Three Prominent Virginians to be inducted into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame
by Paul Sullivan
WILLIAMSBURG, VA – Three prominent Virginians will be inducted on November 4th as members of the Class of 2023 of the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame. The induction dinner and ceremony will be conducted by the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society at Ford’s Colony Country Club in Williamsburg, Va.
The three inductees include, in alphabetical order, Mr. Adrian Eichhorn of McLean, Ms. Cherry Evans of N. Chesterfield, and Mr. Thomas “Tuck” McAtee of Williamsburg.
Vetting and selection of nominees is overseen by the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society (VAHS). Photos and summaries of the contributions of each inductee are currently enshrined at the Shannon Air Museum on the Shannon Airport campus in Fredericksburg, Va.
VAHS Chairman Tom Woodburn stated that “the VAHS Board of Directors and our selection committee took great care to review each nomination and to ensure that the most deserving in Virginia’s rich aviation community were recognized by induction into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame.”
Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame Chairman Tim McSwain further stated that “all four inductees represent the finest traditions of the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame and reflect great credit on the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society, the profession of aviation, and the community served so ably by our inductees for decades.”
A total of 14 individuals were nominated for consideration for the Hall of Fame, and three were selected through a rigorous vetting process.
Adrian A. Eichhorn is an accomplished aviator, flight instructor, aviation mechanic, and educator who has flown over 25,000 hours to 54 different countries. In 2016, he completed a solo flight around the world, and in 2021, he flew a nonstop solo from Iceland, across the North Pole to Alaska. His career encompasses his time as an airline corporate, government, contract military and commercial pilot.
Ms. Evans retired as director of communications and education at the Department of Education, where she worked in a wide variety of aviation and transportation initiatives, many involving state government and private industry in furtherance of aviation and air transportation in Virginia. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, she worked for the state government since 1985.
Tuck McAtee retired from a lengthy and varied career as a decorated USAF fighter pilot and test pilot and in addition co-founded a hugely successful program to enlist young people in flight training, many of them pursuant to careers in aviation.
- Tickets will be available on September 1st by contacting the VAHS office. 540-376-3265 or email – vahsonline@gmail.com