Dennis Quaid to Emcee NAHF 2004 Enshrinement Ceremony

Flight Journal, Aug 2004 by Kaplan, Ron

ACTOR AND PILOT Dennis Quaid was named the master of ceremonies for the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) 43rd Annual Enshrinement Ceremony at the Dayton (Ohio) Convention Center on Saturday, July 17,2004.

Quaid, one of the most charismatic actors in contemporary cinema with more than 40 movies to his credit, played astronaut Gordon "Gordo" Cooper in the 1983 epic, "The Right Stuff," a dramatization based on Tom Wolfe's best-selling book of the same name. In preparation for the movie, Quaid became a licensed pilot.

The enshrinee class of 2004 consists of William A. Anders, former Apollo astronaut and aerospace industry leader; the late Harriet Quimby, the U.S.'s first officially licensed female pilot; the late Jack L. Ridley, pioneering flight-test engineer and pilot; and Patty Wagstaff, airshow headliner and three-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion.

Quaid recently wrapped up production on 20th Century Fox's remake of the 1965 aviation classic, "The Flight of the Phoenix," to be released later this year. He stars as Capt. Frank Towns, a role originally played by legendary actor and pilot Jimmy Stewart, who, along with George Kennedy, another star of the original version, served previously as NAHF enshrinement ceremony emcees.

Reservations for the NAHF 43rd Annual Enshrinement Ceremony and dinner are $125 per person by advance purchase only. Contact (937) 256-0944, ext. 10, or visit www.nationalaviation.org for details.

-Ron Kaplan