Martin-Baker Aircraft Co., Ltd, received the 2019 Spirit of Flight Award at the 57 Annual National Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony.
The Board of Trustees of the NAHF in the United States presented the award to John Martin, Co-Managing Director and CEO of the company at a ceremony held in Denver, Colorado, at Wings Over The Rockies Air & Space Museum in front of nearly 1,000 people.
The Spirit of Flight Award qualifications include organizations that serve a special need of the nation and set high standards for excellence in the utilization of aerospace assets.
Presenting the Award was Greg Ulmer from Lockheed Martin. "Martin-Baker sets the bar for aircraft safety and its history of excellence and engineering," Ulmer said. "This is why it sits in so many airplanes today. Its ejection seat saves lives and ensures our men and women come home safely. We hope no pilot flying an airplane ever has to use their ejection seat, but we take great comfort in knowing a Martin-Baker seat is there when it's needed most."
"I'd like to say thank you to the committee for awarding us such a prestigious award," said John Martin, co-managing director and CEO. "It would have made my father (Sir James Martin) so proud and I just feel as he is looking down now at his legacy, it's something that would give him a great big smile on his face. There's nothing he loved better than saving people's lives. After he lost his great friend and partner, Captain Baker, he dedicated his whole life to lifesaving equipment."
Martin-Baker joins NASA, the Tuskeegee Airmen, the Doolittle Raiders and other aviation pioneers who have received this award.
