The 2015 FAI Awards Ceremony tonight celebrated the achievements of air sports men and women through the prestigious FAI Medals and Diploma, and the FAI-Breitling Awards. The event took place aboard the ship SS Rotterdam, docked in the harbour of her namesake city in The Netherlands, as part of the 109th FAI General Conference, which starts tomorrow.

FAI President Dr John Grubbström presented the awards to the recipients who included Hans Akerstedt (FAI Gold Air Medal), Jarrett Martin (Breitling Youngster Award) and Alan Eustace (Breitling Milestone Trophy). The latter riveted the attention of the attendees with the story of his world record parachuting jump from the edge of space in 2014.

British balloonist Brian Jones, well known for teaming up with Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard on the around the world record flight in a balloon in 1999, was the special guest of the event. He presented his inspiring “Dare to Dream” project which aims at facilitating the training of disabled balloon pilots throughout Europe. The event was also honoured by the presence of Monika Pieren from Breitling, FAI’s official sponsor.

“The Awards Ceremony is truly the highlight of the year for the Federation. This is the moment where we have the opportunity to congratulate and honour all those who have achieved outstanding performances and inspiring feats. My thanks go to all the awardees for gathering here from all around the world and to the Royal Netherlands Aeronautical Association for putting on this wonderful ceremony,” Dr. Grubbström said after the event.

A total of 22 awardees were present at the Awards. The complete list of 2015 FAI Awards winners and their citations is available on the FAI Awards web pages : General Awards, Awards for Individual Disciplines, FAI-Breitling Awards.

FAI Awards

FAI Gold Air Medal

• Hans AKERSTEDT (Sweden)

For his great contribution to the development of Aeronautics through his involvement and dedication to Ballooning

Diploma for Outstanding Airmanship

• Jason Andrew LAING (New Zealand)

For his high altitude helicopter Search & Rescue efforts in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal

FAI Aeromodelling Gold Medal

• Bengt – Olof SAMUELSSON (Sweden)

For his outstanding contribution to and organisation of the Swedish Aeromodelling community for over 30 years

FAI Gold Rotorcraft Medal

• Galina SHPIGOVSKAYA (Russia)

For her outstanding achievements and contribution in Helicopter sports for over 30 years, serving the country of Russia in numerous competitions and being still an active member in the Helicopter community

Charles Lindbergh General Aviation Diploma

• Vagn JENSEN (Denmark)

For his significant contribution to the progress and success of General Aviation through his service of over 30 years in air sports

Louis Blériot Medal

• Klaus OHLMANN (Germany)

For his World Records on a C Aeroplane (c-1a Landplanes: take-off weight 300 to 500 kg) – Altitude: 3.175 m – Altitude in horizontal flight: 3.104 m (30.08.2014)

Phoenix Diploma

• Renzo CATELLANI (Italy)

For his remarkable achievement in Aircraft reconstruction and restoring a vintage military advanced training aircraft (the Macchi MB-326)

Lilienthal Gliding Medal

• Dr. Loek BOERMANS (Netherlands)

For his outstanding contribution in leading OSTIV for over 37 years, influencing significantly in the field of low-speed aerodynamics in Gliding, developing sailplane designs, flight training, pilot safety and the overall understanding of the atmosphere, as well as organising international congresses on science and technology of motorless flight

Pelagia Majewska Gliding Medal

• Ritz DE LUY (Netherlands)

For her outstanding performance as Team Captain for the Dutch National team in Gliding, and her remarkable international writing career during the past 50 years

Angelo d’Arrigo Diploma

• Ultralight Aviation Club of Moscow, Technical University of Civil Aviation (UAC MTUCA) (Russia)

For their outstanding contribution in organizing and supporting the Aviation part of the project for regeneration of the white crane (Sterkh) population on Yamal peninsula since 2005 up to present time

Henri Mignet Diploma

• Eric Raymond (Slovenia)

For his outstanding creation and demonstration of Solar-Powered Aircraft for sport and adventure flying (Sunseeker)

Paul Tissandier Diploma

• Bernard DECRE (France)

For his remarkable services to the cause of Aviation and Sporting Aviation

• Edouard DEVENOGES (New Zealand)

For his remarkable services to the cause of Aviation and Sporting Aviation, and more particularly to Gliding

• Jitsirin Patty DIDYASARIN (Thailand)

For his remarkable services to the cause of Aviation and Sporting Aviation

• Claude ESCHETTE (Luxemburg)

For his remarkable services to the cause of Aviation and Sporting Aviation

• Vladimir ILYINSKY (Russia)

For his remarkable services to the cause of Aviation and Sporting Aviation, and more particularly to Aerobatics.

• Fabio NICOLAI (Italy)

For his remarkable services to the cause of Aviation and Sporting Aviation

• Marian POPESCU (Romania)

For his remarkable services to the cause of Aviation and Sporting Aviation, and more particularly to Aeromodelling

• Bruno WINKLER GUNTHER (Chile)

For his remarkable services to the cause of Aviation and Sporting Aviation, and more particularly to General Aviation

FAI Group Diploma of Honour

• Royal Swedish Aero Club (Sweden)

For their significant contribution to the progress of Aeronautics through their support for the whole air sport community in Sweden

FAI-Breitling Awards

Breitling Milestone Trophy

• Alan Eustace (USA)

For his development of a self-contained flight system for manned stratospheric exploration, and for advancing space crew egress systems, setting three FAI Absolute World Records in the process

Breitling Youngster Award

• Jarrett Martin (USA)

For his active participation in national and international parachuting competitions which set a new standard for what young athletes with physical disabilities can do in air sports