Prince Harry to receive a Living Legend of Aviation award

[mrsmingleton]

https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/510988/prince-harry-ordered-huge-new-honour-star-studded-ceremony/

The Wright Brothers will be turning in their graves. I wonder what Buzz thinks .

“According to this he was only ever a Co pilot...

The international union of co-pilot's is going to be contacting you shortly to explain what the term co-pilot actually means..”

Professional co-pilot here, by choice. 🤣🤣 I have far too many exciting things to be doing outside of work to direct my efforts towards the qualification of captain, plus it leaves me able to write my own roster.

During my last trip I took off in the 40mph winds of Storm Henk (yes, co-pilots do the flying too,) and landed into the torrential downpours of the rain that battered the country last week. I am qualified to fly the aircraft in many of the same circumstances a captain is, and capable of flying it to all the same parameters as a captain should the need arise (for example, should my captain disappear. Yes, that’s another one who would be better qualified as a living legend, that copilot who safely landed the aircraft after the captain’s side windscreen blew out taking the captain with it.) We are trained how to handle being the only pilot with capacity to fly and land in an emergency situation.

So not worth knocking Prince Harry for ‘just’ being a co-pilot. Many co-pilots have saved the day over the years. The co-pilot was at the controls in the case of the blown out windscreen above, in the case of the Nairobi hijack, in the case of the Beijing Glider. Often in an emergency the captain will hand the aircraft over to the co-pilot to fly while they do the decision making. But the co-pilots are trained in the decision making processes too, just in case.

The real issue is that although lots of military pilots are brave and capable, Prince Harry has not done anything of note to elevate himself above the ranks of his fellow officers other than be a Prince. And that in itself is not worthy of the accolade ‘living legend.’

If I were PH I would be embarrassed to be listed with the likes of Buzz Aldrin and Sully Sullenberger. Some of the others, likewise, but for a different reason.

"This is a back-slapping club for rich people, with a few probably slightly bewildered actual legends among them, their presence required to make the rest of them feel as though they are someone different to everyone else."

@backinthebox has it spot on, IMO.

@backinthebox

Prince Harry has not done anything of note to elevate himself above the ranks of his fellow officers other than be a Prince. And that in itself is not worthy of the accolade ‘living legend.’

Agreed.

His aviation CV is pretty thin, to say the least - his logbook won't have much in it, AFAIK he's not obviously active in aviation, currently holds no licence or ratings (mil or civilian) and he's not an aviation entrepreneur.

TBH you could probably argue the author of the "Budgie" series has done more for aviation than PH.....

Here we go again 🙄 is it the American equivalent of New years Kings awards,
arse kissing Awards.!?

Is John Travolta involved in this ? Asking as I seem to recall reading an article months ago that H and M were trying to befriend him .
Or am I on the wrong track ? Have Covid and head a bit fuzzy !

“Emmy Award-winning journalist and anchor Lauren Sánchez will also receive the Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award”

That’s Jeff Bezo’s girlfriend. 🙄

Yes, he’s the MC.

backinthebox interesting post thank you

Some more worthwhile recipients you have listed than H who seems to live in a life of delusion.

So funny 😂

I can't believe that Harry could have been involved in his nomination. Surely even he would be able to see how much ridicule this would open him up to.

It would be interesting to see who nominated him for this.

It looks like just a US showbiz back scratching award with a few genuine aviators thrown in to give it some credibility bearing in mind that Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise have also received this award in the past.

If he has any PR advisers who he listens to he ought to come out and say that while he is flattered to be nominated there are others far more worthy than him.

I can’t believe he was chosen ahead of Tim Peake .

Looking forward to the memes!

It's the way that many US charities fundraise. Many use an annual "awards' gala" to fund their work by offering wealthy celebrities or industry names "awards" in return for a donation and buying a table at the awards' gala at a swanky hotel. In this case it is the Kiddie Hawk Aviation Academy that runs the "Living Legends of Aviation. Kiddie Hawk is a kids' charity that promotes flying careers to children.

I can believe that it’s not Harry or his team’s fault that he was named for this award. It’s very likely a PR stunt to get the award more press attention. And to a certain extent it’s worked - who had even heard of this charity and their goals before this.

Unfortunately it’s not really true that ‘all publicity is good publicity’ anymore and this highlights the problem Harry and Meghan have with their brand/reputation now when trying to establish new initiatives or make money etc.

Because so many odd things have happened connected to them, and they’ve been so inconsistent with their ‘truths’ over the last four years the majority of people are prepared to believe the worst about them, and are mocking anything connected to them.

It’s tough if they are actually trying to stay out of the public eye and just get on with things if they keep getting used for publicity which then results in them
being ridiculed further.

I think Sully should get this award for landing the plane in the Hudson. But I guess he doesnt need it since he has many actual merit based accolades and has no need to buy any. Prince Harry? Not so much

But can H not just donate some money but decline the nomination? It just makes him look like a laughing stock otherwise.

My eldest son loved Budgie! Budgie should get an award.

It looks like just a US showbiz back scratching award with a few genuine aviators thrown in to give it some credibility bearing in mind that Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise have also received this award in the past.

Yep, but of course (and apologies if you know this but some might not) Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise and FWIW also John Travolta were/are also very very much aviation enthusiasts and rated/qualified pilots in addition to having the celeb day jobs.

Now I may be missing something but as far as I can work out these days the closest PH gets to a flight deck or cockpit is when he is cadging a lift on business jets.

Yes and then they try to con your friends into attending to watch you pick up the award so they feel compelled to make a donation. It’s a game played at many levels.

Lying legend of Montecito award 🥇

Actually I think Tom Cruise is a far more worthy recipient, I believe naval pilot recruitment went up massively after Top Gun and probably Maverick has had the same effect. He also flies regularly.

When you think of all the wonderful, largely unknown people who deserve recognition though, this is such a waste of an opportunity. Buzz Aldrin and the other real legends have quite rightly as many accolades as they can handle but this feels like (overwhelmingly) rich white men claiming a status they don't deserve. Harry should decline, for his own dignity as much as anything.

Actually I think Tom Cruise is a far more worthy recipient, I believe naval pilot recruitment went up massively after Top Gun and probably Maverick has had the same effect. He also flies regularly.

Yep he owns and flies to a very high standard an absolutely beautiful two seat P-51 Mustang...

That funny noise you hear is drool hitting the keyboards of all the flying nuts on here at the very sound of "P-51"....

Is Harry still certified to fly anything?

This is just so bad, it seems it’s exactly what it looks like. He’s paid them to award him, which is utterly cringe making and such an embarrassment

i always wonder what he or they are thinking, do they really think the public are so gullible as to read it and think wow, harry is a living legend of aviation.

the charity giving the awards focused on travelyst, which is an even worse embarrassment, due to the huge negative publicity surrounding them launching days after flying to Ibiza for Megan’s birthday on a private her then out on another one to Elton John’s home.

I guess they are aiming at the american market, hoping they don’t know enough and will believe he is some legend of the sky, thus bolstering his profile, and they get to get their pics taken with John Travolta and Morgan freeman, so hanging out with a listers, do they not understand we are a global community, that everyone knows Harry has done nothing to advance aviation? everyone knows That he paid to be awarded? It’s all over social media,

they just lurch from one pr disaster to the other, just when you think they must have learned their lesson, that surely , surely they will realise they should do something serious, instead they buy another award.

Seriously, I haven't read the Budgie books but I have read that they were quite good.