In November, the First Flight Society announced 3 new Honorary Members; AOPA President Mark Baker, Historian Tom Crouch and Aerobatic Champion Rob Holland. The three will be honored at a December 17th luncheon in Kitty Hawk.
Tom D. Crouch is an American aeronautics historian and curator. Tom Crouch joined the Smithsonian in 1974 and has served both the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of American History in a variety of curatorial and administrative posts. Dr. Crouch retired in 2018 and is a curator emeritus. He is the author or editor of several books and many articles for both popular magazines and scholarly journals. These include: The Bishop’s Boys: A Life of Wilbur and Orville Wright.
Mark Baker is Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)’s fifth president. He is a commercial pilot with single- and multiengine land and seaplane ratings and a rotorcraft rating. In conjunction with his role as president and CEO of AOPA, Baker is chairman of AOPA’s Political Action Committee, chief executive officer for the AOPA Foundation, president of the International Council of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associations representing pilots in 72 countries, and publisher of AOPA Pilot.
Rob Holland is one of the premier airshow performers and freestyle aerobatic competition pilots in the world today. He is Ten-time, consecutive, U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, Five-time, consecutive, World 4-minute Freestyle Champion and Eleven-time, U.S. 4-minute Freestyle Champion.
Crouch has had a long association with the First Flight Society and often speaks about the Wright Brothers at the December 17th Wright Brothers Celebration. Holland joins aerobatic pilots Sean D Tucker and Patty Wagstaff as a First Flight Society Honorary Member. Baker is a longtime general aviation (GA) pilot and only the fifth president in the 75-year history of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
The Honorary Member program launched last year to enhance the public visibility of luminaries like these who have achieved national recognition in aviation. First Flight Society will recognize them in Society Media during their lifetime.
The big event, which includes a luncheon, will be on December 17th to celebrate the 118th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight. Also known as Wright Brothers Day. As usual this will be presented in cooperation with the National Park Service on the grounds of Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC. The event will feature speakers, a flyover and the induction of the 2021 Paul E Garber Shrine Honoree Sally K Ride.
Lunch tickets are available at: First Flight
