NBAA Blog: Arnold Palmer, Neil Armstrong named FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilots

    Oct. 20, 2010
    ATLANTA, 20 Oct. 2010. The first and last men on the Moon, golf's king, and two other business aviation luminaries received the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Wright Brothers Master Pilots honor at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) show in Atlanta. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan; pro-golfer Arnold Palmer; Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer of Cessna Aircraft Co.; and Clay Lacy, pilot and the president of charter service Clay Lacy Aviation as well as a noted aviation photographer received their Master Pilot honor from FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt during a ceremony today at the Georgia World Congress center. A sixth honoree, Bob Hoover -- a former Air Force test pilot and show performer -- was unable to attend the ceremony.
    Pennwell web 120 90
    Pennwell web 120 90
    Posted by John McHaleATLANTA, 20 Oct. 2010. The first and last men on the Moon, golf's king, and two other business aviation luminaries received the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Wright Brothers Master Pilots honor at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) show in Atlanta.Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan; pro-golfer Arnold Palmer; Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer of Cessna Aircraft Co.; and Clay Lacy, pilot and the president of charter service Clay Lacy Aviation as well as a noted aviation photographer received their Master Pilot honor from FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt during a ceremony today at the Georgia World Congress center. A sixth honoree, Bob Hoover -- a former Air Force test pilot and show performer -- was unable to attend the ceremony. I enjoyed seeing all five gentlemen, but as the last honoree -- Neil Armstrong -- was announced, I swear I felt the energy in the room change. A standing ovation ensued -- probably for all five -- but it felt like it was for Armstrong. Renowned for his privacy, Armstrong has become public in recent years to advocate manned space flight and business aviation as both have been criticized in the press and by the current Administration as being economically unsound.He is a humble, quiet man, but is a piece of living history representing one of mankind's greatest achievements. No wonder there was a buzz.Palmer said it best during his acceptance speech for the NBAA's Meritorious Service to Aviation Award. If anyone in the audience wants to know how to be humbled then they should stand where he is, Palmer said, referencing Armstrong and his fellow Master Pilot honorees.Palmer got a few laughs when he said Cernan "almost beat at golf the other day."He then went on to say how much business aviation has helped make him successful."As a young boy I dreamed of flying, and aviation has allowed me to visit places all over the world and spend extra time with my family. I wouldn't be here today without my airplane."An older colleague of mine told me that once during the old Western Open golf tournament years ago near Chicago, a family friend and golf pro commented on an aircraft buzzing by: "that's Palmer ehading home for the night."That was about 50 years ago. Palmer, in his 80s now, still flies his Cessna Citation X, having logged more than 19,000 flight hours in his "aviation" career.

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