The 23rd annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards, to be headlined by entertainers and aviators John Travolta, Morgan Freeman and Kenny G, will be held Jan. 23 to honor the accomplishments of those who are shaping the future of flight and space exploration, organizers say.
This year’s event, often called the Academy Awards of Aviation, will honor leaders in business aviation, aircraft design, aviation technology, military flying, instruction, entrepreneurship and other areas.
“The Living Legends of Aviation is where Hollywood and the flight deck meet,” says John Travolta, a long-time host of the evening and the Legends’ “Official Ambassador of Aviation.” “It’s an incredible night when the people who entertain the world stand shoulder to shoulder with the people who keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the sky and beyond.”
About 800 are expected to attend the evening, held at the Beverly Hilton hotel. Living Legends of Aviation was founded on Dec. 17, 2003, 100 years after the Wright brothers’ first powered flight.
The annual event raises funds for the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a Littleton, Colorado-based nonprofit organization, which produces the gala. The Academy’s goal is to ignite children’s interest in aviation to inspire future pilots and aviation professionals. It provides scholarships for flight lessons, aviation-themed camps and other educational programs.
“The Legends, and all in our industry, know that the future of aviation and aerospace lies with the youth,” says Stacy Elsner, Living Legends executive director. “Through our STEM, school, Kiddie Hawk Trainers and scholarship programs, we try to encourage the next generation of Legends and aviation leaders.”
The night is compelling for everyone involved or fascinated with flight, Elsner says. “You will see a famous actor and aviator you know from the big screen standing next to an engineer who designed a revolutionary aircraft, an astronaut who has been to the moon and a world-renowned aerobatic pilot. It’s a celebration of human achievement in every direction.”
2026 Inductees include:
Mark Burns, Gulfstream Aerospace president; Dan Drohan, CEO and founder of Solairus; Doug King, Epic Aircraft CEO; Aaron Tippin, a country singer-songwriter and founder of Tennessee Flying Machines, a family operated flight school, restoration and maintenance provider; Eileen Collins, retired U.S. Air Force colonel and NASA astronaut and the first female space shuttle pilot and commander; and Lee Lauderback, founder of Stallion 51 Corp. and Unusual Attitude Training and airshow performer.
Other award honorees include:
The Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award: Randy Waldman, a concert pianist and composer and aircraft and helicopter instructor.
Barron Hilton Aviation Inspiration Award: Xyla Foxlin, a mechatronics engineer, pilot and creator and advocate for pilot mental health.
Eren Ozmen Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Steuart Walton, co-founder and chair of Game Aerospace, a designer and manufacturer of high-performance composite aircraft, and Philipp Steinbach; founder of Impulse Aircraft and co-founder of Game Aerospace.
The Dr. Sam B. Williams Technology Award: Patrick Waddick, Cirrus Aircraft president of innovation and operations and leader of the Vision Jet SF50 development.
The Kenn Ricci Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award: George Antoniadis, founder, president and CEO of PlaneSense, a fractional ownership provider.
The Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader Award: Tony Lefebvre, Signature Aviation CEO.
The Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award: Randy Waldman, Grammy-winning pianist arranger and composer and aircraft and helicopter instructor.
The Dr. Buzz Aldrin Space Achievement Award: Elon Musk, founder, CEO and chief engineer of SpaceX.
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