Thu, Sep 30, 2010
Aviation Advocate Honored For 'Engaging Our Nation's Youth In
Aviation'
The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) announced Wednesday
that aviation advocate Harrison Ford will receive the prestigious
2010 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy. The citation defining his
achievement will read: "For engaging our nation's youth in aviation
and inspiring tomorrow's leaders, innovators and enthusiasts to
secure a strong future for all of aviation."
Harrison Ford
NAA established this award in 1948 to honor the memory of
Orville and Wilbur Wright. The trophy is awarded annually to a
living American for "significant public service of enduring value
to aviation in the United States."
While Harrison Ford is primarily known for his on-screen
achievements, the aviation community has been the beneficiary of
his life as an aviator, mentor, teacher, humanitarian and an
inspirational figure. Ford has parlayed his passion for aviation
and his concern for its future, along with his humanitarian and
educational efforts, into a motivational leadership role that has
unquestionably advanced and invested in America's aviation's
future. An avid pilot and active member of the aviation community,
his unswerving passion for aviation, combined with his global
respect and visibility, have provided both the opportunity and
platform from which he has been able to make a significant impact
on something very important to him - aviation's future.
Ford's outstanding and significant contributions include:
- Served from 2004-2009 as the Chairman of the Experimental
Aircraft Association's "Young Eagles" program. In this role, he
motivated tens of thousands of volunteers to mentor and fly
approximately 500,000 young people to the goal of giving children
between the ages of 8 to 17 an opportunity to experience flight in
a general aviation airplane while educating children about
aviation. In addition to serving as Chairman, he personally
flew over 280 "Young Eagles" in his aircraft.
- During the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, Ford joined
with others in the aviation community in loading up his own Cessna
Caravan airplane and personally piloting his aircraft to deliver
medical supplies and medical personnel to the region.
- Ford served as Honorary Chairman of the 2010 Special Olympics
Airlift which utilizes business aircraft to fly Special Olympians
to the games. In addition to serving as Chairman of the Airlift, he
also personally flew Special Olympics athletes and coaches to the
Games in Lincoln, Nebraska, this past summer.
- Ford has also helped educate the public about the benefits of
aviation through his efforts with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association's "General Aviation Serves America" outreach
program.
- For years, Ford has supported the Teton County and Lincoln
County (Wyoming) Search and Rescue units by personally piloting
missions into remote areas. His volunteer piloting work in
this area resulted in two separate rescues.
"All of us at NAA are very grateful for the work that Mr. Ford
has done to advance the cause of aviation and aerospace in our
nation," said Jonathan Gaffney, President and CEO of NAA and the
Chairman of the Selection Committee. "And we are particularly proud
to present him with one of the greatest awards in aviation as an
acknowledgement of his efforts and his success."
The 2010 Wright Brothers Selection Committee Members were Walter
Boyne, Chairman of NAA; Captain Gene Cernan, USN (Ret.) and Wright
Trophy Winner in 2007; Mark Lewis, American Institute of
Aeronautics and Astronautics; Alexis Allen, Aerospace Industries
Association; Lisa Piccione, Aero Club of Washington; David
Castelveter, Air Transport Association, Tony Velocci,
Editor-in-Chief of Aviation Week & Space Technology; and George
Carneal, Hogan Lovells.
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