Bizav Leaders Recognized as Living Legends of Aviation

The 23rd Living Legends of Aviation ceremony held on Friday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, recognized several business and general aviation leaders as honorees and inductees of the organization’s annual awards. Pilots, actors, and Living Legends John Travolta and Morgan Freeman helped to host the event.

Among this year’s new inductees were Dan Drohan, founder and CEO of charter/management firm Solairus Aviation; Doug King, CEO of Epic Aircraft; musician Aaron Tippin, who with his family operates a flight school, vintage aircraft rides, maintenance, and restoration business; Gulfstream Aerospace president Mark Burns; Lee Lauderback, president and CEO of Stallion 51 and Unusual Attitude Training; and retired U.S. Air Force colonel and NASA astronaut Eileen Collins.

During his acceptance speech, Dan Drohan said, “I have to admit, this is pretty freaking cool…It is better to be lucky than good. We all know that I have been extraordinarily lucky to work in an industry that I love, with people that I love, doing what I love, and I’m grateful for that every single day.”

Doug King recalled how he took over bankrupt Epic in 2010 and how a critical assist from Oregon Senator Ron Wyden helped persuade the FAA to allow the experimental kit airplanes that it was manufacturing at that time to be completed. Now Epic Aircraft manufactures the certified Epic E1000 AX single-engine turboprop. “Aviation rarely gives you easy wins,” he said. “It gives you moments where you either stop or you keep going. We kept going, and here we are.”

“I came from an aviation family, even though music’s my business,” said Aaron Tippin. “I’m an ambassador of aviation at my little local airport. I do all I can do to encourage young people to get involved in aviation. I’m always curious about what they’re doing and how far their career has come. And every time there’s a solo, we call every hangar and…we all go out and watch. This is one of the most glorious things in my life, aviation. And I’m so proud to be a part of this group.”

Gulfstream’s Mark Burns thanked his family and team members. “This industry is one that will reward great energy, great confidence, and great work as a team,” he said. “It is truly an honor to work with this team. They’re dedicated to a vision that we share for creating and delivering the finest aviation experience. Tonight’s recognition reflects not only the things that I have experienced, but what all of Gulfstream has done.”

“One of the things that you grow up [with], you have heroes in life, and I grew up with a number of them,” said Lee Lauderback. “Among those are Bob Hoover and [retired major general] David Robinson, one of the true treasures in my career. I got to fly the Mustang with those guys and share it. It was a real honor. It’s a real honor to be here tonight.”

“I stand on their shoulders, the first pilots in the world,” said Eileen Collins. “I was inspired to fly by reading books…I talk to kids today, and I tell them, ‘You need to read books, because books make you smart. Scrolling makes you dumb, but books make you smart.’ There’s an old saying, I think it was attributed to Albert Einstein. He once said, ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge,’ so inspire your imagination by reading books.

“The last thing I want to say is to congratulate all the Living Legends that were here tonight. You have inspired me, and all the award winners that we’re going to hear about next, you’ve inspired me. Thank you very much for all you’ve done, and thank you for everybody here for supporting the mission.”

The Living Legends honorees included Quiet Technology Aerospace, for Special Recognition For Engineering Excellence; musician and helicopter pilot Randy Waldman, who received the Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award; pilot, aircraft builder, and social media influencer Xyla Foxlin, recipient of the Barron Hilton Aviation Inspiration Award; Steuart Walton and Philipp Steinbach, co-founders of Game Aerospace, who were recognized with the Eren Ozmen Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year Award; Patrick Waddick, president of innovation and operations at Cirrus Aircraft, recipient of the Dr. Sam B. Williams Technology Award; George A. Antoniadis, founder, president, and CEO of fractional-share operator PlaneSense, who received the Kenn Ricci Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award; and Signature Aviation CEO Tony Lefebvre, recipient of the Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader Award.