115th FAI General Conference

The 2021 FAI Awards Announcement took place on Tuesday November 9th 2021 and recognised outstanding contributions to aeronautics and astronautics.

Due to the pandemic, the ceremony took place online in the format of an Awards Announcement video. In the video, which was premiered on FAI’s website, youtube channel and facebook pages, tribute was paid to these many individuals and groups who have made exceptional performances, contributed to the development of aeronautics and astronautics, and created a lasting legacy in the promotion of air sports to new participants.

The 2021 FAI Awards video, presented by Nadia Bonjour 

FAI GENERAL AWARDS

FAI SILVER MEDAL
Manuel ROCA VIAÑA (Spain), for his contribution to the promotion of international air sports competition through many years of eminent service and devoted leadership within the RFAE.

Mr Roca Viaña commented: “This recognition is a great honour for me… and fills me with joy; it is a morale boost which renews and encourages, at both a personal and institutional level, my excitement and my wish to continue to contribute with the ideas, knowledge and experience that may serve in the interest of the international development of aeronautics.”

FAI GROUP DIPLOMAS OF HONOUR
The Sports Aviation Federation of Australia Ltd (Australia) for their long history of service and commitment to promoting air sports and supporting new aviators.

Aeroklub Jaroměř (Czech Republic) for their active work in organising national and international events and promoting a range of disciplines to the public through air shows.

Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong, China) for their academic excellence and innovative study of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, committing to the development of the next generation of experts and driving the subject forwards.

Aero Club "Ćuprija" (Serbia) for their accomplishments in developing the discipline of microlight in Serbia and for their contribution to promoting the sport to their nation.

PAUL TISSANDIER DIPLOMAS

Miguel Angel TERZO from Argentina
Ruth WILSON from Australia
Graeme HENDERSON from Australia
Bernhard REIF from Austria
Jacques BERLO from Belgium
Dan COOK from Canada
Eugenio MARTINEZ from Chile
Jiří UNZEITIG from Czech Republic
Miloš RAMERT from Czech Republic
Kimmo PAULARANTA from Finland
Christian RAVEL from France
Joachim LENK from Germany
Vasilis KATINIOTIS from Greece
Paul GIANNIOTIS from Hong Kong, China
Sushil BAJPAI from India
Pietro FILIPPINI from Italy
Flavio TEBALDI from Italy
Daiju KOHGA from Japan
Kyung Yong CHOI from Korea
Moon Tae KIM from Korea
Alan BEARD from New Zealand
Ian BEGBIE from New Zealand
Alexander BESSONOV from Russia
Anatolii ULANOV from Russia
Vladimir MITIN from Russia
Nikola BOROVAC from Serbia
Bengt STENER from Sweden
Henry LINDHOLM from Sweden
Pekka HAVBRANDT from Sweden
Charles BACHMANN from Switzerland
Bruno SCHERRER from Switzerland
Daniela SCHMITTER from Switzerland
Matthew BOLSHAW from United Kingdom
Peggy RIEDINGER from USA

FAI AWARDS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCIPLINES

BALLOONING

MONTGOLFIER BALLOONING DIPLOMAS
BEST PERFORMANCE, GAS BALLOONING: Krysztof ZAPART (Poland) and Andy CAYTON (USA) for their outstanding performance in the 2019 America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, travelling 2,598.61 km in 58 hours 12 minutes.

BEST PERFORMANCE, HOT AIR BALLOONING: Kimberly MAGEE (USA) for her remarkable achievement in gaining world and female records for distance and altitude in 2019.

Kimberly Magee commented: “It is an honour to be recognised with a Montgolfier Diploma. I am grateful to be one of eight USA female pilots to earn the World's top ballooning honour. I hope my adventures breaking six World and nine National records at 28 years old empowers other young female pilots to embark on similar challenges, push to new heights never before achieved.”

GLIDING

LILIENTHAL GLIDING MEDAL
Eric MOZER (USA) for his outstanding contribution to the sport of gliding through his major sporting achievements and his many years in the eminent service at the IGC and FAI.

PARACHUTING

LEONARDO DA VINCI PARACHUTING DIPLOMA
Rina GALLO (Canada) for her tireless dedication to the enhancement of national and international competition skydiving through her career as a respected judge and Judges Committee member.

FAI GOLD PARACHUTING MEDAL
Julia ANGELOVA (Bulgaria) for her significant achievements as a world champion and her many years dedicated to the promotion of skydiving in Bulgaria.

AEROMODELLING

FAI AEROMODELLING GOLD MEDAL
Bogdan WIERZBA (Poland) for his accomplishments and contribution to aeromodelling throughout a long and varied career in which he has tirelessly sought to develop the sport through attracting new participants.

ALPHONSE PENAUD AEROMODELLING DIPLOMA
Matthew HOYLAND (United Kingdom) for his outstanding sporting achievements as a radio-controlled aerobatics pilot and his commitment to the promotion and organisation of national and world cup events.

ANTONOV AEROMODELLING DIPLOMA
Karl-Heinz HELLING (Germany) for his outstanding contribution to the discipline of aeromodelling through his innovative conception of the HE209 model which realises Otto Lilienthal's dream of creating a mechanical interpretation of birds’ flight.

FRANK EHLING DIPLOMA
Mike COLLING (Sweden) for his commitment to sharing his technical expertise and passion for aeromodelling and the creation of educational resources which benefit the promotion of the sport to new participants.

MICROLIGHT AND PARAMOTOR

ANN WELCH DIPLOMA
PARAMOTOR: Krzysztof ROMICKI and Wojciech STRZYZAKOWSKI (Poland) for their remarkable paramotor record of 280.41km distance over a closed circuit without landing, in the RPL2T class.

MICROLIGHT: Colin FARGHER and Louis FARGHER (France) for their remarkable RWL2T class microlight record of a 783.9km distance in a straight line without landing.

ROTORCRAFT

FAI GOLD ROTORCRAFT MEDAL
David MONKS (United Kingdom) for his major accomplishments as a pilot and for his dedication to the promotion of fairness and integrity in air sport competition.

AEROBATICS

LEON BIANCOTTO AEROBATICS DIPLOMA
Alan CASSIDY (United Kingdom) for his outstanding promotion of aerobatics through his sporting achievements, his devotion to instruction and his contribution to championship events.

AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT

HENRI MIGNET DIPLOMA
Lionel ADROIT (France) for his conception and creation of the Handi-Montgolfière two-seater hot air balloon whose innovative design encourages participation and promotes diversity in air sports.

Mr Adroit commented: “The Henri Miguet Diploma is an honour for me, one of the most significant recognitions that an amateur aircraft builder can receive for the research, the creation and the construction of an aircraft.”

More about FAI Awards

To view a list of all FAI Awards recipients from 2020 and before please click here. To nominate someone for an FAI Award, please visit the commission pages or contact us for more information on nominating people for the 2022 FAI Awards.