Living Legends of Aviation

The Living Legends of Aviation is an award honoring achievements in the aviation industry, bestowed by the 91 current title holders, owned and produced by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a non-profit 501(c)(3).^[1] The Living Legends have all made significant contributions to many areas of aviation including: innovators, record breakers, astronauts, aviation entrepreneurs, industry leaders and celebrity pilots.

The 13th Living Legends of Aviation Awards, honoring the best in aviation for 2015, was presented on January 22, 2016, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, where they have been held annually since 2007.

History

Jerry Lips, publisher of Airport Journals, came up with the idea of the Living Legends of Aviation at the time of the death of Michael Chowdry (founder of Atlas Air).^[2] Airport Journals had been collecting and publishing biographies of various aviation personalities and Jerry regretted not having captured Mr Chowdry's history. He began to compile a list of individuals that had made major contributions in the field of aviation, and had those people suggest more names until a list of 70 names was collected. These were the biographies that needed to be recorded while those folks were still "living". The list has grown over the years to its present number of 91. As Legends pass on, they are replaced by new inductees, selected by their fellow Legends.

Jerry Lips founded the Living Legends of Aviation organization with the charter of celebrating the second century of aviation. In 2008, Kiddie Hawk Air Academy acquired the Living Legends of Aviation and the responsibility for the annual awards show.

Current Living Legends of Aviation

^[3]

Past Living Legends of Aviation

Living Legends of Aviation Awards event

Beginning in 2003, an awards show has been organized each year to bring together the Living Legends members for a variety of events. The awards are presented at a live ceremony, most commonly in mid January following the relevant calendar year. This is an elaborate extravaganza, with the invited guests walking up the red carpet to enter the event.

Venues

In 2003, the first Living Legends of Aviation Awards were presented at a banquet dinner hosted by Airport Journals at the Centennial Airport. To avoid any weather related issues, in 2006 the venue was moved to Southern California and held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza hotel. Since 2007 the Awards have been presented at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.^[4]

List of winners

^[5]

• The award alternately called the Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

• The award was called the Freedom of Flight Award prior to 2007.

• The award was called the Legends Aviation Legacy Award prior to 2009.

See also

• Oswald Watt Gold Medal

References

• Jerry Lips editorial describing the start of the Living Legends of Aviation
• AOPA article on Mark Baker's award
• Los Angeles local news article on the Living Legends of Aviation Awards show
• Sierra Nevada Corporation Owners Inducted into the "Living Legends of Aviation"
• General Aviation News article on 11th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards show
• Angelina Jolie to receive aviation award at a ceremony hosted by John Travolta
• Airport Journals article on the Second Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards
• Airport Journals article on the Fourth Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards
• Airport Journals article on the Sixth Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards
• Press release on the 10th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards
• John Travolta to host 11th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards
• Airport Journals article on the 12th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards
• Doolittle Raider David Thatcher To Be Honored
• John Travolta to host 13th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards
• Celebrate Aviation with the Living Legends of Aviation
• Hank Beaird Airport Journals Article

External links

• Living Legends of Aviation website
• Living Legends of Aviation Facebook page
• Living Legends of Aviation Instagram page
• Airport Journals website
• Inductee portraits through 2007