Warbird Personalities Inducted into The EAA Sport Aviation Hall of Fame

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) will induct twelve new members into the EAA Sport Aviation Hall of Fame during a ceremony and dinner at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on November 11, 2021. This extra-large group of individuals, honored for their significant contributions to recreational aviation, will represent the Hall of Fame classes of both 2020 and 2021, due to the pandemic-induced cancellation of the 2020 induction ceremony. The EAA established their Halls of Fame, which comprises sections for Homebuilders, Warbirds of America, Vintage Aircraft Association, Ultralights and International Aerobatic Club, to honor the outstanding aviation achievements of those who share the spirit of the EAA and its community. Each inductee is selected by their peers for the myriad contributions they have made to their respective areas of aviation. The following warbird-related individuals will be joining the aviation elite in the EAA’s Halls of Fame at this year’s ceremony.

Warbirds of America Hall of Fame 2021: Carl Scholl of Chino, California, and Tony Ritzman of Ontario, California.

Carl Scholl (EAA 184061) and Tony Ritzman (EAA 393289): This duo both began their interest in aviation in the 1970s and, after meeting at Scholl’s transmission shop, they created Aero Trader, an aircraft restoration business which has become renowned for its painstaking attention to detail and “doing it right.” For more than 40 years their company has restored dozens of warbirds – indeed, there are very few currently airworthy B-25 Mitchell bombers which have not been under their care at some point.

Warbirds of America Hall of Fame 2020: Mark Clark of Rockford, Illinois.

Mark Clark (EAA 42114): Clark turned his passion for flying, military aircraft, and history into a career. His family business, Courtesy Aircraft, has helped countless aviators realize their dreams of owning and operating vintage military aircraft, amongst many other aircraft types. His company is especially known for being one of the world’s leading warbird brokers. Clark’s own aviation career began in his teens, including a T-6 restoration while he was in college. He holds the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award and is a longtime organizer of the National Warbird Operator Conference (NWOC).