Since 1960, the Dr. August Raspet Memorial Award has been presented every year to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of light aircraft design.
The award is named for the late Dr. August "Gus" Raspet, a professor at Mississippi State University and avid light aircraft enthusiast. Raspet was instrumental in elevating the aeronautical engineering program at Mississippi A&M College, as it was originally known, into one of the nation's preeminent aerophysics research centers. The Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville, Miss. - a tribute to all of his efforts - was completed in 1962.
The first recipient of the award was John Thorp, Lockheed engineer on the Little Dipper and Big Dipper, and designer of the Thorp Aviation Sky Skooter. Since then the list of people honored reads like a Who's Who of aircraft design.
Past recipients:
| 2024 | Mike Blyth and Sling Aircraft |
| 2023 | Ivo Boscarol and Pipistrel Team |
| 2022 | Garmin |
| 2021 | Jim Rust |
| 2020 | No Award - AirVenture Canceled |
| 2019 | Marcus Leng |
| 2018 | Greg Cole |
| 2017 | Craig Catto |
| 2016 | Paulo Iscold |
| 2015 | John and Jeremy Monnett |
| 2014 | Troy Woodland |
| 2013 | BRP Rotax Engines |
| 2012 | Michael Coates |
| 2011 | James Wiebe |
| 2010 | Ken Krueger |
| 2009 | Rodney Stiff |
| 2008 | Randall Fishman |
| 2007 | Greg Toman |
| 2006 | Gordon Pratt and Ricardo Price / Chelton Flight Systems |
| 2005 | Chuck Bilbe and Jim Younkin |
| 2004 | Phil Lockwood |
| 2003 | Pete Buck |
| 2002 | Randy Schlitter |
| 2001 | Harry Riblett |
| 2000 | Rotary Air Force |
| 1999 | RotorWay International |
| 1998 | Dan Wilson |
| 1997 | Jim Rahm, Al Joniec |
| 1996 | Stoddard-Hamilton GlaStar Design Team |
| 1995 | Ivan Shaw |
| 1994 | Paul Fiduccia |
| 1993 | CAFE Foundation |
| 1992 | Alan and Dale Klapmeier |
| 1991 | Dan Denney |
| 1990 | John Roncz |
| 1989 | Jim Griswold |
| 1988 | Homer Kolb |
| 1987 | Lance Neibauer |
| 1986 | Mark D. Brown |
| 1985 | Tom Hamilton |
| 1984 | B. J. Schramm |
| 1983 | Mike Smith |
| 1982 | Dick Wagner |
| 1981 | Tony Bingelis |
| 1980 | Dick VanGrunsven |
| 1979 | John Monnett |
| 1978 | Chris Heintz |
| 1977 | Lou Stolp |
| 1976 | Burt Rutan |
| 1975 | M. B. "Molt" Taylor |
| 1974 | Paul Poberezny |
| 1973 | Bob Bushby |
| 1972 | Bernard Pietenpol |
| 1971 | Jim Bede |
| 1970 | Ladislao Pazmany |
| 1969 | Curtiss Pitts |
| 1968 | Peter Bowers |
| 1967 | Robert Bushby |
| 1966 | Edgar Lesher |
| 1965 | None |
| 1964 | Richard E. Schreder |
| 1963 | Dr. Alexander Lippisch |
| 1962 | Ray Stits |
| 1961 | Steve Wittman |
| 1960 | John Thorp |
