August 30, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Actor and pilot John Travolta to host 12th annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards

The Living Legends of Aviation Awards ceremony will be honoring luminaries in aviation and featuring a presentation World War II hero Louis Zamperini's daughter. (Thinkstock)
The Living Legends of Aviation Awards ceremony will be honoring luminaries in aviation and featuring a presentation World War II hero Louis Zamperini’s daughter. (Thinkstock)

Actor and pilot John Travolta will host the 12th annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards ceremony Friday, honoring luminaries in aviation and featuring a special presentation to the daughter of World War II hero Louis Zamperini.

The awards are designed to recognize “significant contributions and achievements during aviation’s second hundred years.”

Bruce Whitman, chairman and CEO of FlightSafety; Herb Kelleher, founder of Southwest Airlines; and retired Army Maj. Gen. Carl McNair, considered the “Father of Modern Army Aviation,” will be honored as aviation legends during the event at the Beverly Hilton.

Kelleher will also receive the Legends Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award. Elling Halvorson, founder of Papillon Helicopters, will be presented with the Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award, while Michimasa Fujino, founder and CEO of Honda Aircraft Co., will receive the Aviation Industry Leader of the Year Award.

Mark Baker, president and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, will be presented with the Harrison Ford Aviation Legacy Award, with the honor bestowed by Ford.

A special presentation will be made in honor of Zamperini, a USC and Olympic track star who served as a bombardier in the Army Air Corps during World War II. His plane was shot down over the Pacific Ocean in 1943, and he was stranded on a life raft for 47 days before being captured. He was a prisoner of war for 2 1/2 years, enduring hunger and torture from his Japanese captors.

Suffering from post traumatic disorder, Zamperini found solace in 1949 when he became a born-again Christian after attending a Los Angeles crusade led by evangelist Billy Graham. He eventually became an inspirational speaker preaching the power of forgiveness.

He died July 2, 2014, at age 97, just two months after he was named the grand marshal of the 2015 Rose Parade. His story is told in the Angelina Jolie- directed film “Unbroken.”

Zamperini’s daughter, Cynthia Zamperini-Garris, is scheduled to attend the Aviation Awards ceremony.

The event will be followed by an after-party celebrating astronaut Buzz Aldrin’s 85th birthday.

Related Posts

Santa Monica Flea-Borne Typhus Cluster Under Investigation as L.A. Cases Rise

August 29, 2025

August 29, 2025

County Confirms 106 Cases So Far in 2025 After a Record 187 Last Year Health officials are warning Los Angeles...

CHP Launches Annual Statewide Labor Day Crackdown on Impaired Driving

August 29, 2025

August 29, 2025

All Available Officers Will Patrol California Roads August 29–September 1 The California Highway Patrol will deploy every available officer this...

Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Work Truck in Brentwood

August 29, 2025

August 29, 2025

Authorities Reported the Crash Near Mulholland Drive On Friday morning in Brentwood, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a...

Toxic Avenger Reboot Aims to Smash Box Office and Medical Debt on Labor Day Weekend

August 29, 2025

August 29, 2025

Film’s Release Comes With a Promise to Erase Millions in Medical Bills The upcoming release of The Toxic Avenger will...

Trump Says Beverly Hills Residents Leave Cars Open for Thieves, Locals Call It Nonsense

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

Officials and Residents Say Trump’s Crime Remarks Don’t Reflect Reality City officials and residents pushed back this week after former...

Beverly Hills Schools Halt Israeli Flag Display Despite School Board Vote

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

Superintendent Cites Safety Concerns After Narrow 3–2 Decision Despite a 3–2 Board of Education vote to display the Israeli flag...

Los Angeles County Public Health Probe Sparks Nationwide Egg Recall Over Salmonella

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

More Than 95 Cases Tied to Country Eggs in 14 States; Do Not Eat Affected Cartons Los Angeles Public health...

(Video) The Opening of Mr. Charlie’s with Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

Vegan burger restaurant with brightly colored decor now open on 26th street across fromthe Brentwood Country Mart. The Opening of...

California Pizza Kitchen Debuts Heart-Shaped Pizza Celebrating Swift–Kelce

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

13 Days of Engagement Pizzas, and Return of Hot Honey Flavors California Pizza Kitchen is rolling out a series of...

Culver Hotel Celebrates 101 Years With 101 Anniversary Menu and Live Music

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

Guests Can Enjoy a Four-Course Meal, Nightly Performances, Trivia Contest The historic Culver Hotel is celebrating its 101st anniversary this...

Westside Chefs Shine at the Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival in September

August 27, 2025

August 27, 2025

South Bay’s Culinary Festival Returns With Two Nights of Food, Wine, and Music Santa Monica, Westchester, Los Angeles, and West...

(Video) Come Tour The Willows Community School!

August 27, 2025

August 27, 2025

Sign up for a tour at The Willows and come see what makes our school such a vibrant, inspiring place...

Jewish Clergy Rally in Los Angeles Urging Ceasefire, Hostage Release, and Food Aid for Gaza

August 27, 2025

August 27, 2025

Two Dozen Rabbis Gathered at Israeli Consulate, Hostage’s Family Appears at Second Rally Jewish clergy from across Los Angeles County...

Metro LA’s Aug. 30 Deadline for Public Comment on Sepulveda Transit Draft EIR Approaches

August 27, 2025

August 27, 2025

Community Members Can Weigh In Before the 90-Day Comment Period Closes. Metro is reminding community members that the 90-day public...

Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Culver City, and Uni High Gear Up for Early-Season Games

August 26, 2025

August 26, 2025

The Centaurs, Eagles, Normans, and Wildcats Face Key Matchups This Week Football season is heating up across our area, with...