2026 AirVenture Lindy Awards Announced
By EAA Staff
HUNDREDS OF GORGEOUS, striking airplanes arrive at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh each and every year in hopes of winning a Lindy Award. Few aircraft, in comparison to how many arrive, come away with any sort of award. Fewer still come away with a Lindy.
Awards are given out across six categories:
- Homebuilts
- Warbirds
- Vintage
- Rotorcraft
- Ultralights and Lightplanes
- Seaplanes
Entrants can be considered for only one category in a given year, and are not eligible for the same or any lower-tier awards if they have won in the past.
Looks are considered in award judging, but the quality of craftsmanship inherent in the aircraft is a crucial factor as well. Careful construction and/or restoration, as well as tireless maintenance, is essential in winning a Lindy.
With all of that said, congratulations to all the 2026 award winners!
Aircraft Award Winners
Homebuilts
Kit Outstanding Workmanship
Kit Outstanding Workmanship
Chris McClernon
Monument, Colorado
Van's Aircraft RV-7, N742US
Kit Outstanding Workmanship
Chris Chaney
Santa Clarita, California
Van's Aircraft RV-7, N831CR
Kit Outstanding Workmanship
Tracey Weathers
Norwood, Minnesota
American Legend AL18, N545TW
Kit Outstanding Workmanship
James W. Zuege
Kewaunee, Wisconsin
Sonex, N473JZ
Kit Outstanding Workmanship
Alex Curtis
Olathe, Kansas
Van's Aircraft RV-10, N725CA
Kit Outstanding Workmanship
Estevan Bataglia
Weston, Florida
Van's Aircraft RV-14A, N710TT
Kit Outstanding Workmanship
Robert Krieg
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Van's Aircraft RV-8, N884RA
Plans Outstanding Workmanship
Plans Outstanding Workmanship
Andrew Schechter
Goshen, Ohio
Pitts S-1, N591TX
Kit Champion
Kit Champion
John McBean
Homedale, Idaho
Kitfox Series 7, N1776P
Kit Champion
Jay Derosier
Brainerd, Minnesota
Javron PA-18, N14JC
Kit Champion
Ryan Moss
Tigard, Oregon
Van's Aircraft RV-7A, N485RW
Kit Champion
Robert Corriveau
Bealeton, Virginia
Van's Aircraft RV-8, N212KB
Kit Champion
Elliot Abel
Terre Haute, Indiana
Bearhawk Five, N847EM
Kit Champion
Justin Poet
Goshen, Kentucky
Van's Aircraft RV-10, N808HJ
Kit Champion
Ryan Welsch
Tampa, Florida
Kitfox Super Sport, N231FB
Plans Champion
Plans Champion
Carlo Cilliers
Frederick, Maryland
Bearhawk Patrol, N37BP
Reserve Grand Campion Kit Built
Reserve Grand Campion Kit Built
Ron Ingram
Springfield, Illinois
Van's Aircraft RV-6A, N700RV
Paul Poberezny Founders Award for Best Classic Homebuilt
Paul Poberezny Founders Award for Best Classic Homebuilt
Rob Fildes
Saint Charles, Missouri
Acrosport I, N611DM
Grand Champion Kit Built
Grand Champion Kit Built
Daniel Probst
Macedon, New York
Van's Aircraft RV-8A, N8824
Grand Champion Plans Built
Grand Champion Plans Built
Scott Stine
Vincennes, Indiana
Thorp T-18, N295GS
Rotorcraft
Grand Champion Helicopter
Grand Champion Helicopter
Jeff Krall
Mitchell, South Dakota
Safari 400, N770JK
Grand Champion Gyroplane
Grand Champion Gyroplane
Bobby Prater
Grand Ledge, Michigan
Gyro Technic GT-VX2, N26457
Seaplanes
Outstanding Amphibian
Outstanding Amphibian
Hanley Stuart
Hollywood, Florida
Teal Baby Shark, N1322W
Outstanding Fabric Floatplane
Outstanding Fabric Floatplane
Thomas Trotter
Bremerton, Washington
Maule M7, N1048T
Outstanding Metal Floatplane
Outstanding Metal Floatplane
John Race
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Grumman Super Widgeon, N440GW
Champion
Champion
Brian Dominick
Stoughton, Wisconsin
de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, N11BD
Reserve Grand Champion
Reserve Grand Champion
Jim Brown
Waite Hill, Ohio
de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, N5344G
Grand Champion
Grand Champion
Clayton Adams
Rosemount, Minnesota
PA-12 Super Cruiser Replica, NX360WC
Ultralight and Light Sport
Ultralight
Reserve Grand Champion
Barry Broughton
Olean, New York
Badland Aircraft
Lightplane
Honorable Mention
William Vaughn
Brandon, Mississippi
Zenith 701, N391WM
Reserve Grand Champion
Jasper Ward
Jonesborough, Tennessee
RANS S7 Courier, N523J
Grand Champion
Tony Kirk
Temperance, Michigan
Van's Aircraft RV-12, N124TK
Vintage
Antique (Through August 1945)
Customized Aircraft Runner-Up
Nick Rezich
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Travel Air D-4-D, N606K
World War II Era Runner-Up
Randolph Shields
Benton, Kansas
Stinson V77 Reliant, N58285
Bronze Age Outstanding Closed Cockpit Monoplane
Rusty Gavagan
Chandler, Arizona
Stinson Model 12, N36747
Bronze Age Runner-Up
Joseph Raimo
New York, New York
Taylorcraft BL-65, N24367
Silver Age Outstanding Open-Cockpit Biplane
Luigi Ricci Moretti
Swarthmore, Pennsylavnia
Fleet Model 7B, N174RS
Silver Age Runner-Up
Cecil Bradford
Huntersville, North Carolina
Stinson SR6B, N15117
World War II Military Trainer/Liasion Aircraft Champion
Michael Porter
East Liverpool, Ohio
Boeing B75N1 Stearman, N56383
Transport Category Champion
Grant Schwartz
Fenton, Michigan
Douglas DC-3, N8704
Customized Aircraft Champion
Ronald Wagner
Excelsior, Minnesota
Howard DGA-15P, N68431
World War II Era Champion
Trey Hayden
Rhome, Texas
Beechcraft D17, N67738
Bronze Age Champion
Warren Caldwell
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Ryan SCW-145, N46207
Silver Age Champion
Walter Bowe
Sonoma, California
Cirigliano SC-1, N775W
Antique Reserve Grand Champion
John Machamer
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Pitcairn PA-7S, N97WA
Antique Grand Champion
Walter Bowe
Sonoma, California
Pasped Skylark, N14919
Classic (September 1945-1955)
Outstanding Beech
Bill Ellington
Houston, Texas
Beech B35, N8926A
Outstanding Ercoupe
Joseph Mapes
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Ercoupe 415, N99092
Outstanding Luscombe
Jason Ridgeway
West Chicago, Illinois
Luscombe T-8F, N1822B
Outstanding Navion
Eric Rice
Troy, Ohio
Navion Ryan, N4562K
Outstanding Piper Other
Mike Childress
Akron, Ohio
Piper PA-12, N4364M
Outstanding Stinson
Justin Kehler
Skiatook, Oklahoma
Stinson 108, N97605
Outstanding Swift
Fabian Schouten
Canyon Country, California
Globe GC-1 Swift, N3232K
Outstanding Limited Production
Jim Wells
Lansing, New York
Aeronca 15AC Sedan, N944EW
Preservation
Valerie Slocum
Poplar Grove, Illinois
Cessna 195, N2158C
Custom Class A (0-85 hp)
Nathan Hauser
Newark, Delaware
Piper PA-15, N4420H
Custom Class B (86-150 hp)
John Wigmore
Salem, Oregon
Dart GC-70, N31696
Custom Class C (151-235 hp)
Shawn Johnson
Stamping Ground, Kentucky
Cessna 170, N3417D
Custom Class D (236+ hp)
Nathaniel Perlman
Kirkland, Washington
Cessna 195, N195BT
Best Customized Runner-Up
Kent Bosch
Montevideo, Minnesota
Ryan Navion, N4210K
Class I (0-85 hp)
Dana Weigle
Dublin, Ohio
Taylorcraft BC-12, N5253M
Class II (86-150 hp)
Shawn Honaker
Sellersburg, Indiana
Aeronca 7AC Champion, N83175
Class III (151-235 hp)
Bruce Kaufman
Elm Grove, Wisconsin
Universal Globe GC-1B, N3389K
Class IV (236+ hp)
Hans Steiner
Exeter, California
Beechcraft C-45, N9370Z
Champion Customized Classic
Wayne Roberts
Grenada, Mississippi
Cessna 195, N195CG
Reserve Grand Champion
Walter Bowe
Sonoma, California
Grumman Bearcat, NX818F
Grand Champion
Tom Reneau
Midland, Texas
Cessna 140, N1949A
Contemporary (1956-1970)
Outstanding Beech Single-Engine
Erik Utter
Burien, Washington
Beechcraft S35 Bonanza, N5894S
Outstanding Beech Multi-Engine
David B. Fields
Midland, Texas
Beechcraft D18, N777XJ
Outstanding Cessna 150
Tony Belli
Huron, Ohio
Cessna 150, N8153S
Outstanding Cessna 170/172/175/177
Joel Dopson
Ooltewah, Tennessee
Cessna 172, N5122A
Outstanding Cessna 180/182/185/210
Jason Peterson
Calgary, Alberta
Cessna 180, CFIQC
Outstanding Mooney
Doug Ewart
Kansas City, Missouri
Mooney M20C, N6212U
Outstanding Piper PA-24 Comanche
Martin Hench
La Verne, California
Piper PA-24 Comanche, N7220P
Outstanding Piper PA-28/PA-32 Cherokee
Dale Wheeler
Valencia, California
Piper PA-28 Cherokee, N5453W
Outstanding Limited Production
Thomas Myers
Wills Point, Texas
Meyers 200D, N2980T
Most Unique
Anthony Urbano
Gilbert, South Carolina
Piper PA-24 Cherokee, N2024P
Preservation Award
Chris Demopoulos
Dyer, Indiana
Cessna 172H, N3832R
Class I Single Engine (0-160 hp)
Michael Bergeson
Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Piper PA-18 Super Cub, N8831B
Class II Single Engine (161-230 hp)
Christopher Cormier
Riverview, New Brunswick
Piper PA-18 Super Cub, CFLQE
Class III Single Engine (231+ hp)
Keith Steiner
Granbury, Texas
Piper PA-24 Comanche, N9321P
Dean Richardson Memorial Award
Christoper Belli
Oregon, Ohio
Cessna 172, N8762U
Outstanding Customized
James Kapantais
Carrollton, Texas
Beech 35-B33 Debonair, N61JK
Reserve Grand Champion Customized
Mark Erickson
Brandon, South Dakota
Piper PA-18 Super Cub, N14319
Reserve Grand Champion
Paul Neuman
Campbellsburg, Kentucky
Cessna 150, N8231F
Grand Champion Customized
William Cunningham
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Beech E33C Bonanza, N775JW
Warbirds
Preservation Award
Preservation Award
Peter Bales
Janesville, Wisconsin
Hughes OH-6A Loach, N67PB
Preservation Award
Mike Anderson
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Hiller UH-12B, N5025J
Preservation Award
Courtney St. Pierre
Clinton, North Carolina
North American T-28B Trojan, N662WW
Preservation Award
Jeff Kaney
Naples, Florida
Aérospatiale SA 341 Gazelle, N341KJ
Preservation Award
John Carlton
Lenoir, North Carolina
Cessna L-19A Birddog, N143F
Preservation Award
Scoop Heavey
Barrington, Illinois
MiG-17F, N717MG
Judges' Choice
Judges' Choice
Jan Johnson
Manteca, California
Stinson L-5E Ambulance, N31853
Judges' Choice
Chris Birrell
Ottumwa, Iowa
North American T-28F, N397DM
Judges' Choice
SAC Holdings
Phoenix, Arizona
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer, N2871G
Judges' Choice
Lincage Flight LLC
Holly Springs, North Carolina
Vultee BT-13, N56319
Judges' Choice
Logan Steet
Winnesboro, South Carolina
Piper L-4 Grasshopper, N3280N
Judges' Choice
Eric Whyte
Anchorage, Alaska
de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk, N22777
Best
Best
Vincent Quadrani
Kingsford, Michigan
Douglas A-26B Invader, N99420
Silver Wrench / Company: Vincent Quadrani
Best
Brent Courtney
Magnolia, Texas
Boeing PT-17 Stearman, N1028C
Wrench Silver / Company: Brent Courtney
Best
Sebastian Domine
Carmel Valley, California
North American P-51D, N354WR
Wrench Silver / Company: Fagen Fighter Restoration; Granite Falls, Minnesota
Best
Hugo Mathys
Grechen, Switzerland
North American B-25D, N8897Z
Wrench Silver / Company: Warbird Shop; Madras, Oregon
Best
Henry Schroeder
Danville, Illinois
Curtis P-40K Warhawk, NX9733
Wrench Silver / Company: Henry & Jay Schroeder, Craig Davidson
Best
Andrew Badenhorst
Derby, Kansas
Aermacchi AM3-CM, N955ZA
Wrench Silver / Company: Andrew Badenhorst
Best
James Harker
Forest Lake, Minnesota
Piper L-4H Grasshopper, N86506
Wrench Silver / Company: AirCorps Aviation; Bemidji, Minnesota
Keep 'em Flying Award
Keep 'em Flying Award
Good Field Aviation LLC
McClean, Virginia
Aero Vodochody L-39C, N724LT
Wrench Silver / Company: Code 1 Aviation; Rockford, Illinois
Returning Best of Class
Returning Best of Class
Joe Sottile
Chandler, Arizona
Cessna L-19 Birddog, N-19BD
Best Active Military Aircraft
Best Active Military Aircraft
United States Air Force
Dover, Delaware
Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy, 86-0017
Phoenix Award
Phoenix Award
William Kientz
Chesterfield, Missouri
Temco T-35A, N58BK
Wrench Gold / Company: William & Bill Kientz
Phoenix Award
Steve Betzler
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
de Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth, NX729TM
Wrench Silver / Company: Steve Betzler
Grand Champion Post-WWII
Grand Champion Post-WWII
William Kientz
Chesterfield, Missouri
Temco T-35A, N58BK
Wrench Gold / Company: William & Bill Kientz
Reserve Grand Champion WWII
Reserve Grand Champion WWII
Bruce Eames
Minot, North Dakota
North American P-51B, N51BE
Wrench Gold / Company: AirCorps Aviation; Bemidji, Minnesota
Grand Champion WWII
Grand Champion WWII
American Heritage Museum
Hudson, Massachusettes
Consolidated PBY-5A, N459CF
Wrench Gold / Company: American Aero Services; New Smyrna Beach, Florida
