posted 11-20-2015 10:46 AM               

The Dinner is held annually to present the prestigious NAA Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy to an American who has provided "significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States."

This year's recipient is Burt Rutan, world-renowned aerospace engineer, who designed the record-breaking Voyager, which was the first plane to fly around the world without stopping or refueling. He also designed the SpaceShipOne, which was the first privately funded aircraft to reach space twice in a two-week period.

Mr. Rutan has five aircraft on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.