EAA Sport Aviation Hall of Fame Ceremony
EAA is proud to honor new inductees into our Sport Aviation Halls of Fame at a dinner ceremony on October 16, 2024, in the Eagle Hangar of the EAA Aviation Museum. These inductees, representing ultralights, the International Aerobatic Club, the Vintage Aircraft Association, Warbirds of America, and homebuilding, have dedicated their lives to their respective areas of aviation and join an esteemed group of individuals who represent the spirit of EAA in the highest form.
The EAA Sport Aviation Halls of Fame were established to honor the outstanding achievements of men and women in aviation who share the spirit of EAA and its community. Those inducted into the hall of fame are selected by their peers for the myriad of contributions made to their respective areas of aviation.
Bringing together EAA's boards of directors, divisions, affiliates, and councils, the hall of fame is a tribute to the pioneering spirit and innovation that has marked the evolution of flight, a spirit that is nurtured and promoted throughout EAA's membership. The event also reunites past honorees to celebrate their collected achievements.
For questions, please contact A. Gerard at agerard@eaa.org or 920-426-5917
2024 Inductee Information
EAA is proud to honor the new inductees into our Sport Aviation Halls of Fame. These inductees, representing homebuilders, ultralights, the International Aerobatic Club, the Vintage Aircraft Association, and Warbirds of America, have dedicated their lives to their respective areas of aviation and join an esteemed group of individuals who represent the spirit of EAA in the highest form.
- Homebuilders: Sebastien Heintz
- International Aerobatic Club: Linda Meyers Morrissey
- EAA Warbirds of America: Frank Strickler
- Vintage Aircraft Association: Dave and Jeanne Allen (posthumous)
- EAA Ultralights: Dave Goulet (posthumous)
Homebuilders: Sebastien Heintz, EAA Lifetime 386637
Sebastien Heintz is the owner and president of Zenith Aircraft Co., a leading kit aircraft manufacturer. The son of famed light aircraft designer Chris Heintz, Sebastien continues in his father’s footsteps promoting sport and kit (homebuilt) aviation, and helping to make aircraft ownership affordable and accessible. Sebastien was the 2017 recipient of EAA’s Freedom of Flight Award for his contributions to aviation and the recipient of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association’s 2017 President’s Award. He is an avid sport pilot and enjoys sharing photos and videos of his flying adventures to share the joys of building, owning, and flying light aircraft.
Sebastien founded Zenith Aircraft Co. in 1992 in Mexico, Missouri, growing the company into what it is today. Together with the support of Roger Dubbert (Zenith’s demo pilot since 1993), EAA 584965, and Travis Kobush (Zenith’s production manager since 1994), Sebastien continues to host monthly hands-on workshop classes at Zenith to introduce new potential aircraft builders to the world of homebuilts. Sebastien, together with his three older brothers, formed the Chris Heintz Foundation Inc., in 2023 to further their father’s work.
International Aerobatic Club: Linda Meyers Morrissey, EAA 147146/IAC 6551
Linda Meyers Morrissey is well known in the sport of competition aerobatics for her dedication and keen ability, as well as her generosity sharing knowledge as a sought-after coach.
Linda has stood on the podium at World Aerobatic Championships (WAC) many times representing the United States. Linda won her first individual gold medal in August 1984, in Békéscsaba, Hungary. She won a fourth place at the World Aerobatic Masters Tournament in 1985 and a third place female at the 1994 WAC in Debrecen, Hungary, fifth overall, as well as numerous individual flight medals. Linda also has countless medals and trophies from her regional and national competitions days.
After winning places on eight consecutive U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Teams, in 1996, Linda retired from world competition, but her passion for aerobatics continues as a trainer and coach. Throughout the year, she and her husband, John Morrissey, have hosted Great Plains Aerobatics Training Camps in Ashland, Kansas. Linda has spent a lifetime training others not only for competition, but also, and more importantly, to be safer pilots.
EAA Warbirds of America: Frank Strickler, EAA 26649/Warbirds 503
Frank Strickler’s love of aviation began at an early age, when his pediatrician bound a couple of tongue depressors together and told him it was an airplane. Frank went for his first airplane ride in a Cessna T-50 Bobcat in 1947 at age 9.
After a stint in the Civil Air Patrol, Frank became an apprentice mechanic and then learned to fly in a Cessna 120 and an Aeronca Champ. Later, he took on various flying jobs before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1959, where he flew C-130s, F-101s, and B-26s, before serving as an instructor in jets. From there, Frank began flying for American Airlines, and also for the Air National Guard as an F-84 pilot.
He bought a P-51 project, which led to the formation of his restoration and maintenance business, Fox 51, in 1974. Fox 51 has worked on everything from Bückers and Stearmans to T-6s, and, of course, P-51s. Frank is rated on more than a dozen warbirds and has logged more than 28,000 flying hours. His advisory work with the FAA has helped countless warbird operators obtain airworthiness certificates smoothly and easily.
Vintage Aircraft Association: Dave and Jeanne Allen (posthumous), EAA 301987/VAA 12040
Well-known husband and wife aircraft restoration team Dave and Jeanne Allen were both interested in aviation from an early age, growing up in the San Joaquin Valley in south-central California. Dave loved watching crop dusters treating local fields and, by age 11, was flagging for them. When he was old enough, he joined the Air Force and trained to fly the Helio U-10D Courier, but was reassigned to fly rescue C-130s in the United Kingdom. He left active duty in 1979 but continued to fly C-130s in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, while flying 737s for United Airlines.
Both of the Allens were avid glider pilots, but their passion shifted to building and restoration in 1987, when they built a NuWaco Taperwing. From there, they worked together to restore a Schleicher ASK-13, a 1930 Waco ASO (which they flew in a re-creation of the 1932 National Air Tour), their signature 1934 Cabin Waco YKC, and a 1947 Piper PA-11 Cub Special. The Allens’ restorations have won multiple awards at SUN ’n FUN, Blakesburg, Reno, and, of course, AirVenture Oshkosh.
More than anything, the Allens are best remembered as ambassadors for vintage aviation, and their work has inspired countless people over the years to follow in their footsteps.
EAA Ultralights: Dave Goulet (posthumous), EAA 167786
The late Dave Goulet (1946-2014) was an ultralight pilot and the manufacturer of the Quad City Challenger. Dave started in ultralights when he built a Mitchell Wing U-2 in his basement. During his time flying the Mitchell Wing, he met fellow ultralighter Chuck Hamilton, EAA 191957. Chuck and Dave together designed and built the first Challenger I and brought it to the SUN ’n FUN fly-in, to an overwhelmingly positive reaction. In 1983, Quad City Ultralight Corp. was formed by Chuck, Dave, and Bill Ehlers, EAA 533189. Dave was originally the general manager running the day-to-day operations, and was CEO and president of the corporation at the time of his death.
Over the course of four decades Dave and Quad City Ultralight sold thousands of Challenger single- and two-seat kits. Challengers proved to be popular for fun flying and ultralight flight training alike. Dave developed and nurtured a loyal and supportive dealer network to support the fleet of Challengers.
Dave was a veteran of the U.S. Army who loved flying, building Challengers, and talking about aviation. His other passions were playing golf and building and flying model airplanes.
