritage by encouraging the restoration and preservation of vintage aircraft to airworthy condition. In addition, they utilize the aircraft, owners, pilots and aviation legends to INSPIRE students to pursue careers within the aviation and aerospace industries.

Ken Perich, Executive Director of NAHI, states "we accomplish these goals by hosting a friendly annual vintage aircraft competition, where each aircraft is judged against restoration standards in-line with those of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. We bring together rare vintage aircraft which have been meticulously restored to compete for the coveted Grand Champion Neil A. Armstrong Aviation Heritage Trophy. The Armstrong Trophy resides throughout the year in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Hazy Center."

Ron Kaplan, Deputy Director of NAHI, added "Planes of Fame Air Museum is the ideal organization to host the National Aviation Heritage Invitational's annual competition. The goals and mission statements of both organizations align perfectly."

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Taigh Ramey, NAHI Chief Judge noted; "The NAHI competition is open to aircraft 45 years or older, which have been preserved or restored to airworthy condition. We have five judging categories; Antique, Classic, Military, Large and Contemporary which compete for the Orville and Wilbur Wright Trophy, the Paul E. Garber Trophy, the Henry "Hap" Arnold Trophy, the Herb Kelleher Trophy and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Trophy. In addition, there is the ever-popular People's Choice Award Trophy."

For 2024, the Planes of Fame AirFest (September 21 and 22) will have some former NAHI winners and participants on the ramp along with representatives from NAHI to set the stage for the full vintage aircraft competitions beginning in the fall of 2025.

"These vintage aircraft compete for the coveted Neil A. Armstrong Aviation Heritage Trophy, which represents one of the highest honors an aircraft restorer can receive.", said Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Astronaut, Air Racer, Hall of Fame Enshrinee and NAHI Ambassador.

For more information on the Planes of Fame Air Museum, its mission and background, please visit www.planesoffame.org.
For more information on the National Aviation Heritage Invitational, its mission, aircraft entry requirements and judging criteria, please visit www.heritagetrophy.com.