Within the history of aviation, few names ring as loud as Octave Chanute. A pioneer in aeronautical investigation, Chanute contributions were immortalized through the award bearing his name, the Octave Chanute Award. Founded in 1939, the award was instituted to recognize outstanding contributions by pilots or test personnel in the advancement of the art, science, and technology of aeronautics. This award was remade numerous times in different guises, the last of which was the Chanute Flight Award, which was established in 1978 and was stopped in 2005, only to be reactivated once again in 2010 as the Chanute Flight Test Award. Currently, it is used to recognize substantial lifetime achievements in flight test engineering, presented biennially at the AIAA T&E Days Conference.
Running parallel to these celebrations of excellence at the individual level in aviation, Flying Magazine has put together a list that more or less encapsulates the essence of military aviation prowess. Their Top 100 Warbirds list has given the most influential, fastest, most powerful, and revered fighting airplanes of all time a lasting, befitting tribute. The collection does far more than underline the technological capabilities or combat virtues of the aircraft but tells their story, their place in history, and what they mean and have meant to so many who have served. While there might be some debate over the rankings, the list is an instructive walk down the storied past of military aviation.
The Octave Chanute Award and the Top 100 Warbirds list are strong reminders of the pursuit of excellence and innovation in this field of flying. They remind us of their great achievements and lasting legacies that were left behind by those who dedicated their lives to the advancement of aeronautical science and technology.