The 13th Annual “Living Legends of Aviation Awards,” slated for Jan. 22 in Beverly Hills, will include the induction of five legends, including the last two remaining Doolittle Raiders.
The awards program starts with the “Flown West Tribute” to those legends lost during the previous year. The “Flown West Tribute” for Legend Dr. Forrest Bird will be followed by the induction of five new legends:
- Michimasa Fujino, the president/CEO and founder of Honda Jet;
- Daniel Wolfe, chief pilot and manager of Nationwide’s flight department and an active volunteer and contributor to children’s flying programs;
- Greg Feith, former NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator and safety and flight commentator for NBC news; and
- Lt Col. Dick Cole and Staff Sgt. David Thatcher, the last two remaining crew members of the Doolittle Raiders.
Thomas Flohr, founder and chairman of VistaJet, will receive the “Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year Award.” Growing his Austrian-based company in 2004 with three aircraft to a fleet of 55 Global and Challenger jets that represent the industry’s fastest growing aviation company and the world’s largest fleet of privately owned Bombardier aircraft.
Ray Conner, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, will be awarded the Living Legends of Aviation’s “Lifetime Industry Leader Award,” with Steven Udvar-Hazy and Herb Kelleher presenting.
The Living Legends of Aviation will also honor William “Bill” Chiles, recently retired president and CEO of Bristow Group, a provider of helicopter services to the worldwide offshore energy industry, operating 500 helicopters flying in 22 countries with 5,000 employees. Chiles will receive the “Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award,” presented by Bell Helicopter.
Miles O’Brien, a instrument rated pilot, and broadcast news journalist specializing in science, technology, and aerospace, will receive the “Aviation Inspiration and Patriotism Award” presented by Treat Williams.
The Legends will recognize Col. Gail Halvorsen. Hailed as the “Candy Bomber,” Halvorsen dropped candy bars on final approach to Tempelhof Airport while flying the Berlin Airlift. He ignited an expanded effort supported by the Hershey Company that dropped a million chocolate bars to the German children.
Harrison Ford has chosen Scott Terry, founder of Global Flight Relief, for the “Harrison Ford Aviation Legacy Award.” Global Flight Relief has been instrumental in providing an integrated aviation organization dedicated to disaster relief, humanitarian aid and emergency response to natural disasters around the world.
To date, Global Flight Relief, a non-profit organization, has provided more than $1 million in airlift support services, in conjunction with other organizations, to deliver food and medical supplies in Africa and other war-ravaged countries.
The 13th Annual “Living Legends of Aviation Awards” are being dedicated to Bob Hoover, organizers note.
The awards are produced by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a 501-c-3 non-profit organization whose mission it is to educate and spark children’s interest in aviation.