 |
Welcome to the home of the National Aviation Heritage Invitational
We invite owners and restorers of our nation's aviation treasures to apply to become part of our next National Aviation Heritage Invitational competition. All aircraft applications are reviewed by the five member judging team and those accepted will be judged in five categories: Antique, Classic, Contemporary, Military and Large Aircraft. All aircraft must be at least 45 years old and restored to airworthy condition. |
The National Aviation Heritage Invitational shares it's home and mission with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. 
Apply Now... We invite all those who own an aircraft that fit the Invitational Judging Criteria to apply. Come share your own piece of aviation history with us at Reno and compete to be enshrined in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum! 
 "There is little value in insuring the survival of our nation if our traditions do not survive with it." - John F. Kennedy
2017 Winners Circle  Neil A. Armstrong Aviation Heritage Trophy - 1954 Grumman Albatros by Joseph Duke
|
NAHI News
9/12/2018 NAHI Aircraft on Display This Week!
 Come see the beautifully restored aircraft this week at the National Aviation Heritage InvitationalStihl National Championship Air Races! 9/6/2018 Aircraft Scheduled for NAHI display 2018
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAUGUST 9, 2018 THE NATIONAL AVIATION HERTIAGE INVITATIONAL LLC RELEASES THE AIRCRAFT LINEUP For 55TH Annual STIHL National Championship Air Races, Sept. 12-16 RENO, Nev. – The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) and the National Aviation Heritage Invitational LLC (NAHI) are thrilled to present some of the nation's most skillfully-restored aircraft that will be on display at the 55th annual STIHL National Championship Air Races, scheduled September 12-16 at Reno-Stead Airport. This year marks the 55th year of air racing in Reno and is also the year of celebrating NAHI's return to the STIHL National Championship Air Races. Visitors will be able to walk among this historical aircraft exhibit and talk with the owners and restorers at the very place it all began in 1999. A full competition is to scheduled begin in 2019 and is planned for years to come. NAHI was an integral part of the Reno experience for 16 years and has hosted some of the finest examples of restored aircraft on the ramp at the STIHL National Championship Air Races. Owners and restorers from all over bring their aircraft to compete for trophies in several categories including military, large, vintage, classic, commercial aircraft and the People's Choice Award sponsored by the Air and Space Smithsonian Magazine. Entrants vie to for coveted Neil A. Armstrong Aviation Heritage Trophy, a striking six-foot tall trophy that resides at the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center near Dulles Airport in Virginia. The judging criteria was created by representatives of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and emphasizes authenticity and attention to detail. The Smithsonian is actively involved with NAHI and has representatives from the restoration staff that serve on the judging team annually. "Having NAHI back at Reno is absolutely fantastic!" said Josh Cawthra a previous winner and regular participant at NAHI. "NAHI is the west coast mecca for aviation enthusiasts from all over the world and providing the opportunity for these enthusiasts to enjoy these iconic aircraft that so many have put such hard work into persevering is just amazing!" "I am glad NAHI and Reno have reestablished their partnership," said John Sessions, owner of Historic Flight Foundation and a previous winner and participant. "NAHI deserves the concentration of aviation enthusiasts that Reno attracts every September." Scheduled NAHI participants include: • 1947 Cessna 140, owned by Josh, Janel and Dave Cawthra of Vacaville, CA - 2014 Classic Winner • 1942 Interstate S-1A Cadet, owned by Jeff and Kim Powschwatta of Covington, WA - 2013 Antique Winner • 1942 Fairchild PT-19, owned by Larry Nelson of Napa, CA - 2017 Military Winner of California Capital Airshow (CCA) • 1944 Beechcraft D17S, owned by Heritage Flight Foundation of Mukilteo, WA. - 2017 Classic CCA Winner • 1942 Waco UPF-7, owned by Jeremy Young of Hood River, OR • 1942 Howard DGA-15D, owned by David Bole of Enumclaw, WA • 1951 Cessna L-19, Cactus Air Force Wings and Wheels Museum in Carson City, NV • 1971 Bell Cobra Helicopter, Cactus Air Force Wings and Wheels Museum in Carson City, NV • 1967 Cessna O-2, Cactus Air Force Wings and Wheels Museum in Carson City, NV • 1938 Ryan SCW-145, owned by Russell Williams of Bellevue of Spelling, WA T34 C1 owned by Gregory Scileppi of Denver, CO 7/11/2018 NAHI RETURNS TO THE RENO AIR RACES
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 11, 2018  Dedicated to the Preservation of our Nation's Aviation Heritage
The concept for the National Aviation Heritage Invitational arose in the 1990's at the Reno Air Races when representatives from Rolls-Royce, The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, The National Aviation Hall of Fame and the Reno Air Racing Foundation got together to discuss the future of aviation in our country. We all agreed that one of the key factors in encouraging future generations to appreciate and select aviation as a career path was to educate and enlighten them about our rich aviation history. We knew not everyone can travel to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC to see their outstanding collection of preserved vintage aircraft, and we were looking for an alternative solution. We collectively decided to create a "Traveling Aviation Museum" which would bring World Class restorations to tens of thousands of individuals in the USA. This Traveling Aviation Museum ultimately became the National Aviation Heritage Invitational (NAHI). Right from the beginning, the NAHI team set the bar extremely high. We all believed that "beauty is more than skin deep", so we decided each aircraft would be judged by the strict standards established by representatives of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. We also agreed that this competition would be held to such a high standard that the winners deserved to be honored in a very special way. The National Aviation Hall of Fame agreed to bring Hall of Fame Enshrinees each year to help present trophies to the category winners and the Grand Champion. Enshrinees such as Neil Armstrong, Bob Hoover, Jim Lovell, Gene Cernan, Dick Rutan, Bud Anderson, Herb Kelleher, and many others have shown their appreciation and respect for the restorers of these fine aircraft by personally participating in the trophy presentations. To date, NAHI has hosted over 20 vintage aircraft competitions at both the Dayton Airshow and the Reno Air Races. Over this period, several hundred thousand fans and guests have viewed these great aviation treasures first hand. The National Aviation Heritage Invitational is more than a vintage aircraft restoration competition; it is about Honoring Our Past and Inspiring Our Future. Host Event
 Presenting Sponsor
 Trophy Sponsors
      Supporting Sponsors
       Founding Sponsors
    |
