The Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame began in 1990. It preceded the opening of the Iowa Aviation Museum, home of the Hall of Fame.

Nominations to the Hall of Fame are accepted until February 1st of each year. A selection committee, appointed by the Museum's Board of Directors, evaluates the nominations on a point system.  

A permanent tribute for each Hall of Fame inductee is featured at the Museum.

The Museum is the only place in Iowa which focuses on the state's aviation heritage. 

~IOWA AVIATION HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES ~

• Ann Holtgren Pellegreno--retraced Amelia Earhart's last flight in a Lockheed Electra, marking the 30 year anniversary of the Earhart flight. She has written two books about Iowa's aviation history.
• William "Billy" C. Robinson--carried the first airmail from Des Moines to Chicago and established a long distance flying record doing so.
• Wyman Fiske Marshall--member of the Three Musketeers Flying Team. Distinguished military flying career.
• John Wesley Cable--built first airport at Waterloo, flew early mail routes.
  1991

• Arthur J. Hartman--first Iowan to make a recorded and witnessed flight in a heavier-than-air-craft at Burlington in 1910.
• Aden "Bite" Livingston--first licensed glider pilot in Iowa. Founded and managed first airport at Cedar Falls.
• Ila Fox Loetscher--first native Iowa woman to receive her pilot's license. Charter member of the Ninety-Nines.
• Don Ultang--worked for the Des Moines Register and Tribune as a pilot/photographer. He was trained in aeobatics and low altitude flying. He mastered the technique of taking prize-winning aerial photographs while being solely responsible for piloting the aircraft.

• Sidney Cleveland--accomplished barnstormer, stunt pilot, aerial performer, commercial pilot, instructor, test pilot and airport operator.
• Lt. General Charles Horner--served as forward commander of U.S. Central Command and commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces during Persian Gulf War. His command and the efforts of the troops are credited with the Allied victory and minimum loss of American lives.
• Neta Snook Southern--as a college student rebuilt a Cannuck and was an early barnstormer around Ames. When winter arrived, she shipped the plane to California and took a job as an instructor and mechanic. In January, 1921, she began teaching Amelia Earhart to fly.
  1993

• Louis "Andy" Anderson--built airplanes and gliders as a boy. He was one of the earliest crop sprayers, introducing the technique to western Iowa.
• Clarence Chamberlin--completed the first trans-Atlantic flight with a passenger two weeks after the Lindbergh flight. Completed the first ship-to-shore mail flight in 1927.
• Clayton Folkerts--distinguished himself in the field of airplane design with successful production of the Monocoupe. Accomplished air racer.
• Nellie Voss Ruby--first Iowa woman to receive A&P mechanic's license and still the only woman in Iowa to hold Inspection Authorization.
  1994

• Eugene Ely--completed first successful unassisted takeoff from a ship in 1910. In 1911 he successfully landed on a ship and is credited with developing the arresting gear to help stop the plane upon landing.
• J.C. Pemberton--has over 30 patents to his credit, including Scanivalve which has affected everything from flight tests and turbine tests to process controls and electronic pressure scanners.
• Luther Smith--first African-American from Iowa accepted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Flew 133 successful missions in WWII before becoming a POW for two years.
• Robert Taylor--established Antique Airplane Association in 1953 to preserve, share and promote early flying machines.
  1995

• Ralph Piper--successfully flew 60 round trip missions in the China-Burma-India Theatre during WWII. His time in the air totals 24 hours a day for two full years.
• John Livingston--self-taught pilot who had an accomplished career in air racing. The book Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach was inspired by Livingston's life.
• Robert Freyermuth--flew in Royal Canadian Air Force, later recruited by U.S. Army. He developed standards and procedures for air personnel training. He offered Iowa's first aerial applicator service.
  1996

• Howard Gregory--built one of the largest aviation providers in the state of Iowa in Des Moines Flying Service. He has flown for more than 50 years and has logged in excess of 16,000 hours in a variety of aircraft.

• Carl Zeliadt--served as crew chief on heavy multi-engine aircraft, later appointed as NCO in charge of production control with the responsibility of all inspections in the Iowa Army National Guard. In 1994 he was presented the "Master Mechanic" award of the Iowa DOT-FAA for having over 50 years in maintenance.

• Grant Woldum--was instrumental in getting the federal government to start the Civilian Pilots Training Program. During WWII he was one of the original pilots who started the Military Transportation System in the Gulf of Mexico.

  1997

• Charles W. Fink--became the youngest B-24 bomber pilot in the European theatre in WWII. On January 16-18, as commander of the "Lonesome George", he made the first non-stop jet flight around the world in 45 hours, 19 minutes.
• Herbert R. Elliott--has diligently worked to advance aviation in Iowa. He was a founding member of the Iowa Aviation Business Association. He was instrumental in establishing the Iowa Aeronautics Commission, the National Aviation Trades Association, and similar trade associations in Illinois and Minnesota.
• Donald A. Luscombe--learned to fly in a Curtiss Jenny. He was instrumental in founding the Central States Aero Company. In 1933, he started Luscombe Airplane Development corporation to build the Phantom, the first all-metal light plane.
• William N. Reed--enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1939. He resigned his commission to join "Flying Tigers", helping to defend China against the Japanese. After the AVG was disbanded, he re-enlisted in the Air Force. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel by age 27. His plane was shot down on December, 18, 1944. He was the most decorated pilot in the China-Burma-India Theatre.

• Elvin F. Knotts--was instrumental in making it possible for manned space vehicles to reenter the earth's atmosphere. He participated in the preliminary design and proposal, then the design, development, testing, evaluation and operation of the Space Shuttle
• Avery "Jack" Ladd--was a charter pilot for the Des Moines Register and Tribune. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1939, flying missions in India and China. In the U.S. Air Force, he commanded the 1st Transport Unit for SAC. When he retired, he had the most flying hours of any pilot of the time.
• Robert W. Williams--was one of the "Tuskegee Airmen". He was a member of the "Fighting 99th", the 1st squadron of black combat fighter pilots. He wrote a screenplay for a movie about the pilots. It was finally produced and released by HBO in 1995. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with six oak leaf cluster, and the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation.

1999

• Charles W. Gatschet--became the first pilot-photographer-reporter for a major newspaper, the Des Moines Register and Tribune. He had his own daily column of aviation news. He flew over 9000 hours and more than one million miles in the first seven aircraft used by the newspaper. He was also a military aviator in two World Wars.
• Harold B. "Min" Miller--graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1924. He became a pilot for one of the five F9C-2 Sparrowhawk fighter planes hangared inside the U.S.S. Macon, which was, at that time, the largest helium-filled aluminum-framed dirigible ever built. He survived the sinking of the Macon in 1935. In 1942, he became the youngest rear Admiral in the Navy at age 42. He went on to a career in both commercial aviation and education.
• Clifton P. "Ole" Oleson--became the youngest aviator in the Army. When he was discharged, he barnstormed, carried mail and was a stunt flyer. He later managed the Ottumwa Airport, established his own flying service, and served as a corporate pilot. He also did a weekly radio program and wrote a column for the Ottumwa Courier.

2000

• Hartley A. "Hap" Westbrook--B-24 pilot in WWll and the Korean War. Shot down over Germany, spent two years as German prisoner of war. Helped establish the Iowa Air Guard. Began an aviation mechanics program at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. Owned and operated Hap's Air Service in Guthrie Center, Atlantic and then Ames. Taught many to fly.

2001

• Robert Parmele--founded and managed Bettendorf Municipal Airport. Invented, patented, assembled and sold the Parmele Navigator, a mileage computation tape, which made it easier to compute mileage on a large wall chart.

• Ralph Weberg-started Weberg Airways, Inc. at Denison. At the time, the only commercial airport between Sioux City, Des Moines, and Council Bluffs. Known as "America's Flyingest Farmer" and the "Flying Farmer of Iowa."

• Russell and Dolly Zangger-among the grassroot builders of aviation in Iowa. Have owned, financed and operated Zangger Airfield on the family farm since 1949. With Russ as a flight instructor and Dolly operating a flight school, they have instructed nearly 3000 students.

2002

• Carl Bates-at the age of fourteen, built and was the first to fly a glider in Iowa. Built many aircraft and aircraft engines.

• Glenn L. Martin-one of the pioneer airmen in the country. Started the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company and proceeded to build aircraft for the military including the China Clipper and the Martin Marauder.

2003

• Walter Cunningham-first astronaut from Iowa, lunar module pilot for Apollo 7.

• Louis Schalk-test pilot for the SR71 Blackbird, reaching top speed of 2,287 mph above 90,000 feet.

• Wilbur and Orville Wright-built and flew the Wright Flyer for 12 seconds, the first powered flight on December 17, 1903.