David Ellison to be Presented with Prestigious Aviation Award at 10th Annual Living Legends of Aviation

News provided by

Jan 15, 2013, 02:46 ET

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- David Ellison has been chosen by the Living Legends of Aviation to receive the "Aviation Inspiration and Patriotism Award." Never afraid to aim high, David Ellison has already accomplished an astonishing array of achievements for just turning 30. He is an accomplished pilot with a commercial multi-engine instrument and helicopter rating. In 2003, at 20 years old, he was the youngest member of "The Stars of Tomorrow," EAA's Aerobatic AirVenture Show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Currently, Ellison is also aiming high as Hollywood's youngest major movie producer, combining his two great passions of cinema and aviation.

The "Living Legends of Aviation" Awards has released additional honorees for the 10^th Annual Awards to be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 18, 2013.

John Travolta, the "Official Ambassador of Aviation" will host the Awards.

The "Flown West" tribute, narrated by Morgan Freeman, will honor American heroes Neil Armstrong, George McGovern, AL Ueltschi, and Carroll Shelby, who took their last flight West during 2012, followed by eight inductions into the Living Legends of Aviation. The newest members of the "Living Legends of Aviation" who will receive their medallions include Chuck Aaron, James Albaugh, Randy Gaston, Al Haynes, Fatih and Eren Ozmen, Louis Turpen and Tom Poberezny.

The Awards will then honor the Aviation Industry Entrepreneur of the Year, John Uczekaj, CEO of Aspen Avionics. James Albaugh, recently retired President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Aircraft will receive the Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader Award. Harrison Ford will present the Harrison Ford Aviation Legacy Award to current CEO and President of Wings Over the Rockies Air Space Museum, Greg Anderson.

Co-emcees of the Awards are Danny Clisham and Legend Sean Tucker. J. Robert Duncan, last year's prestigious Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur, will present this year's honoree, David Neeleman. Neeleman has created 4 airlines, including Morris Air, West Jet, jetBlue Airways, and Azul Airlines. He recently purchased JetSuite, a unique charter company based in Los Angeles, Calif.

Introduction of a new Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award will be presented by Mr. John Garrison, CEO of Bell Helicopter, to Roy Morgan, founder of Air Methods, the first and largest medical air rescue service in the U.S.

Bob Hoover, the "pilot's pilot," will present his Freedom of Flight Awards to the first and the last man to walk on the moon. Neil Armstrong will be honored, and the award will be accepted by Carol Armstrong, his wife, and Armstrong's two sons, Mark and Rick. Bob Hoover's second Freedom of Flight Award will be presented to Eugene "Gene" Cernan, an astronaut that completed three missions during America's space race and was the last man to drive and walk on the moon.

The Living Legends of Aviation is produced by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that takes Kiddie Hawk Jet Trainers to schools and aviation exhibitions to give children, ages 4-9, the opportunity to experience their first flight lesson, albeit only a few feet off the ground. The Living Legends of Aviation meet once a year to celebrate flight and to recognize the accomplishments of aviation's second hundred years. For more information please visit http://www.livinglegendsofaviation.org.

SOURCE Kiddie Hawk Air Academy