AOPA Action: Aviation legend Clay Lacy awarded Hoover Trophy
ForeFlight founders recognized for GA safety achievement
BAKER ON THE NEWS
“The Hoover trophy is presented to an aviator who exhibits the airmanship, leadership, and passion for aviation and life demonstrated by Bob Hoover. Bob gave his heart and soul to America and represented the very best of us, not only as the greatest pilot in the world, but as a true gentleman.” —AOPA President Mark Baker
Ford presented the award to Lacy during the fourth annual R.A. “Bob” Hoover Trophy Awards presented by AOPA, which honors GA accomplishment.
Lacy said he was “very humbled” and “honored” to receive the award named after the test pilot and aerobatic showman, an aviation mentor who inspired a generation of pilots, during a ceremony in the historic Terminal A lobby at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.
Lacy, an airman from Wichita, Kansas, has logged 53,000 hours in more than 300 aircraft with 32 type ratings, set 29 world speed records, and flew more than 2,500 film missions from his adopted Los Angeles home. More than 50 years ago he founded an FBO at Van Nuys Airport that bears his name and today counts more than 500 employees.
AOPA Air Safety Institute Executive Director Richard McSpadden presented the second annual GA Safety Award to ForeFlight founders Tyson Weihs and Jason Miller for delivering “exceptional performance in safety to benefit the entire general aviation industry.”
Hawaii state Sen. Kai Kahele (D), a commercial airline pilot and commissioned officer in the Hawaii Air National Guard, was presented the Sharples Award, named for AOPA’s first chairman, Laurence P. Sharples. The award recognizes those who do not work in aviation but who have made “extraordinary contributions” to GA.
The Joseph B. “Doc” Hartranft Award, named for AOPA’s first president, was presented to Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). The award is presented to elected or appointed government officials for their significant contributions to the advancement of GA.
www.aopa.org/pilot/hooveraward
Leadership award presented to AOPA president
Aviation Week awarded its sixty-second annual Laureates, a series of awards recognizing achievements in business aviation, commercial, defense, and space. AOPA President Mark Baker was awarded the Laureate for Leadership in the Business Aviation category. He was nominated by the staff of Business and Commercial Aviation magazine and the other editors at the Aviation Week network of publications. His nomination read: “From helping create flying clubs to welcoming drone pilots, AOPA under Baker has addressed declining private pilot numbers with initiatives including providing aviation education to high schools, lobbying for medical certification reform and helping rusty pilots get back in the cockpit.”
Others winning Laureates in the Business Aviation category were Garmin International, Gulfstream Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and GE. Bombardier won the Grand Laureate in the category for its Global 7500, which, according to the nomination, “sets a new standard for business jets with a four-section cabin, full-size kitchen and dedicated crew suite; advanced fly-by-wire and flight deck technology; and a 7,700-nm range.”
“This year’s winners exemplify the spirit and innovations that are transforming our industry to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” said Aviation Week Network Editorial Director Joe Anselmo.
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