On November 9th, the San Diego Air & Space Museum celebrated the 2024 Legend of Flight honorees in the Edwin D. McKellar Pavilion of Flight. Guests from around the world assembled for a spectacular evening of fun and extraordinary recognition, as each guest was treated to a behind the scenes look into the lives of these true air and space legends. Since 1963, the museum has honored the world’s most significant pilots, crew members, visionaries, inventors, aerospace engineers, business leaders, preservationists, designers and space explorers.

“We were exceptionally pleased to honor this exemplary Class of 2024 because these men and women represent a vast range of the ongoing advances in aviation and space exploration,” said Jim Kidrick, President & CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. “Achievements in aviation and space, as embodied by the honorees in the prestigious International Air & Space Museum, directly represents the human pioneering spirit and pursuit of mankind’s final frontiers. Guests come from all over the globe just to be in the room with the Honorees and join in this momentous celebration.”

Photography by Robert O'Neill