The South Dakota Pilots Association promotes the active support of the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame through the SDPA newsletter.

The SD Aviation Hall of Fame is a non-profit South Dakota corporation with federal tax-exempt status, established to honor the pioneers and contributors to South Dakota aviation. Their history, accomplishment, impact on South Dakota, and memorabilia will be on display and available for inspection in the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame building to be located on the Black Hills Airport / Clyde Ice Field, Spearfish, SD.

If you know of someone from South Dakota who you believe would be a good nominee for the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame, please complete and submit the Nominee Application or contact Ted Miller at 605-642-0277.

• The Inductees
• The Home
• Building Fund
• Contacts
• 2007 Raffle & Winner (No raffle held)
• 2008 Raffle & Winner
• Donated Aircraft
• Inductees in the Aviation Hall of Fame and the Combat Air Crew Memorial
• List of all Aviation Hall of Fame Inductees
• List of all Combat Air Crew Memorial Members
• Application Forms
  • South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame nominee form
  • Combat Air Crew Memorial nominee form
• Articles of Incorporation of South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame [PDF]
• Bylaws of the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame [PDF] 

The Inductees

Famous inductees such as Clyde Ice, Joe Foss, Duane Corning, Nellie Willhite, Charles Gemar, and more have been honored by the SD Aviation Hall of Fame.

Over 200 combat aircrew members have been inducted into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame, and were residents of South Dakota who served their country with honor while flying combat tours in the many wars of the United States, from World War I to the present.

The Home

Presently, the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame, Inc. has an exhibit of Aviation Hall of Fame members and combat aircrew members at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum, Ellsworth Air Force Base, Rapid City, SD.

A new home (shown right, drawn by Claudette Miller) is planned in the future at the Black Hills / Clyde Ice Field, Spearfish, SD, to house the exhibit, aircraft, and memorabilia of the Hall of Fame members for future generations.

Building Fund

A building fund has been established and donations are solicited for this unique South Dakota institution. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. A contribution wall will be constructed and consist of plaques showing the donor’s name and section.

Building Fund Contributions

• Platinum Eagle $5,000.00 or more
• Golden Eagle $1,000.00 or more
• Silver Eagle $500.00 or more
• Bronze Eagle $100.00 or more
• Annual Membership $35.00

Contacts

South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame
Black Hills / Clyde Ice Field
424 Aviation Place
Spearfish, SD 57783
Phone 605-642-0277 (days)

President
Ted Miller
Black Hills Aero
424 Aviation Place
Spearfish, SD 57783
605-642-0277 (days)
Email: bha@mato.com

Vice President
Rich Krogstad
320 N. Tinton Road
Spearfish, SD 57783
Home 605-642-5385
Email: c21rich@mato.com

Board of Directors
Ted Miller, Spearfish
 Rich Krogstad, Spearfish
Pearl Gulbranson, Spearfish
Tami Schroeder, Brookings

Selection Committee
Ted Miller, Spearfish
Rich Krogstad, Spearfish
Leon Basler, Bismarck, ND
Grove Rathbun, Rapid City
Denny Martens, Vermillion
Bobbie Potts, Gettysburg
Norm Telkamp, Sioux Falls

2008 Raffle & Winner
The SD Aviation Hall of Fame is searching for a “Light Sport Plane” to use in the 2008 Raffle.  If you know of a light sport plane like a J-3 Cub or PA-11, PLEASE contact Rich Krogstad at 605-642-5385 or email c21rich@mato.com, or Ted Miller at 605-642-0277 or email bha@mato.com -- at your earliest opportunity!! 

Once a plane has been secured for the 2008 Raffle, flyers about the raffle will be mailed through out the state and advertised in the newsletter of the South Dakota Pilots Association. 

Tentatively, the 2008 Raffle drawing to be held on September 6, 2008.  Raffle tickets will probably cost $50 each.  MORE DETAILS LATER.  Make checks payable to the SD Aviation Hall of Fame, and mail to SD Aviation Hall of Fame, 424 Aviation Way, Spearfish, SD 57783.  Your raffle ticket will be mailed to you.  Need not be present to win.  Proceeds to the SD Aviation Hall of Fame, non-profit 503-C.

Donated Aircraft
If you have artifacts or an aircraft to donate to the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame, please contact Ted Miller.

Make & Model: Stits Playmate built by Henry Conrad Balcer
Year: 1968
N number: N6515
Donator: Charlotte Andersen, MD, Badger, SD
Location: Black Hills Aero, Black Hills Airport / Clyde Ice Field, Spearfish, SD

When my Dad started welding chromoly steel in our one-car garage, my 6 year-old eyes were wide with excitement -- this pile of metal was going to be our airplane?  I spent every evening with him "working" on the airplane.  I really could help with some things, like stitching the Dacron covered wings, but I'm sure he put up with my assistance, hoping that I would love it as much as he did.

It worked.

My Dad finished the Stits Playmate in just under 2 1/2 years, the fastest time to date for one to be finished.  N6515 was the first to fly after Ray Stits flew the prototype.  The Playmate made its first trip to Rockford, Illinois in 1969, coming home with a trophy. 

My Dad and I flew many more years to Oshkosh.  We had the airplane in parades, in malls, almost anywhere anyone invited us.  The folding-wing design made it easy for it to be transported as well as allowing it access to places where many other aircraft cannot go.

It had the engine updated early on to the Lycoming 150 hp, which gave it more power, and makes it quite a peppy little craft to fly.

Dad and I rebuilt the Playmate in 1990, giving it all new fabric, new interior, and new avionics.  This time I could participate much more fully, and my Dad and I had a wonderful time doing it together.   What a joy it was to receive the first Paul Poberezny Founders Award for classic custom homebuilt in Oshkosh in 1991. 

While flying with my Dad all those years, I got my license, graduated from medical school, completed my psychiatry residency, got a Skyhawk, and missed Oshkosh only twice in all those years.  I then married the most wonderful man, Art, a pilot, who lives in Badger...on SD19. 

My Dad died in 2002, and I want a place for the Playmate to live forever. 

Charlotte Andersen, M.D.
Badger, SD

Make & Model: American Triwing
Year: 1952
N number: N6001V
Donator: Vern Kraemer, Nemo, SD
Location: being restored in Nemo, SD

Comment 9/25/05: The American Triwing was the first licensed homebuilt in South Dakota.  It was donated to the EAA  Museum in 1959 in Hales Corners, WI, the second plane donated (Steve Wittman's Bonzo was the first).  When the EAA Museum moved to Oshkosh, WI, in the late 1980s, the Triwing was inexplicably destroyed by EAA (burned up the wings).  After some persistence on Vern's part, they returned the fuselage cut in 3-ft pieces in the box.  They kept the engine and instruments without permission. Vern has since welded the fuselage back together.  He has reconstructed the wings from his blueprints and is currently welding up the struts for the wings.  Once everything is in the proper position, he will begin covering the plane with fabric.  He is restoring it for display purposes only, not to be airworthy. 

Inductees in the Aviation Hall of Fame and the Combat Air Crew Memorial

The SD Aviation Hall of Fame inducted three people during ceremonies held at Black Hills Airport / Clyde Ice Field on September 12, 2008. 

Lawrence E. “Larry” Pravecek was born in Winner, SD, in 1939.  He graduated from South Dakota State College with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science where he received his ROTC commission into the US Army.  He attended helicopter training at Mineral Wells, TX, and Fort Rucker, AL, receiving his wings in December1962.  He was stationed in Germany, flying the H-34 “Choctaw” and UIH-1B “Huey,” and then in Vietnam, flying the UH-1D in the 48th Assault Helicopter Company.  While in Vietnam, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry in action.  He completed his Army time stationed at Camp Casey, South Korea, in 1967.  Leaving military service, he went to work for Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, CT, as a helicopter test pilot.  There he flew the CH-3A (Marine 1 Presidential helicopter), CH-53 “Sea Stallion,” and the S-64 Skycrane.  He went on to fly over 11,000 hours in the Skycrane for both Sikorsky and Erickson Air-Crane of Central Point, OR.  In his 35 years flying the Skycrane, he worked in South America, Asia, Europe, 49 states (except Hawaii), above the Arctic Circle, and in the tropics.  He built dikes in Holland, installed cell phone towers in South Korea, built power line towers in the US, and put out fires in Sardinia.  He put the top 300’ on the CN Tower in Toronto in 1975, which was the tallest freestanding structure in the world for over 32 years.  He also put the Statue of Freedom back on the top of the US Capitol Building in 1993.  He completed building a Vari-Eze in 1982, which he flew for 13 years.  He now flies a Mooney M-20C out of the Winner Airport, adding to his lifetime total of over 14,000 hours.  Mr. Pravecek was nominated for the SDAHF by his son Lt. Col. Lawrence Pravecek, USAF. 

Charles M. Summers grew up in Hershey, NE, and decided that flying was the career he wanted.  He started flying during his second year at the University of Nebraska.  He joined the AFROTC and continued building flight experience and graduated with his commercial pilots license.  Charlie entered the Air Force in 1957, went to pilot training, graduated, and was assigned to the F-100 Saber Jet.  During the next 24 years, Col Summers had a very colorful, highly decorated and distinguished military flying career.  He spent three tours in Vietnam flying the F-1 00.  Charlie became a member the “MISTY” Forward Air Control Squadron.  During his second tour he was shot down, ejected (sustaining injuries), awarded the purple heart, and after recovering from his broken back and ribs, returned to fly and fight for a third tour.  Over the course of his tenure in Vietnam, Charlie received four Silver Stars (note:  only eleven other aviators since WWII have received four Silver Stars), awarded three Legions of Merit, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Meritorious Service Medal, and 16 Air Medals.  After Vietnam Charlie did a myriad of jobs including the US Air Force Academy (in charge of all the flying operations for the students), Eglin AFB, FL (Deputy Director of Operations and received his certification in the F-4 Phantom), Osan, Korea (Base Commander), Norton AFB, CA (member of the Inspector Generals Team), and Kunsan AB, Korea (Wing Commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing).  Charlie retired from the Air Force while a member of the Joint Task Force Readiness Command at Mac Dill AFB, Tampa, FL, in 1981.  After retirement, Charlie followed his wife Jackie to numerous Air Force bases as she continued her career as an Officer and Nurse in the USAF.  Charlie started a business (Summers Aero), provided piloting services for corporate operations, earned a commercial and instructor’s license in helicopters, flight instructing, earned a Masters Degree in Adult Education, and earned his FAA Certification as an airplane and power plant mechanic with an Inspectors Authorization).  In 1990, Jackie and Charlie moved to Rapid City, SD, where Jackie was stationed at Ellsworth AFB, later retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.  Charlie was a thunderstorm penetration test pilot for the SD School of Mines and Technology and flew a heavily instrumented and essentially armor plated T-28 aircraft.  This aircraft was the world’s only aircraft specially outfitted for penetrations of mature thunderstorms, and Charlie flew it for over a decade.  Mr. Summers was nominated for the SDAHF by William Douglass, Jr. 

Paul Edward “Ed” Yost was born on a farm 7 miles south of Bristow, IA, on June 30, 1919, and studied at the Boeing School of Aeronautics in Oakland, CA.  In 1940, he was hired as a civilian employee of the US Army and assigned to balloon design.  After the war he worked as a civilian bush pilot in Alaska for several years.  In 1949, be was hired as an engineer by General Mills, the cereal giant, which had a high-altitude research division that did contract work for the US Navy.  He was a key player in the development of high altitude research balloons capable of flying over 100,000 feet high.  In 1952, Mr. Yost’s team sent a 3.3 million cubic foot balloon into the stratosphere to study cosmic rays.  Mr. Yost and three Colleagues started Raven Industries, in Sioux Falls, in 1956.  Their business was to work on government contracts.  The military was then interested in the potential of balloons to lift equipment behind enemy lines.  Throughout the 1950s, Yost was involved with the military and other classified government programs using gas balloons to carry leaflets and men across the Iron Curtain from three launch sites in West Germany.  Yost was the American inventor of the modern hot air balloon and was sometimes referred to as the ”Father of the Modem Day Hot-Air Balloon.”  He eventually held 26 patents dealing with ballooning equipment, including inflation mechanisms, balloon body structures, and gondola designs.  In October 1955, Yost developed and flew the first prototype of the modem hot air balloon in a tethered flight.  The envelope was plastic film, and heat was provided by burning kerosene.  On October 22, 1960, Yost made the first-ever free flight of the modem hot air balloon using an envelope made of newly-developed heat-resistant fabric with heat generated by a propane burner.  In 1963, Yost piloted the first balloon flight across the English Channel with crewmember Don Picard in a balloon named the “Channel Champ.”  Yost helped to found the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) and in organizing the first US National Ballooning Championship at Indianola, IA.  Yost received numerous awards for his contributions to aviation from The Federation Aeronautique Internationale, the Wingfoot Lighter-Than-Air Society, the National Aeronautic Association, Balloon Federation of America, and the Aero Club of New England.  In 2003, he was the first inductee into the National Ballooning Hall of Fame, and recently the British Balloon and Airship Club presented him with the Lipton Award.  This award has only been presented to three recipients during the last 100 or more years.  Yost not only designed and built balloons, but he taught people how to fly the balloons.  He built balloons in his own company called SKYPOWER, located in Tea, SD.  In 2002 the Balloon Historical Society was organized and Yost was the president.  Through the efforts of the Society and Ed Yost, four giant granite monuments were placed on the rim of the bowl and dedicated on July 28, 2004, the 70th anniversary of the Explorer I flight.  The monuments tell the history of the flights from the Stratobowl in 1934 and 1935.  Ed Yost passed away on May 27, 2007.  Mr. Yost was nominated for the SDAHF by Robert E. ”Bob” Hayes.  

Seven people were inducted into the Combat Air Crew Memorial section of the SD Aviation Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Black Hills Airport / Clyde Ice Field, Spearfish, on September 12, 2008.

Richard C. Callies, Cpl.
Cecil E. Harris, Capt.
Thomas K. Oliver, Lt. Col.
Lawrence E. Pravecek, Lt. Col.
Lynus Ryan, 2nd Lt.
Charles Summers, Maj.
Harold J. Thune, Lt. (JG)

List of all South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame Inductees

List of all Combat Air Crew Memorial Members