There is hereby created and established a public agency of the state to be known as the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame Board which shall be permanently located in the Southern Museum of Flight Building in Birmingham, Alabama. The purpose and function of the board shall be to promote and encourage the growth and public support of aviation, especially general aviation within the state by providing official and public recognition and honor to individuals, living or dead, who by extraordinary achievement and service have made outstanding and substantial contributions to aviation in Alabama. Persons to receive such recognition may be residents of the state who receive national recognition for aviation achievements elsewhere, or nonresidents who contributed directly to aviation in this state.