Prestigious FAI Awards presented for 2016

Men and women from across the world of air sports were honoured tonight with the prestigious FAI medals and diplomas at the 2016 FAI Awards Ceremony in Indonesia.

The event was held ahead of the 110th FAI General Conference, which takes place in Bali, Indonesia, from 14-15 October 2016.

FAI President Dr John Grubbström presented more than a dozen awards to some 15 pilots, including Silver Medal winner Alan Cassidy.

Presenting the awards, Dr Grubbström said: “It is an honour to present these medals, diplomas and awards. Each one represents an inspiring and outstanding feat of aviation.

“I congratulate each and every one, and I thank you all for travelling here from across the world to mark the occasion.

“I also thank the Federasi Aero Sport Indonesia, Indonesian Air Sports Federation, for hosting this marvellous ceremony.”

Some 15 men and women were in Bali to pick up their awards.

FAI President Dr John Grubbström and Gennadi Padalka

Gennady Padalka, who received the Yuri Gagarin and the De La Vaulx Medals said: "It is a great honour to be here but it is not only a personal award, it is an award for all my team, engineers, technicians who deserve it for the work they did. I really much appreciated the Ceremony, this was my first Ceremony of this kind, and I want to come back every year!"

FAI President Dr John Grubbström and Margherita Acquaderni

Margherita Acquaderni, who was awarded the Pelagia Majewska Gliding Medal, commented: "I felt a deep emotion to receive this award. The Ceremony was very nice and warm. I really appreciate to be here and it is difficult for me to believe that I could join such an event."

• Complete list of 2016 FAI Awards winners and their citations
• More pictures on Flickr

FAI General Awards

Silver Medal

• Alan CASSIDY (United Kingdom)

For his major involvement in FAI and Aerobatics as, among others, competitor, jury member, commission member, chairman, advisor, coach and instructor

De la Vaulx Medal

• Alberto Rodolfo PORTO (Italy)

For the World Record of 323,82 km/h as Speed over a straight course on 16 December 2015, together with Sara Della Moretta

• Gennadi Ivanovich PADALKA (Russia)

For the World Record of 878 days 11h 29 min 24 sec as Accumulated space flight time on 12 September 2015

Sabiha Gokcen Medal

• Lyudmila KOSENKOVA (Russia)

For her outstanding achievement in Rotorcraft, especially as an Active Member of the Russian national team

Paul Tissandier Diploma

• Lennard ANDERSSON (Sweden)

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

• Dr. Nabil Amin BAZ – posthumous (Egypt)

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

• Nikolai S. BUROV (Russia)

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

• Lemuel (Lemmy) TANNER (New Zealand)

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

FAI Individual Discipline Awards

Aeromodelling Gold Medal

• Dag ECKHOFF (Norway)

For his outstanding contribution to the organisation of FAI World and Continental Aeromodelling Championships and for his eminent services to FAI Aeromodelling Commission, through his expertise in Helicopter class

FAI Hang Gliding & Paragliding Diploma

• Miguel GUTIERREZ (Mexico)

For his outstanding contribution to the development and success of hang gliding and paragliding in Mexico

Montgolfier Ballooning Diploma

• Mathijs De BRUIJN (Netherlands)

For his major contribution to the development of the sport of ballooning through his involvement in many international events and activities

• Leonid TIUKHTYAEV (Russia)

For his outstanding performance in achieving a record setting gas balloon flight across the Pacific Ocean, in January 2015 from Saga (Japan) to Baja California (Mexico), together with American pilot Troy Bradley

Pelagia Majewska Gliding Medal

• Margherita ACQUADERNI (Italy)

For her eminent services to the sport of gliding, especially in Italy in the favour of women pilots

Phoenix Diploma

• Phillip COZENS (United Kingdom)

For his remarkable achievement in the reconstruction of a 1930’s Pobjoy radial engine and a Comper Swift aircraft

Vladimir M. Komarov Diploma

• Mikhail KORNIENKO (Russia)

For his outstanding achievements in the field of exploration of outer space providing significant advances in the detailed understanding of the medical effects of long-duration spaceflight, together with Scott Kelly (USA)

Yuri A. Gagarin Gold Medal

• Gennadi Ivanovich PADALKA (Russia)

For the World Record of 878 days 11h 29 min 24 sec as Accumulated space flight time on 12 September 2015

Photo credit: FAI / Dekko