EAA Introduces 2026 Sport Aviation Halls of Fame Class

The EAA Sport Aviation Halls of Fame continue to grow as six new inductees will be honored as part of the 2026 class. The six inductees each represent a different area of aviation — homebuilders, ultralights, the International Aerobatic Club, the Vintage Aircraft Association, and EAA Warbirds of America.

The 2026 inductees include:

• EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame: Mike Blyth – Aircraft designer and founder of Sling Aircraft, 1995 Microlight World Champion, and pioneer of early microlight aviation in South Africa


Mike Blyth

• International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame: Mike Goulian – Renowned air show performer and air racer, 1995 National Unlimited Aerobatic Champion, and three-time member of the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team


Mike Goulian

• Warbirds of America Hall of Fame: Ron and Diane Fagen – Warbird restorers and founders of the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota, home to more than 15 airworthy WWII aircraft


Ron and Diane Fagen

• Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame: Tom Brown – Aircraft restoration craftsman who has been involved with and restored a wide variety of award-winning vintage airplanes


Tom Brown

• EAA Ultralights Hall of Fame: Ronnie Smith – Founder of South Mississippi Light Aircraft (Now South Mississippi Legacy Aviation)


Ronnie Smith

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 halls of fame are selected by their peers for myriad contributions made to their respective areas of aviation.

EAA will honor the new inductees at a dinner ceremony on November 11, 2026, in the Eagle Hangar of the EAA Aviation Museum.

More information on each inductee will be added to the EAA website in the coming days.