Directional Aviation Capital principal Kenn Ricci, veteran aviator and business aviation executive Clay Lacy, helicopter approach pioneer Steve Hickock and longtime pilot Peter Paul Luce are among the honorees of the 14th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards. They will be recognized at an event on January 20 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.
Ricci, who has built a multifaceted business aviation portfolio that includes fractional ownership provider Flexjet, along with Flight Options, Constant Aviation and Nextant Aerospace, among others, will be presented the Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award. “With Kenn’s vision and leadership, Directional Capital is an umbrella facilitator creating efficiencies in fractional aircraft ownership, aircraft management as well as services, which has incrementally improved the entire industry,” award organizers said.
Lacy will be the recipient of the Bob Hoover Freedom of Flight Award, a selection made by Bob Hoover himself before he died on October 25. Over the years, Lacy has filled the roles of airline captain, military aviator, experimental test pilot, air-race champion, world record-setter, aerial cinematographer and business aviation entrepreneur. He has flown more than 300 aircraft types and logged more than 50,000 flight hours.
Hickok will be honored with the “Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award” for groundbreaking advancements in GPSand IFR capabilities that has allowed EMS helicopters to safely operate at locations not served before. Luce will receive the Harrison Ford Aviation Legacy Award. Award organizers note that Luce, “who at 87 years young is still an active board member for Wings Over the Rockies, has flown 243 missions delivering organs to patients, [saving] numerous lives.”
Article author: Kerry Lynch, AIN Online, Jan 5, 2017, Copyright ©2017 The Convention News Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.