Richmond, Virginia

Inducted in 1982, David P. Payne began his aviation career in 1927 by helping to build the nation’s airway system. In 1929, he learned to fly and served as a Navy instructor pilot during WWII. After the war, he established Aero-Way, Inc., Richmond International Airport’s first charter service serving corporate customers and served as both a flight instructor and flight examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration. Later, Payne formed another Richmond based FBO, Aero Industries, with John Clark and George Carter. In 1971, he retired from aviation after many long year of hard work and devotion to aviation.