“When it comes to aviation and aerospace, Jim was a mountain of a man. He was Oklahoma’s #1 Airvangelist! Thank you, Senator Inhofe, for everything you’ve done for our Nation, for our State, and for the aviation, aerospace, and defense industry.”

– Grayson Ardies

The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics has U.S. Senator James M Inhofe’s family in our thoughts and prayers today as the aviation, aerospace, and defense industry mourns the passing of an Oklahoma aviation legend.

In a legacy of public service that spanned over 40 years, no one did more for aviation, aerospace, and defense than James Mountain Inhofe. A tireless champion of airports and infrastructure, his advocacy ensured that our air transportation system was the envy of the world and the safest in the world. It is fair to say that Jim Inhofe beneficially impacted every public airport in Oklahoma during his time in public service.

He led the effort to keep air traffic control towers at six Oklahoma airports open when their funding was challenged in 2013. He authored and championed the Pilot’s Bill of Rights ensuring pilots would have the same constitutional rights as all Americans when they were facing potential sanctions from the FAA.

There was no stronger advocate for general aviation than Jim Inhofe. Always an advocate for a strong defense, he worked to ensure the viability of our aerospace and defense industry so we would maintain our air superiority around the world. In his 36 years in Congress, he led the effort to make certain that Oklahoma kept its five military installations.

He made certain that Tinker AFB would remain the preeminent air logistics center in the U.S. Air Force, and that it would remain the largest military aircraft repair facility in the world. He was successful in making sure that the training for the new USAF tanker, the KC-46, would be at Altus AFB, and would be maintained at Tinker.

He also led the effort to ensure that the sustainment of the Air Force’s new bomber, the B-21 Raider, would be at Tinker. And when it came time for a strong voice to ensure the healthy balance between the safety of military aviation training in Oklahoma and our state’s growing renewable energy industry, we called on Senator Inhofe.

Advocating for the Oklahoma aviation and aerospace industry was a task of love that was always at the top of his list whether you were American Airlines, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, or a small aviation business with less than 50 employees. The Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City never had a bigger champion than Senator Jim Inhofe and its successes in keeping our air transportation system safe and efficient are thanks to his advocacy over the years.

When it comes to aviation and aerospace, he was indeed a mountain of a man. He was, indeed, Oklahoma’s #1 Airvangelist! Thank you, Senator Inhofe, for everything you’ve done for our Nation, for our State, and for the aviation, aerospace, and defense industry! We know you will be making sure that the pattern is clear in the skies above!