You are cordially invited to attend the 13th Annual Luncheon of the Cradle of Aviation Museum’s

Long Island Air & Space Hall of Fame

presented by GSE Dynamics, Inc.

Honoring

The Induction Class of 2025

Giuseppe Bellanca
Dom & Mary Spinosa
Lawrence Sperry

Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 12:00-2:00 PM

Cradle of Aviation Museum
Charles Lindbergh Blvd. Garden City, New York

Tickets $75.00 per person or $700.00 for a table of 10

BUY TICKETS NOW

Or call Reservations at 516-572-4066, Mon through Fri, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Proceeds generated from the luncheon support the museum’s education and preservation programs.

About the Long Island Air & Space Hall of Fame
Each year, the Long Island Air & Space Hall of Fame honors individuals who have played a major role in advancing aeronautical and technological achievement. Your support of this exhibit and program will assist the museum in its efforts to educate school children throughout the region on the role that Long Island has played and will continue to play in aerospace history.

About the Air & Space Hall of Fame Sponsor
GSE Dynamics, Inc. is a Women-Owned Small Business and full-service engineering and manufacturing company engaged in the manufacture, assembly, and testing of military mechanical and structural components and assemblies. GSE is a recognized member of the Defense Industrial Base with a consistent record of best-value pricing, delivery, quality, and technical expertise. Long Island continues to be a Regional Supply Chain Leader in this critical industry. GSE is proud to sponsor the Cradle of Aviation’s Hall of Fame in support of both the Legacy and Future of Long Island’s significant impact on our National Defense.

About the Class of 2025

Giuseppe Bellanca
Giuseppe Mario Bellanca (1886–1960) was a pioneering aircraft designer and aviation innovator whose contributions left a lasting mark on American aviation. Bellanca was born in Italy and studied engineering before emigrating to the United States in 1911. Soon after his arrival, he settled in Brooklyn, New York, where he built his first successful aircraft and opened a flying school in Mineola, Long Island. In 1922, he introduced the Bellanca CF, the first enclosed cabin monoplane in the United States—a revolutionary design that earned the prestigious Collier Trophy. He helped usher in a new era of passenger aviation. Bellanca went on to design a series of record-setting long-distance aircraft, many of which operated out of Roosevelt Field. Among them was the WB-2 Columbia, the aircraft Charles Lindbergh initially sought his transatlantic flight before ultimately flying the Spirit of St. Louis. The Columbia completed its historic transatlantic journey to Berlin shortly after Lindbergh’s flight, carrying a passenger. Another Bellanca aircraft, Miss Veedol, achieved the first nonstop trans-Pacific flight in 1931. Bellanca’s engineering brilliance and passion for flight helped establish Long Island as a hub of early aviation achievement.

Dom and Mary Spinosa
Dom and Mary Spinosa founded East/West Industries, a Long Island-based aerospace company dedicated to advancing aircrew safety. Established in 1968 with a foundation in precision manufacturing, East/West began by producing aircraft connectors. It grew under their leadership into a globally recognized designer and manufacturer of survival and safety seating systems. Known for their strong personal values, the Spinosas emphasized technical excellence, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to protecting aircrew lives. Their vision shaped East/West into a trusted partner to leading aerospace manufacturers and defense contractors. Today, their legacy endures under the leadership of their daughter, Teresa Ferraro, and a team that continues to uphold the founders’ guiding principle: “Saving aircrew lives is our first concern.”

Lawrence Sperry
Lawrence Sperry (1892–1923) was a groundbreaking aviation pioneer and prolific inventor whose innovations had a lasting impact on modern flight. Born in Brooklyn and later a resident of Garden City, he built his first airplane in 1910, following in the inventive footsteps of his father, Elmer Sperry. Lawrence Sperry is credited with inventing the autopilot, retractable landing gear, and even early concepts of the drone—technologies that would revolutionize aviation. In the early 1920s, he produced Sperry Messengers for the U.S. Air Service at a facility in Farmingdale, Long Island, further contributing to America’s growing air power during a formative era of flight.