P-51B Wins National Aviation Heritage Trophy

National Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinees joined presenting sponsor Perform Air International in awarding the Grand Champion Neil A. Armstrong National Aviation Heritage Trophy to the 1944 North American P-51B - Owned by Max Chapman, Idaho Falls, Idaho, restored by Pacific Fighters. Winners in other categories: CONTEMPORARY: Steven F. Udvar Hazy trophy: 1963 Meyers 200B. Owned by Bruce Mayes of Honolulu, HI. Restored by The Aeroplane Factory.

CLASSIC: Paul E. Garber trophy: 1937 Stinson SR9F. Owned by Scott and Woodson Woods of Tiburon, Ca. Restored by Rare Aircraft.

ANTIQUE: Orville and Wilbur Wright trophy: 1932 Waco UBF-2-Owned by Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum. Restored by Rare Aircraft.

MILITARY: Henry 'Hap' Arnold trophy: 1944 North American P-51B. Owned by Max Chapman of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Restored by Pacific Fighters.

LARGE: Herb Kelleher trophy. 1938 Lockheed "12", Owned by Patrick Donovan of Seattle, Wa. Restored by Airmetal Fabricators. National Aviation Hall of Fame 'People's Choice': Air and Space Smithsonian: 1944 North American P-51B. Owned by Max Chapman of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Restored by Pacific Fighters.

Assisting in the trophy presentations to the winning owners were National Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinees Dick Rutan, Clarence 'Bud'Anderson, Herb Kelleher, Clay Lacy, Robert 'Hoot' Gibson and R.A. Bob Hoover. Joining them was Ron Kaplan, Co-Founder and Deputy Director of the National Aviation Heritage Invitational.

The Heritage is held in conjunction with the Reno National Championship Air Races and celebrates aviation treasures. This endeavor is a joint effort under the auspices of Perform Air, the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and Pathways to Aviation Foundation, Presenting Sponsor, Perform Air International is joined by Air & Space Smithsonian Magazine, Fire Corn Popcorn, ISTAT Foundation, Historic Flight Foundation and Super 98 in their dedication to the preservation of aviation history as our 2015 trophy sponsors.

The National Aviation Heritage Invitational encourages preservation of aviation history through the restoration of aircraft to original flying condition. The Invitational was founded in 1998. A five-member panel, including representatives of the National Air and Space Museum, judges each aircraft on its technical merit and how well it represents the aircraft early in its career. Authenticity to the original manufacturer's condition is the "gold standard" for each plane. More information can be found at www.heritagetrophy.org