The Annual Wright Memorial Dinner
The Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy is administered and presented by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) at the Aero Club of Washington’s Annual Wright Memorial Dinner in December of each year.
The Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy is awarded to a living American for “significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States.”
The 76th Annual Wright Memorial Dinner was held on Friday, December 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. and honored the 2024 Wright Trophy recipient, (the late) Ben Baldanza, Former President & CEO of Spirit Airlines. View the press release.
For the first time, the Aero Club of Washington also present its inaugural Person of the Year at the Wright Memorial Dinner. Chairman Sam Graves, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, Chair Maria Cantwell, and Ranking Member Ted Cruz were honored as the Aero Club’s 2024 Persons of the Year for their leadership in crafting and shepherding through Congress the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
The Aero Club of Washington is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy. Nominations are due to the Aero Club by April 30, 2025. The Aero Club will review all nominations received and forward one nomination to the NAA for final consideration. The 77th Annual Wright Memorial Dinner will be held on December 12, 2025 in Washington, DC.
