Contact: Dan Hubbard, 202-431-5970, dhubbard@nbaa.org
Washington, DC, May 14, 2026 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today paid tribute to Hal Shevers, the founder and longtime chairman of Sporty’s Pilot Shop, who passed away May 12, at the age of 90.
“Hal Shevers’ love and enthusiasm for general aviation is part of his enduring legacy,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Through Sporty’s Academy and Sporty’s Pilot Shop, he trained and equipped countless pilots. But it was his Saturday fly-ins, tireless work on behalf of the Boy Scouts and Aviation Explorer programs and involvement in the Air Race Classic that made general aviation even more accessible and fun.”
Shevers founded Sporty’s in 1961, growing it from a small operation selling, from the trunk of his car, a radio that picked up airport control tower transmissions, to the world’s largest pilot shop and a leader in product development, from ADS-B receivers to pilot-friendly radios. Shevers retired from Sporty’s in 2024 after 63 years.
He also was a pioneer in pilot education, creating one of the first three-day ground school courses in the early 1960s, traveling the country in general aviation aircraft to teach ground school to pilots nationwide. His teaching extended to thousands of pilots through Sporty’s Academy.
His longtime support of Scouting America and Aviation Exploring programs earned him multiple honors, including the Silver Beaver Award. Shevers was inducted into the National Association of Flight Instructors Hall of Fame in 2007.
Shevers also is recognized for transforming Ohio’s Clermont County Airport (I69) into a general aviation center, fostering partnerships with many organizations and the University of Cincinnati.
# # #
Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.
Members of the media may receive NBAA Press Releases immediately via email. To subscribe to the NBAA Press Release email list, submit the online form.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.