Maurice Hunter “Pappy” Spinks has been selected by the IAC Hall of Fame committee and approved by the IAC board of directors to be inducted into the International Aerobatic Hall of Fame for 2022. The official ceremonies will take place at the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on November 10, 2022.
Pappy was the president of the Aerobatic Club of America, an active competitor and the sponsor of the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships in 1967-71 at the Oak Grove Airport in Texas. The move from Reno, Nevada to Oak Grove, helped increase the participation of the national aerobatic championship and brought out skilled aerobatic personalities such as Poncho Barnes, Allen Bean, Charlie Hillard, and Harold Krier. Pappy also helped in drafting some of the first rules for aerobatic contests before the IAC was formed and was a major supporter of the 1970 U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team.
He was also a homebuilder and produced two aerobatic aircraft: the Spinks Acromaster and a Model 10. The Spinks Aircraft Industries building was built in 1968 for the construction of the Acromaster. The project lasted from 1967-70. That plane would place 3rd in the 1970 World Aerobatic Championships flown by Charlie Hillard, who would later win the World Aerobatic Championship in 1972 in his 200 hp Pitts Special.
Pictured right is Pappy with Charlie and the Spinks Acromaster at Oak Grove Airport.
Photo link: http://www.airfields-freeman.com/TX/Airfields_TX_FtWorth_SE.htm
