Living Legends of Aviation–22nd Annual Awards

Editor’s Note:  The Living Legends annual event is normally scheduled every January in Beverly Hills, California.  This year, due to the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area, the event was postponed.  It has now been rescheduled and will take place on Friday, April 25, 2025.

Once again it’s time to celebrate aviation at the annual Living Legends of Aviation awards event.  Often called the “Academy Awards of Aviation,” the event features an evening spent with a remarkable group of 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.  This years awards will once again be hosted by actor and aviator John Travolta.

The 2025 Inductees include:

Eileen M. Collins, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, is celebrated as the first female pilot and commander of a NASA space shuttle;

Aaron Tippin, a country music superstar and aviator who, along with his family, established Tennessee Flying Machines;

Robert “Hoot” Gibson, USN, a decorated Navy fighter pilot, veteran astronaut, and race pilot; and

Captain Chris Cassidy, a former NASA astronaut and Navy SEAL, and a veteran of three spaceflights and ten spacewalks.

The 2025 Honorees include:

The Polaris Dawn Mission Crew–Jared Isaacman, Mission Pilot Scott ‘Kidd’ Poteet, Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis, and Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Anna Menon, inaugural recipients of the Dr. Buzz Aldrin Space Advancement Award;

Ronald Draper, CEO Textron Aviation, who will receive the “Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader Award”;

Randy Waldman, renowned Hollywood musician and helicopter instructor, who will receive the Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award;

Lieutenant Commander Amanda “Stalin” Lee, U.S. Navy Pilot, who will receive the Barron Hilton Aviation Inspiration Award;

Louis Pepper, Atlantic Aviation, who will receive the Kenn Ricci Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award.

The event will be held on Friday, April 25th at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, with Cocktails at 6:00PM, Dinner at 7:00PM and the Awards at 8:00PM.

Aerlex Founder and President Steve Hofer will be in attendance, and would love to meet up with you!

For further information please visit the Living Legends website:  https://www.livinglegendsofaviation.org/