The National Aviation Hall of Fame Announces 16th Annual Combs Gates Award Call for Entries

The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) is pleased to open the 2018 Combs Gates Award “call for entries.” The prestigious $20,000 cash award is presented each year to an individual or group for a project judged to be exemplary in the promotion and preservation of America’s air and space heritage. Submitted projects ideally spotlight one or more of the 237 men and women aviation pioneers that have been inducted into the Congressionally-chartered, non-profit NAHF.

The 2018 award ceremony will take place during a special session of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual meeting and convention. The NBAA convention, held this year October 16-18 in Orlando, Florida, is the largest civil aviation event in the world. Officials from the NAHF and NBAA, alongside previous NAHF Enshrinees, will present the award.

The judges of the Combs Gates Award will independently review each award submission based upon criteria such as historical accuracy, creativity, potential for long-term impact and value to the NAHF mission of honoring America’s outstanding air and space pioneers. Winning applicants will be notified by August 25.

1996 Enshrinee Harry Combs established the Combs Award to encourage and support relevant historic research and preservation in aviation. The name of the honor was changed to the Combs Gates Award a decade later, when John Gates and his sister, Diane G. Wallach, chose to commemorate their father’s dedication to historic preservation and study in aviation.

The late Mr. Gates, who passed away in 2005, partnered with Combs on several aviation businesses, including the Combs Gates FBO chain and Gates Learjet.  Mr. Combs was instrumental in the growth and development of business aviation. It was therefore fitting when in 2003, the 100^th anniversary of the first powered flight, the NAHF partnered with NBAA to host the inaugural Combs Gates Award presentation at the NBAA annual meeting and convention.

Dennis R. Jenkins won the Combs Gates Award in 2017 for his three-volume work, “Space Shuttle: Developing an Icon 1972-2013.”  2001 Enshrinee M/Gen. Joe Engel, USAF (Ret), 2008 Enshrinee Mr. Sean D. Tucker and 2010 Enshrinee Mr. Clay Lacy presented the award to Mr. Jenkins with NBAA President Ed Bolen, Mr. John Gates and members of the NAHF Board.

To learn more about the NAHF, or to request a 2018 Combs Gates Award application, please visit www.nationalaviation.org.