Born to a pioneering family in Tamarack, Minnesota, Nelson became interested in aviation in 1927. He became an Air Corps cadet in 1933 and was assigned as a bomber pilot. He took a position with United Airlines in 1935 and in 1946 formed TransOcean Airlines.

The airline flew refugees, dignitaries and humanitarian support missions through Asia, Alaska and the Middle East, setting records and achieving prestige throughout the world. It struggled with the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board to achieve rights to foreign routs, but they were never granted and the airline disappeared from the scene in 1960. At its peak, TransOcean employed over 6,700 people and 57 bases around the globe.

Nelson then operated a charter air service in Europe and later in life acted as an airline consultant. He helped establish the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and set up airlines in the Middle East.

Inducted 2002

Owatonna native Andrew Neuman learned to fly in the 1930’s and worked briefly for Mid-Continent Airlines. During the war he was an Army Air Corps flight instructor in Texas, logging over 2,000 hours. Following the war, Neuman returned to Mid-Continent and then Northwest Airlines before joining Gopher Aviation in Rochester, Minnesota, with which he flew charter for 25 years. In 1971 he launched Neuman Air Charter as an ambulance service and flight training facility. He and his wife, Clarice, who is a bookkeeper and flight nurse, accomplished numerous humanitarian missions.

Neuman’s students remember him as a thorough instructor. Rochester medical people saw him as a caring and dependable pilot with a reputation for safety who never injured a passenger or damaged a plane.

Inducted 1997

Minneapolis native Gordon Newstrom worked as a fishing guide in Northern Minnesota in the 1930s, often promoting flying fishing trips. In 1942 he earned his flight ratings and served as a war training service instructor at Albert Lea during World War II.

After the war Newstrom started Mesaba Aviation at Coleraine, Minnesota. Mesaba offered flight training, charter and corporate flight services to the Blandin Paper Company. The company expanded to Grand Rapids, Deer River and Isle, Minnesota before Newstrom sold it in 1970. Mesaba then moved to Minneapolis and became a major airlink partner for Northwest Airlines.

Newstrom continued flight instruction at the Grand Rapids airfield that now bears his name. He is known today as one of Minnesota’s premiere float flying instructors.

Inducted 1995

Born in Mankato. Northrop enlisted in the Army in 1918, and upon discharge, became Sales Manager for William Kidder at Curtiss-Northwest Airport. He barnstormed a little after dropping out of college at the University of Minnesota, then opened the Marvin A. Northrop Aeroplane Company, Inc. The Company supplied parts and assemblies of aircraft to homebuilders, rebuilders, and repair stations. Northrop produced the first aircraft parts catalog in the nation. He became well-known within the aviation community and spoke on behalf of aviation around the State. He was appointed to serve as the export advisor to the Minneapolis Park Board, and again as aeronautical advisor to the state legislature. Northrop ran the Robbinsdale Airport in 1925 and 1926. His company held the only regional Ryan aircraft sales franchise in the late 1920s. He went to Europe in 1928 to buy surplus aircraft parts there, having borrowed a small sum of money from the brokerage firm of Lane, Piper and Jaffrey. While Northrop was away, Piper went through with the incorporation of the Northrop Company, leaving Northrop, himself, out. Northrop returned, and brought suit against the brokerage firm to reclaim his business, or at least be paid for it, but was unsuccessful. Undaunted, he started over as the Marvin A. Northrop Airplane Company and continued with his former line of surplus parts sales. He also sold White motor trucks. After World War II, he maintained his business, selling engines, aircraft tires, wings, and even airport crash vehicles. Northrop was an educated man whose interests ranged from American history, to gardening, to opera, travel and archeology. He died in an accident at his warehouse on Washington Avenue, when he was crushed in the building's freight elevator. In a bizarre and still unexplained turn of fate, the coroner termed his death a suicide.

Inducted 1993

Born at Freeborn, MN, Noteboom began his working career in 1929 at age 14 with Jack Lysdale at the Mankato Airport. He moved to San Diego in 1935 to work for the Ryan Aeronautical Company and subsequently worked for the Cessna Company at Wichita, KS, and the Martin Company at Omaha, NE, as an engine specialist. In 1942 he entered the Army Air Force and was assigned to Air Transport Command as a Flying Sergeant, ferrying planes to all points of the world. In addition to 7 Atlantic crossings and 3 Pacific crossings, he made over 40 trips between Egypt and India, and hauled gasoline over the "Hump" from India to China.

After the war Noteboom bought a resort at Cleveland, MN, and promoted a private landing strip there for fly-in guests. He went back to work for Jack Lysdale, helping rebuild B-17 aircraft. There Noteboom was a very successful Cessna aircraft salesman, introducing the post-war Cessna line. He next turned his talents to selling Beechcraft aircraft for Gopher Aviation of Rochester, selling a record 26 aircraft in 1963. More record Cessna sales followed for Noteboom until his retirement in 1977.

Inducted 2003

Nyrop grew up in Nebraska and earned a degree in law. In 1939 he joined the Civil Aeronautics Authority as a staff attorney. Later he became an Army officer and served in the Military Air Transport Command as a lieutenant colonel.

After World War II Nyrop served as a delegate to the International Civil Aviation Organization where he helped to set international air policy. He became administrator of the CAA in 1950 and chair of the Civil Aeronautics Board in 1951. Next he became president of Northwest Airlines in 1954 and led the once-failing airline to unprecedented financial success for the next 24 years.

Under his leadership, Northwest built a modern main base at Minneapolis International Airport; developed advanced piloting techniques and training; furthered meteorological research; and earned a reputation for technical excellence. Nyrop retired in 1984.

Inducted 1995