EAA 838 Hall of Fame

First Solo: July 1965. Total flying time: 23,000+ hours

Ratings: Airline Transport Pilot MEL, Commercial SEL. USAF Command Pilot

Airlines: North Central, Republic, Northwest. Type ratings: Convair 580, DC-9, Airbus 320, DC-10

USAF Aircraft: T-37, T-38, C-119, C-130 

Civil: C-150, C-172, C-182RG, PA28, Flight Design CTLS

First Flight: 1970 - First Solo: 1970.  Served in Vietnam (C-141) 1971-1974

A native of Wisconsin, Alan Ruud received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Chicago and an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from MSOE in 1998.

In 2015 the Ruud family purchased controlling interest of DeltaHawk Engines, a developer of multi-fuel general aviation engines based in Racine, WI where Mr. Ruud serves as Chairman of Board of Directors.

DeltaHawk has developed and certified a robust, compact, lightweight, and efficient SAF/jet fueled piston engine to replace the hundreds of thousands of leaded fueled general aviation engines.  This is the result of Mr. Ruud’s passion for aviation.  He has held a pilot’s license since 1968, has an ATP rating and several type ratings.   He has flown almost 8000 hours in several turbine airplanes, including over 2 million miles in Falcon 900’s since 2000 to six continents.