News on things not found anywhere: February 2009

By Jim Bennett
January, 2009
Beverly Hills, CA

The red carpet runway was alive with people at The Beverly Hilton which is also home to the Golden Globes. It was well attended by A-list celebrities, entrepreneurs, innovators, record breakers, astronauts, pilots and visionaries who all shared their passion and dedication to aviation. This special annual event is officially called the “Living Legends of Aviation” and was established in 2003 by a small group of dedicated and determined aviation individuals.

Over the ensuing years, Living Legends of Aviation has gradually grown to seventy accomplished and extraordinary people who were inducted based on great work, dedication, accomplishments in aviation and living a full life.

Some notable and diverse of Living Legends of Aviation include: Buzz Aldrin, Paul Allen, Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman, Sir Richard Branson, Jimmy Buffett, Gene Cernan, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Edsel B. Ford, Morgan Freeman, Barron Hilton, Bob Hoover, Clay Lacy, Robert A. Lutz, George McGovern, Arnold Palmer, Paul Poberezny, Sydney Pollock, Vern Raburn, Cliff Robertson, Frank Robinson, Kurt Russell, Burt Rutan, Dick Rutan, Carroll Shelby, Fred Smith, John Travolta, Sean Tucker, Steven F. Udar-Hazy and Patty Wagstaff.

In 2008, Bob Lutz, Co Chairman General Motors, a widely honored international executive, Marine jet pilot and current active jet and helicopter pilot acknowledged his induction by saying, “I consider being inducted in the Living Legends of Aviation last year among the most important happenings of my life.” As a child, he was inspired by automobiles and airplanes introduced by family and friends on at least two continents. That inspiration continues to accelerate unabated to this day.

The 6th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards ceremony is being produced by Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a non-profit which introduces kids ages 5 thru 11 to flight with the Kiddie Hawk Air Trainer Simulator. This allows kids to take their first flight lesson with the sophistication of motion and control of real flight, piloting their airplane just a few feet off the ground. Kiddie Hawk follows up as students progress, making scholarships available as these kid pilots enter actual flight training years later. The program also introduces youngsters to aviation related careers.

Paul Lips, a spokesman for the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy says, “The importance of leadership and commitment in these challenging times make this recognition event even more significant.”

Several attendees, who purchased tickets to help financially support the organizations, also shared Mr. Lips comments. They support and honor the Living Legends and group’s vision of “Free To Fly On Freedom’s Wings” and feel activities like these will help set the stage for a greater community aviation involvement.

Selected 6th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards Ceremony Recipients

Harrison Ford the award winning actor and pilot of both fixed wing and helicopters, received the Legends Aviation Legacy Award for his countless hours of service introducing thousands of young people to flight through his work as Chairman of the Young Eagles program of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

Harrison Ford has personally provided important emergency search and rescue helicopter services for years. His words echo his passion for aviation: “Those who are bound to the Earth by gravity—and without an airplane—don’t really see the world the way a pilot does. There’s so much beauty in flight.”

Sir Richard Branson received the Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award for his never-ending creativity, passion and thirst for discovery. He is best known for creating the famous Virgin brand and as one of today’s most accomplished entrepreneurs with more than 360 worldwide companies.

Sir Richard was knighted in 1999 for his services to entrepreneurship. Exhibiting the best in true pioneering spirit, commitment and loyalty Sir Richard and fellow Aviation Legend Steve Fossett flew around the world in a balloon and worked as a team friendship to achieve many aviation records.

The untimely passing and loss of Steve Fossett brought forth Sir Richard’s highest commitment and honor to locate Steve and prepare a final tribute and touchstone for private space exploration for his friend by naming one of first two Virgin Galactic mother spaceships in Steve’s honor.

Sir Richard confirmed the first private space travelers could start as early as 2010 but safety would be of utmost importance. The new larger Spaceship Two will carry 8 people and have an apogee of 68 miles into the thermosphere. Spaceship Two ascent speeds will reach 2,600 mph and re-entry speeds will be around 16,000 mph and use heat shields. Test flights of the mothership, White Knight 2 began in December, 2008.

Thus, in true Virgin style a new era of aviation and space exploration and entrepreneurship will begin for Eagles of all ages. This example of commitment and excellence is inspirational.

U. S. Air Force Major Paul “Max” Moga received the Legends Top Flyer Award and represents a younger generation’s Top Flyer honor. Major Moga is a seasoned operational F-22 Raptor instructor pilot and the Air Combat Comand F-22 demonstration pilot with more than 1,800 fighter hours and over 250 combat hours in Yugoslavia and Iraq. He is uniquely qualified to display maneuvers only the U. S. F-22 stealth fighter can perform.

The F-22 Raptor is the world class stealth single seat jet fighter that costs more than $140 million dollars a copy. In a “no holds” barred training dogfight one F-22 can hold off at least six F-16 aircraft and best pilots---in WIN. The Raptor can fly higher, quicker, tighter, backward, lower, stealthier and more demanding on a pilot’s physical and mental endurance than any other known aircraft.

But to a few very special individuals who are extremely well trained, committed, focused, proven exceptional pilots these people are the best to showcase and use, when necessary, the extraordinary capabilities of what might the best and last of extreme human flow aircraft.

Major Paul “Max” Moga is a young looking 30 something pilot/instructor who is an extremely fit and articulate flyer with an easy going manner who will soon be a new father. Max is the F-22 lead demonstration pilot. He inspires all who see his performances at air shows, on the Discovery Channel or during global aviation events.

Ed Bolen is the President and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) that represents the interests of about 8,000 companies using General Aviation as a business tool. Ed has been awarded Aviation Industry Leader of the Year Award due in large part to his ability to work with the association’s members, Congress to transform and modernize the nation’s aviation system and policies that support continued economic growth, jobs and investments. A current and critical key mission objective is to keep our national aviation system the safest and most efficient in the world. Under today’s numerous challenges it’s not an easy mission to achieve but as recently exemplified by his common sense and pragmatic approach to TSA influence on General Aviation he is definitely on the correct approach vector.

It was learned Ed Bolen is on the President’s Commission on the Future of the U. S. Aerospace Industry along with fellow attendee Neil deGrasse Tyson, the top Astrophysicist of the Hayden Planetarium and noted Discovery Channel host. They are both very knowledgeable, pragmatic and provide excellent counsel and insights.

Linden Blue receives the Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year Award as a technical innovator beginning at age 8 though the 1970’s at Gates Learjet to developing and building the unmanned Predator aircraft to the revolutionary Spectrum Jet. Harry Combs mentored young Linden and some say influenced the young man’s life and work as illustrated by this poignant quote:” I noticed that the air surrounded both the land and sea, so it seemed apparent to me from the beginning that people who were able to experience flight were able to see more, live more and love more.”

Last but not least is Buzz Aldrin, who walked on the Moon over 40 years ago. He shared some of his views on the aerospace sector and living life.

Apollo 11 was the first time humans stood on another world. It was a remarkable achievement by thousands of people for over a decade. Many astronauts risked their lives, performed well in hazardous missions, exhibited remarkable boldness and adaptability under extremely challenging conditions.

The first 50 years in space have achieved much. We need to look ahead by understanding what was accomplished and learn from history how to minimize mistakes while setting future courses and objectives.

Future successes may depend on having several projects running along parallel paths. It may allow us to provide the best technology for future space missions and objectives. New focused single stage lift capability is needed now. I believe the United States is best suited to develop, build and deploy it with international involvement encouraged.
It’s already been demonstrated with the Space Shuttle and ISS over the past decades.

Now is the time to open up space flight, travel and exploration to private space travelers and enterprises to as many people as possible to become fully involved. Education and inspiration are ways to enthuse new creative generations and help make future endeavors successful, adaptive and sustainable.
Buzz responded with eyes twinkling to this question-- What are the most important factors influencing success? “Being in the right place at the right time, Always accomplishing the mission, Never having to bailout.”

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