Cirrus Aircraft's Patrick Waddick will be Honored
Cirrus Aircraft's Patrick Waddick will be Honored with the Sam B. Williams Technology Award. Engineer & Mental Health Advocate, Xyla Foxlin to Receive the Barron Hilton Aviation Inspiration Award.
The Awards will be on January 23, 2026 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. More Honorees To Be Released in the Coming Weeks.
From trailblazing astronauts and aviation leaders to the pinnacle of military flying, these remarkable men and women have made profound contributions to the world of flight. We are honored to recognize their achievements and invite you to celebrate their stories of dedication and excellence as we prepare for the Living Legends of Aviation® Awards. John Travolta is our Host and the Official Ambassador of Aviation.
Click Here to Purchase Tickets
Patrick Waddick
Sam B. Williams Technology Award
Patrick Waddick is President of Innovation and Operations at Cirrus Aircraft, a recognized leader in general aviation. He is responsible for leading enterprise-wide Innovation and Operations activities including Product Development & Airworthiness, Platform Program Management, Manufacturing Operations, Global Supply Chain, and Quality, Process Excellence, and Air Safety.
Pat developed an early love for aviation inspired by his father. Learning the art of ‘hangar flying’ while visiting local airshows, Pat’s affection for aviation grew steadily as he worked his way through college. While completing an engineering internship in 1987 for IBM in East Fishkill, NY, Pat learned to fly at the Dutchess County Airport in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Pat pursued an Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Eager to engage in airplane design and manufacturing, he heard about an airplane project in Baraboo, WI started by two brothers, Alan and Dale Klapmeier and he had to be a part of it. In 1988, Pat asked for a job and Alan Klapmeier told Waddick the company was not hiring, to which Waddick replied, "I'll do anything". Pat began as Cirrus’ first engineering intern. He went on to oversee the engineering division for over 20 years leading teams developing the composite Cirrus ST-50 turboprop and transition to the company’s first FAA-certified composite aircraft.
Since becoming President in 2013, a primary focus of Patrick's team has been operational excellence and the development and market launch of the Vision SF50 jet aircraft, powered by the Williams International FJ33 turbofan engine. Since its introduction, Pat’s Innovation team has followed up with Generation 2 increased altitude and auto-throttles, and G2+ enhanced Williams International FJ33 performance.
Patrick was the recipient of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Program Management in 2004. An active FAA Private Pilot since 1988, he holds a single-engine instrument land rating and an SF50 single-engine jet Type Rating. He passionately supports the aviation industry with active involvement in the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
Xyla Foxlin
Barron Hilton Aviation Inspiration Award
Xyla Foxlin is a mechatronics engineer, pilot, and creator whose work at the intersection of engineering and storytelling has reshaped how technical subjects reach mass audiences. With a BSE from Case Western Reserve University, her YouTube channel spans high-power rockets, custom camper builds, composite fabrication, math and physics explanations, boatbuilding, and the full-scale construction of an experimental aircraft of which she will be the test pilot.
Foxlin's channel has over 500k subscribers and amassed over 35M views, with her total social media reach over 1.1M; but Foxlin’s portfolio extends beyond content. She developed a high-power rocketry kit designed for Level 1 & 2 certification flights and has her own signature line of Estes kits coming out in the fall. In 2024 she won the Sloan Foundation’s first $100k YouTube grant, where she is documenting the construction of a wooden airplane from raw lumber to flight based on 1929 blueprints.
Foxlin has also emerged as a national voice for pilot mental health. After losing her FAA medical for seeking therapy, she led a campaign challenging regulations that deter aviators from seeking medical care. Following the release of her video “The FAA is in Crisis”, over 3,300 messages to 442 legislators were delivered. The Mental Health in Aviation Act was introduced in the House in April where it passed unanimously in September, and it was introduced to the Senate in November.
Prior to YouTube, she was the founder of a 501c3 nonprofit whose #PrincessesWithPowerTools program has taught over 20k kids to use their first tool. Her college invention turned tech startup, Parihug, was 178% funded on Kickstarter. As founder and CEO she raised over $200k in funding, and has been featured in the New York Times, The Verge, Mashable, Google Made with Code, and more. In 2022 a full-size statue of Foxlin was placed in the Smithsonian as part of an AAAS exhibit of prominent Women in STEM. In 2024, Foxlin successfully completed a transcontinental solo flight in her 1946 Cessna 140.
Living Legends of Aviation
4 W. Dry Creek Circle, Suite 100, Littleton CO 80120, United States