Foil: 38 Panel: 1 Column: 1 Line: 12

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Leader

Honored by:

Mr. Pappas' attraction to aviation defines some of his earliest memories. Born and raised in New York, very close to LaGuardia Airport, he always remembered the sights and sounds. Summers would be spent at Rockaway Beach, where he would sit with binoculars studying the Stratocruisers, Britannias, and the rest of the prop and early jet liners in colorful markings, coming from and going to exotic places around the world.

- First flight: a $15 dollar ride around New York in an American Airlines Convair 240, Flagship Williamsburg.
- First real trip: Pan American from Idlewild to London, aboard Boeing 707 Jet Clipper Lark. He was fortunate enough to later acquire the builder's data plate to Lark, thanks to the kindness of Dan-Air.
- Most unique commercial flight: Dallas to Dulles aboard a Braniff-crewed Concorde, N94FD.
- Favorite film: The High and The Mighty.
Flying became reality with his first solo on 14 March 1971. Eventually Mr. Pappas earned a Commercial Pilot's License, with an Instrument Rating, flying both in the US and Germany. He recalls bein the only aircraft in the pattern at Dulles!
Also an avid scale modeler, Mr. Pappas began building models at an early age, hanging his aviation museum from a pipe running across his basement. Later, with advanced skills, he contributed to numerous exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum and the Garber Restoration Facility. He has also served as head aircraft judge, and later, chief judge of the International Plastic Modeler's Society.
A graduate of The City College of New York, Mr. Pappas served in the Army, followed by a full career with the Central Intelligence Agency, during which he attended the U.S. Navy War College. Upon retirement, he co-founded IntelligenceEnterprises, LLC, and served in senior positions with the Microsoft Corporation.
Throughout, Mr. Pappas has maintained a true love for all aspects of aviation, and is proud to be allowed to join the true aviation pioneers and heroes who support the National Air and Space Museum.