This list of aviation awards is an index to articles about notable awards given in the field of aviation. It includes a list of awards for winners of competitions or records, a list of awards by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, various other awards and list of aviation halls of fame.
Awards for speed and distance of flights were popular in the early days of aviation, and some continue today.
| Country | Award | Sponsor | Given for |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Barringer Trophy | Soaring Society of America | Longest distance soaring flight other than those flown at the US National Contest [1] |
| United States | Bendix Trophy | Bendix Corporation | Transcontinental, point-to-point race [2] [3] |
| France | Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe | Aéro-Club de France | Speed trial for powered aircraft over a distance of 200 kilometres, to be flown as an outward leg of 100 km followed by a return to the starting point [4] [5] |
| United Kingdom | Daily Mail aviation prizes | Daily Mail newspaper | Various competitions [6] [7] |
| International | De la Vaulx Medal | Fédération Aéronautique Internationale | Holders of recognized absolute world aviation records [8] |
| United States | Dole Air Race | James Dole | Air race across the Pacific Ocean from northern California to the Territory of Hawaii [9] |
| France | Femina Cup | Femina (French magazine) | Woman who, by sunset on 31 December each year, had made the longest flight, in time and distance, without landing [10] |
| United States | Gordon Bennett Trophy | James Gordon Bennett Jr. | Fastest time over a measured distance (time trial) [11] [12] |
| United States | Hearst Transcontinental Prize | William Randolph Hearst | First aviator to fly coast to coast across the United States, in either direction, in fewer than 30 days from start to finish. The prize expired in November 1911 without a winner. [13] [14] [15] |
| Germany | Hindenburg Cup | Paul von Hindenburg | Achievements in powered flight [16] |
| United States | Igor I. Sikorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition | American Helicopter Society (AHS) International | First human powered helicopter to meet a set of extremely challenging flight requirements [17] |
| International | Lilienthal Gliding Medal | Fédération Aéronautique Internationale | Remarkable performance in gliding, or eminent services to the sport of gliding over a long period of time [18] |
| International | Edison Award | Edison Awards | Honoring excellence in innovation |
| United States | Mackay Trophy | United States Air Force | Most meritorious flight of the year [19] |
| France | Michelin Cup | Michelin | Various long-distance flight competition [20] [21] [22] |
| United States | Orteig Prize | Raymond Orteig | First Allied aviator(s) to fly non-stop from New York City to Paris or vice versa [23] |
| United States | Richard C. du Pont Memorial Trophy | Soaring Society of America | Winner of U.S. National Open Class Soaring Championship [24] |
| France | Schneider Trophy | Jacques Schneider | Winner of a race for seaplanes and flying boats (see also List of Schneider Trophy aircraft) [25] |
| United States | Thompson Trophy | Thompson Products | The race was 10 miles (16 km) long with 50-foot-high (15 m) pylons marking the turns, and emphasized low altitude flying and maneuverability at high speeds [26] [27] |
The Society of Experimental Test Pilots, an international organization based in the United States, offers or has offered various awards.
| Award | Given for |
|---|---|
| European Flight Test Safety Award | Individuals who made significant contributions in the area of safety within flight testing [28] |
| Friend of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots Award | Exceptional and notable contribution to the operation and the objectives of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots [29] |
| Herman R. Salmon Award | Most outstanding technical paper published in Cockpit magazine [30] |
| Iven C. Kincheloe Award | Outstanding professional accomplishment in the conduct of flight testing [31] |
| James H. Doolittle Award | Outstanding accomplishment in technical management or engineering achievement in aerospace technology [32] |
| Ray E. Tenhoff Award | Most outstanding technical paper presented at the annual Society of Experimental Test Pilots Symposium [33] [34] |
| Tony LeVier Flight Test Safety Award | People who have significantly contributed to the safety of flight test operations [35] |
| Country | Award | Sponsor | Given for |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | A. Leo Stevens Parachute Medal | National Air Races | Contributions to parachute design and techniques [36] [37] |
| Brazil | Order of Aeronautical Merit | Brazilian Air Force | Distinguished service and exceptional contributions to the Brazilian Air Force [38] |
| United Kingdom | Aerospace Journalist of the Year Awards | World Leadership Forum | Writers and broadcasters working in the aerospace and aviation field [39] [40] |
| United Kingdom | Britannia Trophy | Royal Aero Club | Aviators accomplishing the most meritorious performance in aviation during the previous year [41] [42] |
| United States | Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award | Federal Aviation Administration | Lifetime accomplishments of senior aviation mechanics [43] |
| United States | Cheney Award | United States Air Force | Act of valor, extreme fortitude or self-sacrifice in a humanitarian interest, performed in connection with aircraft, but not necessarily of a military nature [44] [45] |
| United States | Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award | United States Navy | Safety based on aircraft flight mishap rates, ground mishaps, currency of safety programs, and flight exposure, etc. [46] |
| United States | Collier Trophy | National Aeronautic Association | Greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles [47] |
| United States | Dale Wright Award | National Air Traffic Controllers Association | Professional and exceptional career service to NATCA and the National Airspace System [48] |
| International | Edward Warner Award | International Civil Aviation Organization | Aviation pioneers or organizations that have contributed to civil aviation [49] |
| United States | Endeavor Award | Angel Flight West, California Science Center | Volunteer pilots and organizations that coordinate their gifts of flight to serve those in need [50] |
| International | FAI Gold Air Medal | Fédération Aéronautique Internationale | Great contributions to the development of aeronautics by their activities, work, achievements, initiative or devotion to the cause of aviation [51] |
| United States | Paul E. Garber Award | Civil Air Patrol | CAP members who have dedicated themselves to leadership and personal development in the CAP [52] |
| United States | General Aviation Awards Program | Federal Aviation Administration | Individual general aviation professionals on the local, regional, and national levels for their contributions to aviation, education, and flight safety [53] [54] |
| United States | Daniel Guggenheim Medal | American Society of Mechanical Engineers etc. | Persons who make notable achievements in the advancement of aeronautics [55] |
| United States | Harmon Trophy | National Aeronautic Association | World's outstanding aviator, aviatrix, and aeronaut (balloon or dirigible) [56] |
| United States | Howard Hughes Memorial Award | Aero Club of Southern California | Aerospace leader whose accomplishments over a long career have contributed significantly to the advancement of aviation or space technology [57] |
| United States | John J. Montgomery Award | National Society of Aerospace Professionals, San Diego Air & Space Museum | Aerospace achievement [58] |
| United States | L. Welch Pogue Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aviation | Aviation Week & Space Technology | Visionary and preeminent leader of contemporary aviation [59] [60] [61] |
| United States | Langley Gold Medal | Smithsonian Institution | Outstanding contributions to the sciences of aeronautics and astronautics [62] |
| United States | Living Legends of Aviation | Kiddie Hawk Air Academy | Significant contributions to aviation [63] |
| Germany | Ludwig Prandtl Ring | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt | Outstanding contribution in the field of aerospace engineering [64] |
| United States | Maintenance Trophy | Lockheed Martin | Teams are examined on their flight line operations, the quality of their support elements, engineering skills and a team interview [65] |
| United States | Michael A. Dornheim Award | National Press Club | Presented in honor of the late Michael A. Dornheim, a longtime reporter and editor at Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine. [66] The recipient must be a working journalist writing about aerospace, defense, the airline industry, or aerospace science and engineering. The winner gets a $1,000 prize. [67] |
| United States | Octave Chanute Award | American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics | Pilot(s) or test personnel that contributed to the advancement of the art, science, or technology of aeronautics [68] |
| United States | Onizuka Prop Wash Award | U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School | Student at the USAF TPS who contributed most to class spirit and morale [69] [70] |
| Australia | Oswald Watt Gold Medal | Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia | A most brilliant performance in the air or the most notable contribution to aviation by an Australian or in Australia [71] |
| United States | Pilot Proficiency Award Program | Federal Aviation Administration | General aviation pilots knowledge and proficiency (safety) [72] |
| International | Polaris Award | International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations | Airline crews in recognition for acts of exceptional airmanship, heroic action or a combination of these two attributes [73] |
| International | Salute to Excellence | Helicopter Association International | Outstanding achievements in the international helicopter community [74] [75] |
| United Kingdom | Segrave Trophy | Royal Automobile Club | Outstanding Skill, Courage and Initiative on Land, Water and in the Airfirst person to hold both the land and water speed records simultaneously. [76] [77] |
| Americas | SICOFAA Legion of Merit Medal | System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces | Military members or civilians who have contributed to and promoted the interests of SICOFAA [78] |
| United States and Canada | Superior Airmanship Award | Air Line Pilots Association, International | Superior airmanship (safety) [79] [80] |
| United States | Tailhooker of the Year Award | Tailhook Association | Yearly award given to an individual who has made the most significant contribution to U.S. carrier aviation. [81] Reference to the tailhook of an aircraft based airplane. |
| United States | Tony Jannus Award | Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society | Individual achievement in scheduled commercial aviation by airline executives, inventors and manufacturers, and government leaders [82] [83] |
| United States | William J. Kossler Award | Vertical Flight Society | Greatest achievement in practical application or operation of rotary wing aircraft [84] |
| United States | Wright Brothers Medal | SAE International | Notable contributions in the engineering, design, development, or operation of air and space vehicles [85] [86] [87] |
| United States | Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy | National Aeronautic Association | Significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States [88] |
The Robert J. Collier Trophy is awarded annually for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year.
Elbert Leander "Burt" Rutan is a retired American aerospace engineer and entrepreneur noted for his originality in designing light, strong, unusual-looking, and energy-efficient air and space craft. He designed the record-breaking Voyager, which in 1986 was the first plane to fly around the world without stopping or refueling. He also designed the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, which in 2006 set the world record for the fastest and longest nonstop non-refueled circumnavigation flight in history. In 2004, Rutan's sub-orbital spaceplane design SpaceShipOne became the first privately funded spacecraft to enter the realm of space, winning the Ansari X-Prize that year for achieving the feat twice within a two-week period.
Joe Henry Engle was an American pilot, aeronautical engineer, and NASA astronaut. He was the commander of two Space Shuttle missions including STS-2 in 1981, the program's second orbital flight. He also flew two flights in the Shuttle program's 1977 Approach and Landing Tests. Engle was one of twelve pilots who flew the North American X-15, an experimental spaceplane jointly operated by the Air Force and NASA.
Charles Gordon Fullerton was a United States Air Force colonel, a USAF and NASA astronaut, and a research pilot at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, California. His assignments included a variety of flight research and support activities piloting NASA's B-52 launch aircraft, the Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), and other multi-engine and high performance aircraft.
Vance DeVoe Brand is a retired American naval officer, aviator, aeronautical engineer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut. He served as command module pilot during the first U.S.-Soviet joint spaceflight in 1975, and as commander of three Space Shuttle missions.
Richard Oswalt Covey is a retired United States Air Force officer, former NASA astronaut, and a member of the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Robert Lee "Hoot" Gibson, , is a former American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, and aeronautical engineer. A retired NASA astronaut, he also served as Chief of the Astronaut Office from 1992 to 1994. Today Gibson is active as a professional pilot, racing regularly at the annual Reno Air Races. He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2003 and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2013, and has received several military decorations throughout his career.
Thomas Patten Stafford was an American Air Force officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut, and one of 24 astronauts who flew to the Moon. He also served as Chief of the Astronaut Office from 1969 to 1971.
Richard Glenn Rutan was an American military aviator and officer. He was also a record-breaking test pilot who in 1986 piloted the Voyager aircraft on the first non-stop, non-refueled around-the-world flight with co-pilot Jeana Yeager.
The Fédération aéronautique internationale is the world governing body for air sports, and also stewards definitions regarding human spaceflight. It was founded on 14 October 1905, and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. It maintains world records for aeronautical activities, including ballooning, aeromodeling, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), as well as flights into space.
Robert Anderson Hoover was an American fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and record-setting air show aviator.
The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) is a federally recognized 501c3 whose mission is to advance and oversee the advancement of the art, sport, and science of aviation and space flight. The NAA achieves this by fostering opportunities to participate fully in aviation activities and promoting public understanding of the importance of aviation and space flight in the United States.
Anthony W. LeVier was an American air racer and test pilot for the Lockheed Corporation from the 1940s to the 1970s.
Herman Richard Salmon, nicknamed "Fish", was a barnstormer, air racer, and test pilot for the Lockheed Corporation.
Sylvester Joseph "Steve" Wittman was an American air-racer and aircraft engineer.
Sean Doherty Tucker is an American world champion aerobatic aviator. He was previously sponsored by the Oracle Corporation for many years, performing in air shows worldwide as "Team Oracle". Tucker has won numerous air show championship competitions throughout his career, was named one of the 25 "Living Legends of Flight" by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in 2003, and was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008. He has led several efforts to assist youth in learning to fly or becoming involved in general aviation, and currently serves as co-chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)'s Young Eagles program, a role he has held since 2013.
The Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy was established by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) in 1948 after a trust fund was created in 1936 by Godfrey Lowell Cabot of Boston, a former president of the NAA. It is awarded to a living American for "significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States." The presentation of the award is made annually at the Aero Club of Washington, as close as possible to December 17 each year, the day on which, in 1903, the Wright brothers made the first flight in an airplane. The inaugural recipient of the trophy was William F. Durand, "a pioneer in aeronautics, naval propulsion and engineering research methods". Until 2010, winners of the award received a trophy depicting the Wright brothers' Wright Flyer aircraft. From 2010 onwards, a redesigned trophy featuring a silver obelisk and bronze inscription has been awarded.
Julie E. Clark is a retired American aerobatic air show aviator and commercial airline pilot. She started her commercial flying career with Golden West Airlines as a first officer and ended it in 2003 as a Northwest Airlines Airbus A320 Captain. She was one of the first female pilots to work for a major airline, and has been voted as "Performer of the Year" several times for her air show performances.
Walter J. Boyne was a United States Air Force officer, Command Pilot, combat veteran, aviation historian, and author of more than 50 books and over 1,000 magazine articles. He was a director of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution and a Chairman of the National Aeronautic Association.
George Alfred Lloyd,, known as Peter Lloyd, was an Australian aviator and entrepreneur. From the 1950s, Lloyd was involved with administering aero clubs in Australia and internationally, as well as promoting air sports and air safety.
James J. Ward, who left New York for San Francisco Wednesday, flying for the W.R. Hearst $50,000 prize for a transcontinental flight, reached Callicoon, N.Y., a few miles from here, at 4:35 o'clock this afternoon. He covered 59 1-10 miles in 57 minutes, having left Middletown, N.Y., at 3:38 o'clock.
The Leo Stevens Award is the major parachuting award in the United States. ...