The First Flight Society proudly announces that William P. Lear, renowned American inventor and aviation pioneer, has been selected as the 2025 Honoree for induction into the Dr. Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine. The shrine is housed within the Museum and Visitors Center at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The official induction ceremony will take place on Wright Brothers Day, December 17, 2025, marking the 122nd anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight. A celebratory banquet will be held the evening prior, on December 16th, in nearby Kitty Hawk. As part of the festivities, a commemorative portrait of Lear will be unveiled and permanently displayed in the shrine.
William Powell Lear (1902–1978) is best known as the founder of Learjet, one of the most iconic manufacturers of business jets in aviation history. His visionary contributions revolutionized corporate air travel and placed him among the most influential figures in aerospace innovation. In addition to his work in aviation, Lear held over 120 patents and made significant contributions to radio, audio, and avionics technologies.
Established in 1966, the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine honors individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to aviation since 1903. Past inductees include Charles Lindbergh, John Glenn, Mary Feik, Katherine Johnson, Sally Ride, Gail Halvorsen, Walter and Olive Ann Beech, and Charles McGee, among others. Honorees are chosen by a National Advisory Committee from a competitive pool of nominations submitted by the public and aviation community. While nominees do not need to have achieved a specific “first,” they must be widely recognized for exceptional contributions to the advancement of aviation and aerospace. The First Flight Society’s Board of Directors confirms the final selection based on the committee’s recommendations. Nominations for the 2026 Honoree closed on March 31, 2025. For more information about the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine, the nomination process, and past honorees, please visit: https://firstflight.org/first-flight-shrine/
