BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The 10th Annual “Living Legends of Aviation” Awards, presented by Bell Helicopter and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and hosted by John Travolta (pictured), will be held Jan. 18, at the Beverly Hilton.
The program starts with Morgan Freeman narrating the “Flown West” tribute to four legends who took their last flight West in 2012: Neil Armstrong, Carroll Shelby, George McGovern, and AL Ueltschi, followed by the inductions of new “Living Legends of Aviation.”
Harrison Ford will present the Harrison Ford Aviation Legacy Award to Greg Anderson, founder of the “Young Eagles” and CEO of Wings Over the Rockies.
James Albaugh will be inducted into the “Living Legends of Aviation” and will receive the Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader Award for his contributions and career at Boeing Aircraft Co. Inductees include Eren and Fatih Ozmen, the leaders of Sierra Nevada Corporation, who have taken their company from 20 to 2,100 employees. Additionally, the Ozmen’s will present this year’s Aviation Industry Entrepreneur of the Year Award to John Uzcekaj, CEO of Aspen Avionics.
David Neeleman will be honored with the Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award. Neeleman, founded Jet Blue Airlines in 1998, and Azul Airlines in 2008.
Actor, producer and aerobatic pilot David Ellison will be presented with the 2013 “Aviation Inspiration and Patriotism Award.”
Bob Hoover will present his Freedom of Flight Award to the first and the last man to walk on the moon. Accepting are Carol Armstrong and Gene Cernan.
Attendees, Legends, and Honorees include: Chuck Aaron, Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Paul Allen, Greg Anderson, Laurent Beaudoin, Tony Bill, Dr. Forrest Bird, Linden Blue, Ed Bolen, Col. Frank Borman, Sir Richard Branson, Jimmy Buffett, Pete Bunce, Gene Cernan, Joe Clark, Julie E. Clark, Danny Clisham, Tom Cruise, Gen. Jack R. Dailey, Tom Danaher, Bonnie Dunbar, J. Robert Duncan, David Ellison, Pat Epps, Craig Ferguson, Randy Gaston, Edsel B. Ford, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Charles Hall, Pres Henne, Greg Herrick, Barron Hilton, Dexter Holland, Skip Holm, Bob Hoover, David Hurley, Charlie Johnson, Herb Kelleher, John & Martha King, Alan & Dale Klapmeier, Clay Lacy, Lorenzo Lamas, Amanda Wright Lane, Bill Luckett, Robert A. Lutz, Bruce McCaw, Russell W. Meyer Jr., Col. Max Moga, Roy Morgan, Elon Musk, Zoe Dell Lantis Nutter, Suzanne Asbury-Oliver, Steve Oliver, Arnold Palmer, Jack Pelton, Paul Poberezny, Tom Poberezny, Jeff Puckett, Vern Raburn, James Raisbeck, James C. Ray, Si Robin, Frank Robinson, Kurt Russell, Burt Rutan, Dick Rutan, Richard Santulli, Barry Schiff, Thomas Scott, Delford M. Smith, Frederick W. Smith, Murray Smith, Captain Sully Sullenberger, Edward J. Swearingen, Brian J. Terwilliger, Lynn Tilton, John Travolta, Sean Tucker, Dieter F Uchtdorf, Steven F Udvar-Hazy, Mark Van Tine, Patty Wagstaff, Emily Howell Warner and Kermit Weeks.
For more information and tickets: LivingLegendsOfAviation.org
The “Living Legends of Aviation” are defined as aviation entrepreneurs, innovators, record breakers, industry leaders, astronauts, 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.
The Living Legends of Aviation Awards event is produced by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a non-profit 501(c)(3) qualified organization. Kiddie Hawk introduces children ages 4 through 9 to flight with the Kiddie Hawk Trainers. These trainers allow kids to take their first flight lesson with the sophistication of motion and control of real flight, piloting their airplane, albeit a few feet off the ground. Kiddie Hawk follows the students as they progress, making scholarships available as Kiddie Hawk pilots enter actual flight training. The Kiddie Hawk program also introduces youngsters to other aviation related careers.
