Noel E. Allard 

Noel Allard was born in Minneapolis, MN. He attended high school there, then served three years in the US Army Security Agency. He earned a Fine Arts Degree from the University of Minnesota and pursued a career in the Graphic Arts. As a youth, he lived under the flight path for Wold-Chamberlain Field, creating his love of aviation. He took his first airplane ride at age 11. Allard earned a Private Pilot’s License in 1967, bought an Aeronca aircraft and rebuilt it, owning and flying it for over 30 years. He became associated with many aviation groups, including EAA and AAA.

In 1970, he began years of research of Minnesota aviation history and interviewed over a hundred early Minnesota pioneers. His experiences in advertising and marketing, writing and publishing, led him to produce two Minnesota aviation history books; Speed, the Biography of Charles “Speed” Holman (1976), and Minnesota Aviation History, 1857-1945 (1993).

Allard also helped originate the Twin City Aero Historians model airplane club in 1969, the club continues to the present. Allard was the contractor with the MAC for restoration of their full scale replica Spirit of St. Louis; the artifact now hanging at the Wings of the North Museum. He also was a principal in the creation of a Cold War Memorial to honor the lives of an Air Force crew killed in a 1958 B-52 bomber crash in Inver Grove Heights. He wrote the Minnesota Flyer Mystery Plane contest for fifteen years and served the same years on the Air Guard Historical Foundation Board. He owned and operated a business of producing data plates and placards for vintage aircraft restorations for over 35 years. His experience also includes serving three years on the Park Rapids Airport Commission. Allard was a principal in the creation of this Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame and served as its Chairman or Executive Director for 34 years.

In retirement, Allard continues to serve the Hall of Fame Board, is an ardent model airplane builder, history reader, writer, and resource for Minnesota aviation history.