LLOA 20TH ANNUAL PROGRAM

PROGRAM EMCEES

DANNY CLISHAM & TOM COSTELLO

FLOWN WEST TRIBUTE TO

LOU TURPEN, MAJOR GENERAL CARL MCNAIR, SIGI ANGERER, DIETRICH MATESCHITZ, TOM POBEREZNY, FRANK ROBINSON, & COL. JOE KITTINGER

NEW INDUCTEES INTO THE “LIVING LEGENDS OF AVIATION” GREG EVANS ALAN EUSTACE TOM HAINES JARED ISAACMAN HRH PRINCE SULTAN BIN SALMAN

2022 HONOREES BY THE LIVING LEGENDS OF AVIATION KENN RICCI LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR AWARD

DANIEL DROHAN

AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR

MIKE SILVESTRO

EREN OZMEN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

TIM ELLIS

BARRON HILTON AVIATION INSPIRATION AWARD

MACK RUTHERFORD

ELLING HALVORSON VERTICAL FLIGHT HALL OF FAME AWARD

MAX LYONS

AVIATION INSPIRATION AND PATRIOTISM AWARD

WILLIAM SHATNER

The mission of Kiddie Hawk Air Academy and the “Living Legends of Aviation” is to spark children’s interest in various aspects of aviation and aerospace, creating motivation to learn all aspects of aviation related academic disciplines.

The “Legends” work alongside KHAA volunteers, sharing their stories of inspiration to the aviation Legends of tomorrow. Kiddie Hawk Air Academy and the “Living Legends of Aviation” have added to their mission by documenting the second hundred years of aviation history and sharing that history publicly as we all share the belief that you cannot know your future without first knowing your past.

Dear Legends, Honorees and Guests, Welcome to the 20th Annual “Living Legends of Aviation Awards.” On behalf of our Legends, as well as Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, we welcome tonight’s honorees, inductees, and distinguished guests.

Wow, 20 years?! It’s been quite a ride. We have had the honor of recognizing some of the best in aviation and aerospace over this incredible time. Skilled aviators such as Bob Hoover, Barron Hilton, Chuck Aaron and Julie Clark. Legendary greats in space flight like Captain James Lovell, Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Dr. Bonnie Dunbar and Elon Musk. Entrepreneurs and industry leaders, individuals who create and inspire innovation, actors who have used their aviation skills to better our communities and inspire the future and leaders in all facets of our industry.

It has truly been an honor to recognize all of these accomplishments and individuals. As we look back on the last twenty years, we can’t help but to look towards the future and the next 20 years. With so many advancements on the horizon for aviation, space flight and drone operations, the future truly is limitless!

As always, Kiddie Hawk would never be here to celebrate 20 years without the help of our steadfast sponsors and supporters that have relentlessly supported our mission. Supporters such as Eren and Fatih Ozmen and Sierra Nevada Corporation, Ducommun and the Oswald Family Foundation, Hamish Harding and Action Aviation, Jet Aviation, Williams International and Directional Capital. Also, a big thank you to the Legends, as they are the ones instrumental in nominating future honorees and inductees.

We are here tonight to celebrate those who dared to dream and now inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

For most of you, the seeds that somebody planted for you have now blossomed into the exceptional, and in many cases, historic careers in aviation. We honor you tonight, and we encourage you to join us in the coming years to continue to ensure the health and prosperity of our industry, by inspiring the youngest among us to dare to dream about a future in the sky.

Kyle Lips, President Kiddie Hawk Air Academy

4 WEST DRY CREEK CIRCLE | SUITE 100 | LITTLETON COLORADO 80120 | LIVINGLEGENDSOFAVIATION.ORG

PRESENTING SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

PLATINUM TABLE SPONSORS SHIFT4 DIRECTIONAL CAPITAL ALAN EUSTACE WILLIAMS INTERNATIONAL

DUCOMMUN STEPHEN G. AND REGINA OSWALD FOUNDATION PAPILLON GROUP HRH PRINCE SULTAN BIN SALMAN

JET AVIATION ACTION AVIATION SIERRA NEVADA CORP. SUPERNAL

GOLD TABLE SPONSORS EMBRAER CAE NBAA

HILLSBORO AVIATION GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CLAY LACY DASSAULT FALCON JET

AIA TOM SCHRADE SOLAIRUS

LEGENDS

L I V I N G

L E G E N D S

O F

A V I A T I O N

The "Living Legends of Aviation" are remarkable people of extraordinary accomplishment in aviation including: entrepreneurs, innovators, industry leaders, astronauts, record breakers, pilots who have become celebrities and celebrities who have become pilots. The Legends meet yearly to recognize and honor individuals that have made significant contributions in aviation.

CHUCK AARON

WILLIAM GARVEY

DAVID NEELEMAN

JAMES ALBAUGH

RANDY GASTON

STEVE OLIVER

DR. BUZZ ALDRIN

KENNY GORELICK (KENNY G)

SUZANNE ASBURY OLIVER

MAJ. GEN WILLIAM ANDERS

STEPHEN GREY - E

EREN OZMEN

C E “BUD” ANDERSON

DAVID GRESCHKE

FATIH OZMEN

SIGI ANGERER - E *

CHARLES HALL

JACK PELTON

MARK BAKER

BRENDA HALVORSON

BERTRAND PICCARD - E

BRIAN BARENTS

LON HALVORSON

ROSS PEROT JR.

FELIX BAUMGARTNER-E

PRESTON “PRES” HENNE

NICK POPOVICH

LAURENT BEAUDOIN

GREG HERRICK

JEFFREY PUCKETT

JEFF BEZOS

SKIP HOLM

VERN RABURN

TONY BILL

CRAIG HOSKING

KENN RICCI

LINDEN BLUE

DAVID HURLEY

SI ROBIN

ED BOLEN

MIGUEL ITURMENDI-COPADO - E

FRANK D. ROBINSON*

MAJOR GENERAL PATRICK BRADY

CHARLES B. JOHNSON

JEAN ROSANVALLON - E

SIR RICHARD BRANSON - E

MICHAEL KENDRICK - E

KURT RUSSELL

PETE BUNCE

JOHN KING

BURT RUTAN

JULIE E. CLARK

MARTHA KING

DICK RUTAN

DANNY CLISHAM

COL. JOE KITTINGER*

HRH PRINCE SULTAN BIN SALMAN - E

RAY CONNER

ALAN KLAPMEIER

BARRY SCHIFF

TOM CRUISE

DALE KLAPMEIER

SERGEI SIKORSKY

GEN. JACK DAILEY

SERGEI KRIKALEV - E

CRAIG SINCOCK

ALVARO JAIME DEORLEANS-BORBON - E

CLAY LACY

FREDERICK W. SMITH

ROBERT DEWAR

AMANDA WRIGHT LANE

CHESLEY “SULLY” SULLENBERGER

IREN DORNIER - E

JOHN LEAHY

LYNN TILTON

DR. BONNIE DUNBAR

CHARLES GORDON LENNOX - E

JOHN TRAVOLTA

WALTER EICHHORN - E

ROD LEWIS

SEAN TUCKER

TOM ENDERS

JERRY LIPS

DIETER F. UCHTDORF

PAT EPPS

CAPTAIN JAMES LOVELL

JOHN UCZEKAJ

JACK ERICKSON

KIM LUNDGREN - E

STEVEN F. UDVAR-HÁZY

GREG EVANS

ROBERT A. LUTZ

PATTY WAGSTAFF

GREG FEITH

HH SHEIKH AL MAKTOUM - E

KERMIT WEEKS

RICK FIDDLER

ALLAN MCARTOR

GENERAL MARK WELSH III

LARRY FLYNN

BRUCE MCCAW

RAINER WILKE - E

HARRISON FORD

MAJ GEN CARL MCNAIR*

GREGG WILLIAMS

MORGAN FREEMAN

ULF MERBOLD - E

TREAT WILLIAMS

MICHIMASA FUJINO

ROY MORGAN

MARTIN WITHERS - E

BRUNO GANTENBRINK - E

ELON MUSK

DANIEL WOLFE

*FLOWN WEST

E – LIVING LEGEND OF AVIATION EUROPE

W E

FLOWN WEST

R E M E M B E R … T H E

NEIL ARMSTRONG GEORGE MCGOVERN AL UELTSCHI CHARLES C. GATES SYDNEY POLLACK STEVE FOSSETT DAVID LEE “TEX” HILL ROBIN OLDS ROBERT PETERSEN TOM DANAHER HAL FISHMAN BARRON HILTON HARRY COMBS CARROLL SHELBY MILAN HAVEN WALLY SCHIRRA CLIFF ROBERTSON

L E G E N D S

W H O

HENRY G. “HANK” BEAIRD DEE HOWARD SAM WILLIAMS BOB POND EDWARD SWEARINGEN DELFORD SMITH DICK COLE MURRAY SMITH JOHN W MYERS PAUL TIBBETS DR. FORREST M. BIRD DAVID THATCHER ARNOLD PALMER BOB HOOVER GENE CERNAN PAUL ALLEN BRUCE WHITMAN HERB KELLEHER

H AV E

" F L O W N

W E S T "

NIKI LAUDA AL HAYNES EMILY HOWELL WARNER CHUCK YEAGER JOE CLARK ELLING HALVORSON ZOE DELL LANTIS NUTTER TRACY FORREST JAMES RAISBECK BILL LUCKETT LOU TURPEN MAJOR GENERAL CARL MCNAIR SIGI ANGERER, DIETRICH MATESCHITZ TOM POBEREZNY FRANK ROBINSON COL. JOE KITTINGER

LOUIS “LOU” TURPEN F E B R U A R Y

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Lou Turpen’s dedication to aviation began at an early age. Born in 1944, he graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree, then earned his master’s degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Turpen’s love for aviation environments eventually revolutionized the modern-day airport, notably at San Francisco International (SFO), where his focus on safety, security, passenger experience, concessions, noise and environment created a template for numerous other airports around the world. Turpen eventually became Director of SFO between 1981 and 1995. His career in airport management grew to include serving as President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which runs Pearson International Airport. Throughout his career, Lou Turpen received many

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awards and honors. He was inducted as a Fellow into Great Britain’s Royal Aeronautical Society in 1991. In 1996, inspired by a 1937 photo of the San Francisco terminal, Turpen created the San Francisco Aeronautical Society and its Aviation Museum, the first aviation museum at a US airport, which is named for him. The museum is housed in the $2.4 billion International Terminal Complex, which opened in 2000. He received the Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) Downes Award as well being inducted into Living Legends of Aviation in 2013. Turpen was founding President of the San Francisco Aeronautical Society Board of Directors, reaching Emeritus Member in 2018. In 2019, he received the San Francisco Aeronautical Society Achievement in Aviation Medallion.

MAJ GEN CARL MCNAIR S E P T E M B E R

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Carl McNair was born to fly, born in the Naval aviation capital of Pensacola, Fl in 1933. However, instead of being a Naval aviator, he became an Army aviator, and a very distinguished one at that. After attending Emory University for a year, Carl was appointed to the United States Military Academy West Point. Despite wanting to enter the Air Force after graduation, and even buying the uniforms, Carl attended West Point, graduating in 1955, and commissioned as a U.S. 2nd Army Lieutenant in the Army. The Army’s new focus on aviation, specifically helicopters, offered an exciting opportunity for Carl to fly. He logged more than 6,000 flight hours, 1,578 of them flown in combat, in his 32-year Army career. He served as the Army’s first Branch Chief of Army Aviation as well as Brigade Commander, Deputy Commanding General and Commanding General for the U.S. Army Aviation Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama. Additional degrees earned included a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech and and M.S. in Public Administration from Shippensburg University. Major General McNair was the unofficial voice of Army aviation, served in many leadership positions at the American Helicopter

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Society (AHS), the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), the Army Historical Foundation and the National Defense Industrial Association. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star for Valor, 51 Air Medals, the French Order of National Merit, and the Order of Merit from Korea. He followed his military career with executive roles at many Washington D.C. corporations, including Burdeshaw Associates, DynCorp, Computer Science Corporation, CPS Professional Services and Cathexis, member of the Board of Directors of Air Methods Corporation, and devoted his time to many non-profit organizations. Major General McNair was inducted into the Army Hall of Fame in 2004, named the recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Award from the United States Military Academy in 2011, inducted into the Georgia Tech School of Engineering Hall of Fame in 2014, the Shippensburg University Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, the 2019 Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Leadership Award. He was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation in 2015.

SIEGFRIED “SIGI” ANGERER A U G U S T

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If you’ve ever had the thrill of visiting Hangars 7 and 8 in Salzburg or witnessing the Flying Bulls at the Living Legends of Aviation’s European celebrations, at an airshow, or online, you know what a breathtaking, heart stopping experience the Flying Bulls are. Sadly, and poignantly, both halves of the irreplaceable dynamic duo that made the Red Bull Aviation magic possible Flew West in 2022. Siegfried “Sigi” Angerer, born in Austria in 1948, was already flying independently by the age of 15; first in gliders, later in the de Havilland Dash-7 for Tyrolean Airways, and eventually in a multitude of pristinely restored historic vintage aircraft. Sigi sourced and saved dozens of vintage aircraft from all over the globe and was committed to restoring them back to airworthiness. In 1991, while doing some scenic flying, Sigi met his match in Dietrich “Didi” Mateschitz, who shared Sigi’s passion for preserving and flying these aviation masterpieces. Together they formed a partnership and in 1999 the Flying Bulls were born, with the apt tag line, “Passion Gives

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You Wings”. Some of the notable aircraft Sigi collected and flew included the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, a North American B-25J Mitchell, the last Douglas DC-6B to be produced that once belonged to Yugoslav Marshal Josip Broz Tito and a Chance Vought F4U-4 "Corsair", which became the iconic logo for the Flying Bulls. In addition, Sigi amassed an impressive collection of helicopters, including the Bell Cobra and two BO 105s, the world's only helicopter approved for helicopter aerobatics.

Adding to the excitement, Sigi was delighted to acquire two Alpha Jets, which were the first of their kind to be approved for civilian use. To house these incredible flying machines, the stunning Hangars 7 and 8 were built at the Salzburg Airport. Sigi was Chief Pilot for the Flying Bulls, a reign he held for 45 years, flying more than 24,000 hours in 70 different aircraft types.

Those who knew Sigi said he flew these aircraft like no other, noting, he “taught us to revere the history of the aeroplanes and look into their souls.”

D I E T R I C H M AT E S C H I T Z M A Y

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The other half of a dynamic flying duo with Sigfried “Sigi” Angerer, Dietrich “Didi” Mateschitz changed the face of marketing in beverages, sports and aviation as the co-founder of Red Bull GmbH, as well as the Flying Bulls. Born in Austria in 1944, Didi was passionate about extreme sports from an early age. After earning his marketing degree from the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Didi worked for a German cosmetics company, Blendax, and while on a trip to Thailand, fate struck.

To combat jet lag, Didi bought a bottle of Krating Daeng, the drink that would later become Red Bull, declaring "one glass [of Krating Daeng] and the jet lag was gone". Didi realized the drinks potential, consequently kicking off an entirely new beverage category in the Western World, the energy drink. In 1987, he

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formed Red Bull in Austria with Thai businessman, Chaleo Yoovidhya, and set about creating a market. The company focused on adventure sports including surfing, Formula 1, off-road racing, cycling and aviation, with the Flying Bulls. Living Legends of Aviation – EU has been greatly enhanced by the genius of Didi and Sigi, with participants experiencing the excitement of the Flying Bulls over the shimmering Lake Wolfgangsee, the region both Red Bull and Didi called home.

Among his many adventures, aviation was a deep passion. Didi held a pilot's license and enjoyed flying a Falcon 900 and a Piper Super Cub. Didi was very proud of the beautiful Hangar 7 and Hangar 8 aviation center and museum he created with Sigi at Salzburg Airport.

TOM POBEREZNY

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Thomas Paul (Tom) Poberezny was born to fly and spent his entire life bringing his passion for aviation to the rest of the world. Born in Milwaukee in 1946, Tom studied Industrial Engineering at Northwestern University but ended up missing his college graduation in 1968 because he was flying in an aerobatic competition. A member of the U.S. National Unlimited Aerobatic Team that won the World Championship in 1972, Tom went on to capture the U.S. National Unlimited Aerobatic Championship in 1973. He spent the next 25 years flying for the original Red Devils, that later became the Eagles Aerobatic Team, known for being the most successful civilian precision flying team in aviation history. Perhaps Tom’s greatest legacy originated with his father Paul’s formation of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) in 1953. Tom joined his father in opening the world of aviation to millions with the eventual AirVenture Fly-In, the world’s largest aviation convention, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In the mid 70s, Tom became Chairman of

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EAA Air-Venture, a role he held for 25 years, subsequently establishing Oshkosh as the mecca of aviation. Tom led EAA through major milestones, including leading the capital fundraising campaign, which established the EAA Aviation Center, museum, and fly-in grounds in one location. Tom succeeded his father as president in 1992, holding that position for more than 20 years, before becoming Chairman of the Board in 2009, and retiring in 2011. Tom was dedicated to the future of aviation and established EAA’s Young Eagles. Initially hoping to give one million kids between the ages of 8 and 17 their first airplane flight by 2003, the First Flight Centennial, the program met that goal, and celebrated its 30th anniversary having flown nearly 2.3 million young aviators. Tom was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation in 2013 and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio in 2016. Sadly, Tom’s life ended the first day of EAA Air-Venture 2022.

FRANK ROBINSON

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Franklin “Frank” Davis Robinson was born in Carbonado, Washington in 1930. The youngest of four children, Frank became fascinated with a one-rotor Sikorsky helicopter he read about, sparking a lifelong passion that changed the world of flying by private helicopter. As a young boy, Frank spent a lot of time at the family’s cabin at Mutiny Bay on Whidbey Island. The Robinson family eventually established Robinson’s Resort there on a beach purchased from the state of Washington.

Frank, bored by school, often escaped to work on Merchant Marines Ships in Alaska, but fate intervened when his math teacher saw Frank’s mathematical potential and encouraged him to apply to the University of Washington. However, without the funds for college, Frank continued his work with the Merchant Marines, and enlisted in the Army, where he served in Korea. Thanks to the GI bill, Frank was able to enroll at the

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University of Washington, graduating in 1957 with a Mechanical Engineering degree. He later completed graduate work in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Wichita. Frank worked for nearly two decades for various helicopter companies across the country, specializing in cost efficiency and optimal design. In 1973, Frank decided to strike out on his own with a dream to make private helicopters a reality, thus establishing Robinson Helicopters. Starting with the two-seater R22, certified by the FAA in 1979, two more models followed, the R44 (four-seater) and R66 (five-seater). Some 13,000 helicopters later, Robinson Helicopter has become the preeminent manufacturer of civilian helicopters around the globe. Among many awards and honors, Frank was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation in 2011. Frank died November 12 at the age of 92 at his home in Rolling Hills, California.

COL. JOE KITTINGER J U L Y

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Col. Joe Kittinger was born in Tampa, Florida on July 27, 1928.

Raised in Orlando, Joe became fascinated with flying and soloed in a Piper Cub at age 17. After attending the University of Florida, Joe entered the U.S. Air Force as a cadet in 1949. He received his pilot wings and was assigned to the 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing in Ramstein, West Germany, flying the F-84 Thunderjet and F-86 Sabre. Following this initial operational assignment, Joe participated in the special Project Manhigh and Project Excelsior, and in August 1960 achieved what no human had before. Clad in a spacesuit, Joe rose suspended beneath a helium balloon to 102,800 feet (greater than 19 miles), then jumped into “the void of space”. In doing so, Joe set historical numbers for highest balloon ascent, first person to witness the curvature of the earth, highest parachute jump, longest duration drogue-fall (four minutes), and fastest speed by a human being through the atmosphere without a plane or a spacecraft. Releasing his parachute at 15,000 feet and making his landing in the New Mexico desert, the achievement proved that survival from extreme altitudes was possible, paving the way for space exploration. Col. Joe’s record stood for 52 years,

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when at the age of 84, he served as capsule commander and guided fellow Living Legend Felix Baumgartner to a new record-breaking 24-mile freefall in 2012. Joe also shared a special friendship with Living Legend inductee, Alan Eustace, the current holder of the record (135,890 feet or 25.7 miles).

Serving as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, Col. Joe achieved an aerial kill of a North Vietnamese MiG-21 jet fighter and was later shot down himself, spending 11 months as a prisoner of war in a North Vietnamese prison camp, aka the “Hanoi Hilton.” In 1984, he made the first solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a gas balloon. Col Joe Kittinger had a long list of military awards, among them three Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Purple Heart and a POW Medal. He was a member of the Explorer’s Club, Society of Experimental Test Pilots, inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, named a Fellow in the Royal Aeronautical Society, and inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation in January 2019. Col. Joe remained active in aviation activities before passing away December 9, 2022, in his beloved Florida.

INDUCTEES

L I V I N G

L E G E N D S

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AV I AT I O N

The Legends nominate and select the inductees and honorees for the "Living Legends of Aviation" and their awards. Committees make the final selections. It is important that the Legends are actively involved in the nomination and selection process. Nomination forms are sent to all "Living Legends of Aviation" each Spring.

C. Gregory Evans (born 1961), known to all as “Greg” is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and lifetime advocate for the business aviation industry. Since 2007 he has served as the Chairman of the Board of Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., the world’s first company providing complete mission management services for business aviation.

Evans was born in the Dallas, TX area into an aviation family. His father, Tom, founded Universal Weather in 1959 - his purpose was only to meet the needs of a fledgling business aviation industry. Evans has spent his entire career, which began in 1978, with Universal and is recognized as a fierce advocate for business aviation operators’ interests. He is passionate about the industry and fighting for increased operational flexibility and access around the globe.

Evans has truly created a global community in business aviation employing 1,700+ people in 30+ countries in mission management services, a network of FBOs, in-flight catering, ground transportation, and a variety of business technology solutions.

In various leadership roles with the National Business Aviation Association, Evans was instrumental in defeating legislation calling for the so-called privatization of air

traffic control system by the airlines. In recognition, he was awarded the prestigious NBAA Silk Scarf Award in 2019.

For many years, Evans has generously donated his resources, time, finances, and even his aircraft to support those in need. In 2010, Universal and Evans were awarded Gulfstream’s Outstanding Flight Award for helping transport severely wounded veterans to medical appointments and events in their honor.

Evans is also a proud supporter of his alma mater, the University of St. Thomas, where he graduated with a double major in business administration and consumer behavior marketing.

He is now focused on continuing to adapt Universal to the ever-changing landscape of international aviation delivering the industry’s first solution that spans the spectrum of high-touch to high-tech. He also continues to dedicate his time to fighting the critical battles for our industry and the evolving needs of its customers. Greg is supported by his wonderful wife Claudia and is committed, with his daughters, Sarah and Catherine, to transform Universal into a third-generation family business.

G R E G E VA N S I N D U C T E E

On October 24, 2014, the 58-year- old Google Engineering executive and his StratEx team surprised the world by breaking three world records, including the highest skydive - 135,899 feet. During the freefall, Alan broke the sound barrier with a top speed of 822 mph. This project was the culmination of a three-year effort to develop a truly revolutionary, personal, scuba-like system for surviving in and exploring the stratosphere. This incredible team is chronicled in the documentary “14 Minutes from Earth”, and the book by Jared Lidech entitled “Wild Black Yonder”.

After leaving Google, Alan worked with Dave Jourdan and Nauticos to find Amelia Earhart’s missing Lockheed Electra. Unfortunately, despite extensive research and 49 days of searching by a world-class team, they were not able to locate the wreckage. In 2020, Alan started a small company called Aqua Satellite to build and airdrop autonomous submarines that have the potential to dramatically reduce the cost of future oceanic Amelia Earhart searches.

Alan continues to contribute to the cutting edge of aircraft and space technology through his participation

on the boards of Opener and Space Perspectives.

Opener is building personal, electric, autonomous, Electric Vertical Takeoff/Landing EVTOL aircraft that do not require a pilot’s license to fly. Space Perspectives is taking reservations for a kinder, gentler and cheaper approach to space tourism business using stratospheric balloons to lift a first-class cabin to 100,000 feet.

Alan holds an ATP certificate in both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. He has over 3000 hours in a combination of jets, turboprops, pistons, taildraggers, helicopters, lighter than air balloons, and multi-engine seaplanes. He earned a bachelors, masters, and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Central Florida. The StratEx team was a 2014 finalist for the Collier Award. Alan was the winner of the 2014 Laureus Award for Action Sports, the 2015 FAI/Breitling Milestone Award, and the 2015 Northern California Aero Club’s Golden Eagle Award. He is a honorary Golden Knight, an Explorers Club Fellow and in 2019 was inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame. His record-breaking spacesuit is on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

ALAN EUSTACE INDUCTEE

A simple two-line help wanted ad in The Washington Post for an associate editor position at Professional Pilot magazine caused Tom, on a whim, to send in a resume, highlighting his private pilot certificate and journalism degree. A reporter at a small newspaper in his hometown in northwestern Pennsylvania, Tom had never heard of the magazine at the time. But soon, he and his wife, Brenda, were moving to Alexandria, Virginia, for the aviation magazine business. He credits Professional Pilot founder and Living Legend Murray Smith for taking a chance on a 24-year-old journalist with no magazine experience. Tom credits the Apollo space program with inspiring him to learn to fly as a teenager, soloing at 16 and earning a private pilot at 17, a move that shaped his life in ways then unimaginable and leading to an amazing career.

Learning quickly about the corporate aviation world, Tom climbed the ranks at Professional Pilot and in 1988 was hired as an associate editor at the much larger AOPA Pilot magazine. In 1994, at age 33, he became the editor in chief and senior vice president of publications

at AOPA, the youngest person ever to lead one of the large aviation magazines.

Over the decades he transformed AOPA’s media division from purely print into every corner of new media—video, podcasts, email newsletters, online content. Today, Tom is a 45-year pilot and 25-year aircraft owner with commercial single and multi-engine ratings, an instrument rating, a seaplane rating, two jet type ratings, and a second-in-command type rating in the famed World War II B-25 Mitchell bomber.

A longtime Beechcraft Bonanza owner, he has flown and written about well more than 100 models of airplanes.

Through thousands of articles and videos, he has inspired countless pilots to advance their skills, take the leap into aircraft ownership, and to make safety a priority on every flight. His writing and video skills have won many awards and he is often seen commenting about general aviation on major media sites, including NBC Today, MSNBC, and CNN.

TOM HAINES I N D U C T E E

Jared Isaacman is the CEO of Shift4 (NYSE: FOUR), the leader in integrated payment processing solutions.

He is an accomplished pilot rated to fly commercial and military aircraft and was the commander of Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to space.

Inspiration4 took place September 15-18, 2021 and marked several important milestones in human spaceflight history. The mission was named Inspiration4 in recognition of the four-person crew’s mission to inspire support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and send a humanitarian message of possibility. The journey lasted three days, reached an orbital altitude of approximately 585 km (364 mi) and was the highest of any crewed flight in twenty years. Inspiration4 represented a new era for human spaceflight and exploration while raising over $240,000,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

more than $200 billion in payments annually for a third of the country’s restaurants, hotels, and casinos. Shift4 provides technology solutions for more than 200,000 businesses and has over a dozen offices across the U.S. and Europe. In 2020, Shift4 went public on the New York Stock Exchange and currently trades under the ticker symbol FOUR. In 2012, Isaacman co-founded Draken International, a provider of tactical aviation services for all branches of the U.S. Military, Department of Defense and global allied militaries. With a fleet of 150 tactical fighter aircraft, Draken owns and operates the world’s largest commercial fleet of ex-military aircraft to support military training objectives around the globe. Isaacman sold the company in 2019 to The Blackstone Group and remained CEO until early 2020.

In February 2022, Isaacman announced an additional three missions planned with SpaceX, called the Polaris Program. He will serve as the mission Commander of the first mission, Polaris Dawn, launching no earlier than March 2023. The three missions will continue to raise funds and awareness for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

Isaacman holds several world records, including a Speed-Around-The-World flight to raise money and awareness for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He has flown in over 100 airshows as part of the Black Diamond Jet Team, dedicating every performance to a charitable cause. As part of Inspiration4’s public outreach, Isaacman made a personal $125 million commitment to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

Isaacman founded Shift4 in 1999 at the age of 16, in the basement of his parent’s home. Today, Shift4 handles

Isaacman resides in Pennsylvania with his wife, Monica and their two children.

JARED ISAACMAN I N D U C T E E

HRH Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and has been passionate about aviation since becoming a pilot in 1976. He holds U.S. and Saudi Airline Transport Certificates, is an experienced desert and mountain pilot, and qualified in helicopters, gliders, and jets.

ARABSAT (Arab Satellite Communications Organization) chose him to fly on board NASA as a payload specialist for the STS-51G Shuttle and he flew on Shuttle Discovery as part of an international crew on June 17, 1985. Upon his return, he participated in founding the Association of Space Explorers, the international organization for space travelers. He served in the Saudi Air Force from 1985 to 1996, flew combat in the first Gulf War, and retired as a Colonel.

In May 2021, Sultan was named Special Advisor to the King and Chairman of the King Salman Foundation. In 2018, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Space Commission and he served on the board

of Saudi’s Civil Aviation. He is the founder and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Aviation Club and created the Sand and Fun Air Show to promote General Aviation in Saudi Arabia and the region. He has been involved in restoring legacy aircraft with his longtime friend, flight instructor and mentor Ken Hoffman, including an Oshkosh-award-winning Bonanza twin.

Among his many accomplishments were the first exploration of Saudi Arabia by glider for the creation Arabian Winds video, flying at the South Pole and a circumnavigation. He has written books on Saudi heritage and architecture, his Shuttle story, Seven Days in Space, and his soon-to-be published “My Life on Wings.” Sultan is active in humanitarian efforts, including efforts on behalf of disabled people.

He has often said the many aviators around the world he has been privileged to meet are one of the great joys of his life.

HRH PRINCE SULTAN BIN SALMAN INDUCTEE

HONOREES

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The Legends nominate and select the inductees and honorees for the annual "Living Legends of Aviation Awards". Committees, including past honorees of the particular catagories, make final selections. It's important that the Legends get actively involved in the nomination and selection process. Nomination forms are sent to all "Living Legends of Aviation" each Spring.

H O N O R E E

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DANIEL DROHAN

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AV I AT I O N

It is no exaggeration that Dan Drohan has turned his lifelong love of aviation into a distinguished business career. As a pre-teen, Dan worked line-service and office duties at a small Northern California airport. By age 17 he had attained his private pilot certificate and by age 19 Dan launched Sunset Aviation, an air tour company operating flights over Wine Country and the San Francisco Bay Area in a Beechcraft Baron. Sunset grew over the next 15 years into a robust regional Part 135 operator, eventually operating a small fleet of jet and turboprop aircraft from a network of bases throughout California. In 2007, seeking to evolve Sunset into a larger operation, Dan sold the company to JetDirect, a national “roll-up” of air charter companies.

In 2009, Dan launched Solairus. The new venture married Dan’s passion for aviation, his entrepreneurial drive, and his industry experience with a resilient team of talented and renowned aviation leaders. Dan’s vision and strong business and sales

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acumen quickly established Solairus as one of the industry’s most highly respected aircraft management firms. After fourteen years under Dan’s leadership, today Solairus manages and operates one of the world’s largest fleets of business jets, supported by one of the most experienced and well-regarded teams in the industry. The company employs over 2000 team-members throughout the United States overseeing over 300 Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault, Citation, Beech, Embraer, Airbus and Pilatus aircraft.

Dan and his wife Cybelle have three sons and live in Northern California. He continues to fly both professionally and personally as an ATP-rated pilot with type ratings/qualifications in Gulfstream 550, Hawker 800, Citation 525 & 550, King Air 300/350 and Pilatus PC-9 aircraft. Aviation is a family passion for the Drohans, and all three of Dan’s sons are now pilots. Above all, his favorite hours are those spent flying with them.

H O N O R E E

MIKE SILVESTRO

AV I AT I O N

I N D U ST RY

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Michael J. “Mike” Silvestro is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Flexjet, a world-wide leader in the private fractional aviation travel business. Mr. Silvestro began his aviation career at Flight Options in 2000, where he served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing from 2000 to 2005.

Mr. Silvestro left Flight Options after Raytheon Travel Air’s investment that ultimately led to its acquiring majority control of the company. He held a senior position with fractional provider Citation Shares from 2005-08.

Mr. Silvestro returned to Flight Options as CEO in 2008 after its acquisition by Directional Aviation, whose principal is Kenn Ricci, and helped to lead its recovery through the recession of 2008-09. During 2009-12, Mr. Silvestro strategically positioned the company for growth by modernizing its fleet with a mix of new and refurbished aircraft.

In 2013, Mr. Silvestro also became CEO of Flexjet after its acquisition from Bombardier Aerospace by Directional Aviation.

Under Silvestro’s leadership, Flexjet experienced significant new business growth gaining market share due to a complete transformation and diversification of its fleet, expanding from

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solely Bombardier products to also include key Gulfstream and Embraer aircraft.

He further differentiated the company with key initiatives: most notably, Red Label by Flexjet, a premium offering that features non-union flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft, custom cabin interiors, and the world’s most modern fractional jet fleet.

Most recently, under Silvestro’s leadership, Flexjet expanded its operations to Europe with offices in London and Milan.

Additionally, the company has grown its presence in the United States with multiple branded FBOs at select airports and expanded its maintenance infrastructure.

Silvestro currently is the longest-serving CEO in the fractional jet industry.

He holds a business degree from The University of Notre Dame and is a member of the Board of Trustees at Ursuline College. Mr. Silvestro is also very active in support of several Catholic and child-education initiatives alongside his wife of 40 years, Mary Lynn Silvestro.

H O N O R E E

E R E N

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TIM ELLIS

E N T R E P R E N E U R

Disrupting 60 years of global aerospace manufacturing, Relativity Space is the first and only aerospace platform to integrate machine learning, software, and robotics with metal 3D printing to design, print, and fly rockets in days, with the long-term goal of building humanity’s multiplanetary future.

Since cofounding Relativity, Tim has helped change the future of space exploration by expanding the possibilities of additive metal manufacturing.

Under his leadership, Relativity developed Stargate, the largest metal 3D printer in the world which produces Terran 1, the world’s first entirely 3D printed launch vehicle, and Terran R, the first fully reusable, entirely 3D printed rocket. Terran 1 is one of the most presold rockets in history, with multiple contracts from both private and government entities, including a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contract, facilitated by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), a Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) and a Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) Demonstration 2 contract with NASA, as well as an on-demand satellite launch contract with Iridium and Telesat. Tim played a leading role in closing hundreds of millions of dollars in partnership with the U.S. Government,

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including securing the first-ever US Air Force launch site awarded to a venture-backed company at Cape Canaveral, and exclusive 20-year agreements for multiple test sites at NASA Stennis Space Center.

Prior to Relativity, Tim was responsible for bringing metal 3D printing in-house at Blue Origin and served as a Propulsion Development Engineer on Crew Capsule RCS thrusters, BE-4, and New Glenn. He holds an MS and a BS in Aerospace Engineering from USC, where he helped launch the first student-designed and built rocket into space, together with Relativity Cofounder and Executive Advisor Jordan Noone.

Tim has testified to the U.S. Senate on commercial space policy and is the youngest member of the National Space Council Users Advisory Group by nearly two decades, directly advising the United States White House on all space policy.

He also serves on the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer, and has been honored on TIME 100 Next, MIT 35 Innovators Under 35, and “30 Under 30” from Business Insider, Forbes, and Inc. Magazine.

H O N O R E E

MACK RUTHERFORD

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Mack Rutherford is a British/Belgian pilot that was born on June 21, 2005. Let that sink in! Mack has been flying with his parents, both skilled pilots themselves, since he can remember and has many aviation role-models in his family. His sister, Zara, is his biggest role model and encouraged him to go after his dream to circumnavigate the world solo in a plane.

His older sister, Zara, at age 19, had just flown solo around the world in a light sport aircraft and had become the record-holding youngest woman to fly around the word. As Mack watched Zara’s journey unfold, he also wanted to get approval from his dad and mom to follow his dream. Sponsorships were needed, plus Mack’s adventures needed to be tracked as he had significant global exposure.

Both Mack and Zara grew up criss-crossing continents and oceans in their family plane and they regularly traveled from Britain to Belgium for schooling. Their typical conversations were about flight planning, fuel stops, lots of paperwork, flying

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tips, and anticipated challenges in countries some kids have never heard about.

The Shark UL that Mack flew is day VFR only with a Rotax 912 engine. Mack didn’t have an instrument rating. Weather, of course, became a factor, and sometimes permit problems forced Mack to spend six weeks in Crete and Dubai.

Upon his completion of his solo flight around the world on August 24th, 2022, at the age of 17, he is now recognized as holding four Guinness World Records including; youngest person to fly solo around the world and youngest person to fly a microlight solo around the world. In September 2022, the Honourable Company of Air Pilots announced that Mack Rutherford had been awarded the Master’s Medal.

Mack is finishing his A-levels education in Britain. The mission of his solo circumnavigational trip was to inspire other young people to realize, reach for, and “Follow your dreams”.

H O N O R E E

MAX LYONS

ELLING HALVORSON VERTICAL FLIGHT HALL OF FAME AWARD Max Lyons is an aviator, business owner, philanthropist, adventurer, and devoted family man. A fourth-generation logger from the Pacific Northwest, Max first encountered helicopters in 1974 as a hooker underneath Sikorsky S-64 Skycranes before embarking on a global 18-month, 42,000-mile solo backpacking trip. Upon his return to the US, he became involved in the traditional Japanese martial art of Aikido, which he continued for 25 years instructing and managing Aikido dojos in Portland, Oregon. In 1983, Max started helicopter flight training at Hillsboro Aviation. In 1992, Ed Cooley, former CEO of Precision Castparts and Max’s mentor, bought Hillsboro Aviation and promoted Max to COO. In 1999, Max and his wife, Carol, purchased the company. Over the following two decades, Max grew Hillsboro Aviation to become an internationally recognized brand and one of the most diverse aviation companies in the US. The company grew to over 285 employees and 90 aircraft, conducting business with customers from over 75 countries and becoming one of the largest privately held pilot training schools in the world training over 12,000 students. In 2014, Max sold the flight training division, allowing Hillsboro Aviation to shift its focus to its contract & charter, sales, and service divisions.

Today, Hillsboro Aviation is a national leader in aerial firefighting, search and rescue, and helicopter utility services. It has state-of-the-art FBO, MRO, parts, and aircraft sales and management divisions with over 1,000 aircraft sold. Serving government, commercial, and private sectors, it operates a fleet of turbine helicopters and airplanes out of its award-winning headquarters at the Portland-Hillsboro Airport.

Max continues to serve as owner and CEO of Hillsboro Aviation. He is dual rated in helicopters and airplanes, including commercial instrument helicopter, single and multi-engine airplane, instrument airplane, and multi-engine seaplane.

Max’s flight experience includes instruction, aerial firefighting, search and rescue, aerial survey, and an array of utility operations. He has held positions as Chairman of the Board for Helicopter Association International and Board Member for Portland Community College Foundation. When not at work, you can find him flying his 1953 Beaver, MD 500, or Lockwood Aircam in the San Juan Islands, fixing up his 1938 Indian, mentoring the next generation of aviators, and spending time with his wife of 36 years, daughters, and two dogs.

H O N O R E E

W I L L I A M S H AT N E R

AV I AT I O N

I N S P I R AT I O N

William Shatner is an icon in acting and American pop-culture, as well as a licensed private pilot in both single engine aircraft and gliders. He also became the oldest person to reach space when he flew with Blue Origin on the New Shepard spacecraft on October 13, 2021. His role as Captain Kirk, commander of the USS Enterprise in the science fiction television series Star Trek, won him a cult following that is still actively in force.

Shatner began his performance career at eight years old, enrolling in an acting school for children in Montreal, Canada. His considerable acting skills led him to perform in radio broadcasts at the CBC (The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and the Montreal Children’s Theatre. Although he diversified by majoring in commerce at McGill University, Shatner continued to hone his performance chops by acting in school productions and broadcasting at the CBC. After continuing to perform on various stages in Canada, including the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Shatner answered the call to New York and Broadway in 1954, performing in multiple

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productions. His big Hollywood break came four years later when he won a significant role as Alexie in The Brothers Karamazov. From there, his extensive acting career ricocheted between the big screen, television, and Broadway. The Star Trek series in 1966 was a life changer for Shatner, not so much in its original filming, but in its aftermath. The impact of Star Trek’s innumerable and insatiable fans, known as “Trekkies,” influenced movie producers to reprise the series for theatre audiences. The feature film Star Trek: The Movie was so successful that six more sequels followed. The movie series culminated in the final appearance of Shatner as Captain Kirk in the 1994 production, Star Trek Generations.

In the intervals between acting in the Star Trek films and afterwards, Shatner continued working in movies and television. He became a writer and recording artist as well. Shatner won an Emmy Award as an outstanding guest artist for his role as Denny Crane in The Practice, leading to a starring role in the spin-off Boston Legal. The part won him both a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award.

2021 HONOREES CRAIG SINCOCK

LON & BRENDA HALVORSON

MARC PARENT

AARON TIPPIN

JARED ISAACMAN

BRIAN BREITER

KENN RICCI LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR AWARD

AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR

EREN OZMEN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

2019 HONOREES SERGEI I. SIKORSKY

ELLING HALVORSON VERTICAL FLIGHT HALL OF FAME AWARD

KENNY DICHTER

EREN OZMEN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

DR. S. HARRY ROBERTSON

KENN RICCI LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR AWARD

CAPTAIN JAMES LOVELL

JEFF BEZOS FREEDOMS WINGS AWARD

ELLING HALVORSON VERTICAL FLIGHT HALL OF FAME AWARD

AVIATION INSPIRATION AND PATRIOTISM AWARD

WINGS OF HELP AWARD

2016 HONOREES

2018 HONOREES BRIAN BARENTS

STEVE HICKOK

JEAN ROSANVALLON

PHEBE NOVAKOVIC

JEFF BEZOS

CAPTAIN SCOTT KELLY CAPTAIN MARK KELLY

INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD LIFETIME AVIATION INDUSTRY AWARD

VERTICAL FLIGHT HALL OF FAME AWARD AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR

JEFF BEZOS FREEDOMS WINGS AWARD KENN RICCI LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR AWARD

AVIATION INSPIRATION AND PATRIOTISM AWARD

SEAN TUCKER

CLAY LACY

DICK DEVOS

PETER PAUL LUCE

BERTRAND PICCARD

KENN RICCI

HARRISON FORD AVIATION LEGACY AWARD

CHANGING LIVES WITH AVIATION AWARD LEGENDS TECHNOLOGY AWARD

BOB HOOVER FREEDOM OF FLIGHT AWARD HARRISON FORD AVIATION LEGACY AWARD LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR AWARD

STEFAN AUST

LEGENDS “WINGS OF HELP” AWARD

2017 HONOREES

2015 HONOREES

MIKE SILVA

THOMAS FLOHR

TYSON WEIHS & JASON MILLER

COL. GAIL HALVERSON

FRANK FRANKE

WILLIAM “BILL” CHILES

GENERAL JACK DAILEY

DICK COLE AND DAVID THATCHER

SENATOR JIM INHOLFE

MILES O’BRIEN

DAVID JOYCE

SCOTT TERRY

ROBERT BIGELOW

RAY CONNER

VERTICAL FLIGHT HALL OF FAME AWARD EREN OZMEN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

LEGENDS WINGS OF HOPE AWARD AWARD

STEVEN F. UDVAR HAZY AWARD

HARRISON FORD AVIATION LEGACY AWARD

LIFETIME AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADER AWARD KENN RICCI LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR AWARD

AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD KIDDIE HAWK CHILDREN AWARD

VERTICAL FLIGHT HALL OF FAME AWARD

SPECIAL DOOLITTLE RAIDERS INTRO & INDUCTION

AVIATION INSPIRATION AND PATRIOTISM AWARD

HARRISON FORD AVIATION LEGACY AWARD LIFETIME AVIATION INDUSTRY AWARD

2014 HONOREES

2012 HONOREES

MICHIMASA FUJINO

JOHN UCZEKAJ

MARK BAKER

JAMES ALBAUGH

HERB KELLEHER

GREG ANDERSON

ELLING HALVORSON

DAVID NEELEMAN

ANGELINA JOLIE

ROY MORGAN

AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR HARRISON FORD AVIATION LEGACY AWARD LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR AWARD VERTICAL FLIGHT HALL OF FAME AWARD AVIATION INSPIRATION & PATRIOTISM AWARD

AVIATION INDUSTRY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR LIFETIME AVIATION INDUSTRY AWARD HARRISON FORD AVIATION LEGACY AWARD LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR VERTICAL FLIGHT HALL OF FAME AWARD

DAVID ELLISON

AVIATION INSPIRATION & PATRIOTISM AWARD

NEIL ARMSTRONG & EUGENE CERNAN BOB HOOVER FREEDOM OF FLIGHT AWARD “FIRST AND LAST MAN TO WALK ON THE MOON”

2013 HONOREES

2011 HONOREES

MARILYN RICHWINE RHONDA FULLERTON

MARK VAN TINE

BRUCE WHITMAN

AVIATION ENTREPRENEURS OF THE YEAR

HARRISON FORD AVIATION LEGACY AWARD LIFETIME AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADER AWARD

FREDERICK W SMITH

LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR AWARD

JACK ERICKSON

VERTICAL FLIGHT HALL OF FAME AWARD

MAJOR GEN PATRICK H BRADY

BOB HOOVER FREEDOM OF FLIGHT AWARD

AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR

EREN OZMEN & FATIH OZMEN DR. RICHARD SUGDEN

HARRISON FORD AVIATION LEGACY AWARD

J. ROBERT DUNCAN

LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR

MORGAN FREEMAN

AVIATION INSPIRATION & PATRIOTISM AWARD

BOEING 787 DREAMTEAM AIRCRAFT OF LEGEND AWARD

BURT RUTAN

BOB HOOVER FREEDOM OF FLIGHT AWARD

2010 HONOREES

2008 HONOREES

LYNN TILTON

LINDEN BLUE

DELFORD M. SMITH

SIR RICHARD BRANSON

PAT EPPS

SI ROBIN

CLAYTON “CLAY” JONES

ED BOLEN

CAPTAIN JAMES LOVELL

EMILY HOWELL-WARNER

SEAN TUCKER

ZOE DELL LANTIS NUTTER

FRANK ROBINSON

HARRISON FORD

DOOLITTLE RAIDERS

USAF MAJ. PAUL ‘MAX” MOGA

AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR

LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR HARRISON FORD AVIATION LEGACY AWARD AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR

LEGENDS AVIATION INVENTOR AWARD AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR BOB HOOVER FREEDOM OF FLIGHT AWARD

COOL CAPTAIN AWARD

AVIATION INSPIRATION & PATRIOTISM AWARD LIFETIME AVIATION ENGINEERING AWARD BOB HOOVER FREEDOM OF FLIGHT AWARD

BOB HOOVER FREEDOM OF FLIGHT AWARD LEGENDS AVIATION LEGACY AWARD LEGENDS TOP FLYER AWARD

2009 HONOREES

2007 HONOREES

ELON MUSK

HH SHEIKH AHMED BIN SAEED AL-MAKTOUM

JOSEPH “JOE” CLARK

JAMES RAISBECK

JEFFREY PUCKETT

JOHN TRAVOLTA

PRESTON “PRES” HENNE

DR. FORREST M BIRD

KURT RUSSELL

GEORGE MCGOVERN

KERMIT WEEKS

PETE BUNCE

AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR HARRISON FORD AVIATION LEGACY AWARD AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR AVIATION MENTOR AWARD BOB HOOVER FREEDOM OF FLIGHT AWARD

TOM CRUISE

AVIATION INSPIRATION & PATRIOTISM AWARD

DR. EDWIN “BUZZ” ALDRIN

FIRST OUT –OF-THIS-WORLD LANDING & TAKE OFF AWARD

AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR

OFFICIAL AMBASSADOR OF AVIATION AWARD BOB HOOVER FREEDOM OF FLIGHT AWARD BOB HOOVER FREEDOM OF FLIGHT AWARD AVIATION INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR

2006 HONOREES

2004 HONOREES

DALE & ALAN KLAPMEIER

JOE CLARK

AL UELTSCHI

CLAY LACY

AVIATION ENTREPRENEURS OF THE YEAR

AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR

LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR

BOB HOOVER

FREEDOM OF FLIGHT AWARD

2005 HONOREES

2003 HONOREES

VERN RABURN

RICK ADAM

STEVEN F. UDVAR-HAZY

CHARLES C. GATES

AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR

AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR LIFETIME AVIATION ENTREPRENEUR

ROBERT DEL AURENTIS N O M I N E E

Former Naval officer and real estate entrepreneur turned pilot, Robert DeLaurentis completed a nine-month Polar Circumnavigation to share peace worldwide by connecting the two places on the planet where peace has always existed — the North and South poles.

Multiple first-time aviation innovation records set include:

His highly modified 1983 Twin Commander aircraft named “Citizen of the World” was the vehicle for his mission, “One Planet, One People, One Plane: Oneness for Humanity.” He and his worldwide team filmed a documentary of this journey. Along with his book are both titled: Peace Pilot: To the Ends of the Earth and Beyond (2023). They include interviews with locals along with NGO leaders, Living Legends, and aviators in 22 countries on 6 continents - all who examine what it means to be a “Citizen of the World.” A portion of the film was used by the United Nations on World Peace Day.

• First and fastest Polar circumnavigation of the planet in a twin or single-engine turboprop

Despite extreme weather challenges (a cyclone in Madagascar, 60 degrees Celsius temperatures) and mechanical failures (chemical burns from bursting fuel tanks inside the aircraft, lost communications and navigation over the poles, mechanical failures in flight) and the pandemic, DeLaurentis persisted.

• Successful use of biofuels over the North and South poles for the first time • Longest distance flown in a twin- or single-engine turboprop (18.1 hours)

• First testing for atmospheric plastic microfibers across the globe including over the South and North poles for Scripps Institute of Oceanography • First testing of WaferScale Spacecraft for NASA Robert's books are Flying Thru Life and best-selling, Zen Pilot: Flight of Passion and the Journey Within. He has co-authored two children’s books, The Little Plane that Could and Let’s Fly. Robert is the president of the DeLaurentis Foundation which funds aviation scholarships, provides aviation books to aspiring pilots, minted courage coins that were flown over the poles, and a video “Overcoming the Fear of Flying”.

DR. JAIWON SHIN N O M I N E E

As the head of Supernal, Dr. Jaiwon Shin is responsible for building the company’s strategic and operational direction globally. His expertise in the revolutionary airframe, engine, aviation safety and air traffic management technologies allow Hyundai Motor Group to take the lead in the fast-growing advanced air mobility industry.

Before joining Hyundai Motor Group, Dr. Shin led the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA, where he shaped the agency’s aeronautics research and development strategy for 11 years. During his time at NASA, Dr. Shin oversaw a program to lead many new aeronautics research initiatives, such as the supersonic X-plane, electrification of aircraft, UAS traffic management and urban air mobility.

Dr. Shin currently serves as an appointed member of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Drone Advisory Committee, a cross-sector panel that advises the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on safety efforts to integrate unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system. He is also a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society of the United Kingdom.

Previously, Dr. Shin served as co-chair of the White House National Science and Technology Council's Aeronautics Science and Technology Subcommittee, which wrote the United States’ first presidential policy for aeronautics research and development, and the USAF/NASA Executive Research Committee, which facilitated the highest level of coordination of common research needs between the United States Air Force and NASA Aeronautics.

Dr. Shin has been awarded the Presidential Rank Award twice (in 2008 and 2016), the highest accolade presented to public officials in the United States federal government. He is internationally recognized as a leader in the aviation research community and was elected to the Chair of the International Forum for Aviation Research (IFAR) for a two-year term in 2014.

Dr. Shin received his doctorate in mechanical engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Yonsei University in Korea and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from California State University and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Fellowship Program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

THANK YOU!

F R O M

K I D D I E

H A W K

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A C A D E M Y

We would like to thank all of our supporters for all that you have done and continue to do. You have helped us in delivering on our mission to spark children’s imagination for flight. A special “Thank You” is always reserved for Bill and Sarah Marcy, the founders of Kiddie Hawk Air Academy. Your passion helps fuel our passion, and as a team we can achieve the impossible!

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CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

A V I A T I O N :

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On December 17, 1903, the Wright Brother’s “Kitty Hawk” took to the skies for the world’s first successful powered flight. Precisely 100 years later, Jerry Lips launched the “Living Legends of Aviation” at his hangar office at Centennial Airport, Colorado. Lips, publisher of the family-owned Airport Journals, created “Living Legends of Aviation” with the mission: to honor and celebrate the remarkable people who have helped usher in – and transform – the second hundred years of flight: aviation’s entrepreneurs, innovators, industry leaders, record-breakers, astronauts; pilots who have become celebrities and celebrities who have become pilots.” Airport Journals published biographies in each issue featuring a “Living Legend of Aviation.” The annual awards gala began in 2003 with the 100-year celebration of flight at their hangar at Centennial Airport. In 2006, the venue moved to the Beverley Hilton in Los Angeles where it has continued to grow, and in 2008, the non-profit, Kiddie Hawk Air Academy acquired the “Living Legends of Aviation” and is responsible for producing the annual awards.

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S P I R I T ” .

The “Legends” meet annually to celebrate the 2nd hundred years of flight and to honor new inductees and honorees who have contributed to the advancement of aviation’s future. The “Legends” organization has honored such diversified Legends as Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, first to walk on the moon; and aerospace entrepreneurs Eren and Fatih Ozmen, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

These remarkable entrepreneurs represent the extraordinary advancement in the technology that is going to take man to the moon and Mars.

The scope of the “Living Legends of Aviation Awards” is growing as well. Aviation is a global industry and the “Legends” honor important aviation heroes and visionaries from all parts of the world. The first “Living Legends of Aviation Awards Europe” debuted in Salzburg, Austria in 2017. The event provides the opportunity to pay tribute to the remarkable heroes, pilots, engineers, entrepreneurs and visionaries who continue to enrich and distinguish the aeronautics industry.