Joseph C. Lincoln Award

Joseph Lincoln

Joseph C. Lincoln
1923 – 1975

Awarded to the author of a Soaring-related book, poem, magazine article, newsletter article or other media, written in the style of Joe Lincoln.

This award was established in 1961 by Harris Hill Soaring Corporation in conjunction with the Soaring Society of America in memory of Joseph C. Lincoln whose writings about soaring did so much to get people started in the sport of soaring.

Joe Lincoln lived from 1923-1975 and wrote several books and many classic articles published in Soaring Magazine in the 1960 & 70’s. His first book, titled Soaring for Diamonds, describes his first year in soaring and was the first American book on soaring in 21 years. Later he published two more books, Soaring in the Wind, and his most famous On Quiet Wings, a Soaring Anthology.

He was one of the founding fathers and president of the Arizona Soaring Association, elected to SSA Director in 1958 and became SSA Vice-President in 1959 and 1960. He was a strong supporter of the National Soaring Museum and contributed to the building of the new NSM after the Administration Building on Harris Hill burned down.

His first sailplane was a Bowlus Baby Albatross which he flew in the 1956 Nationals. Later he purchased a Schweizer 1-23D which he named Cirro-Q and flew in several Nationals. In 1960 he flew Cirro-Q for 455 miles to earn the Barringer Trophy for the longest flight made in the U.S. that year. Cirro-Q has been donated to the National Soaring Museum.

Between 1957 and 1973 he set several records among them the US National Multiplace distance record of 500.64 miles and in 1970 the World Multiplace out-and-return record of 404.59 miles, but he was mostly known for his writing about his soaring experiences.

Among his many contributions to Soaring Magazine, Joe Lincoln wrote the official Soaring Magazine report on the 1970 World Championship in Marfa, TX.

Joseph C. Lincoln was inducted in the Soaring Hall of Fame in 1961. Awarded the Eaton Memorial Trophy in honor of his service to soaring in 1975.

The criteria used to select the winning writing are:

  1. Must be interesting
  2. Should be in the style of Joe Lincoln’s writing
  3. Should encourage the reader to join in the sport of soaring
  4. Must be published in the English language

The recipient of the Joseph C. Lincoln award receives a certificate and will be recognized by the SSA on their various platforms.