Hang glider inventor John Dickenson was awarded the Oswald Watt Gold Medal at the Safeskies Conference in Canberra on Tuesday.
Dickenson invented the modern hang glider, which launched the sport in Australia in 1963. No other aircraft in history, it is said, is easier to build or fly as Dickenson Wings.
Thousands of people world-wide now enjoy hang gliding thanks to Dickenson's pioneering work. Previous recognition for Dickenson has been:
- Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
- The US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Presidential Citation
- Inductee into the Space Technology Hall of Fame
- FAI Hang Gliding Diploma
- Honorary Life Membership of the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia
- Honorary Life Membership of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
Dickenson can now add Australia's highest aviation honour to his trophy cabinet.
The Oswald Watt Gold Medal is named after Lt Col Oswald Watt who served in the First World War with the Aviation Militaire and the Australian Flying Corps.
After he drowned off Sydney in 1921, his will revealed a bequest for an award to "The most brilliant performance in the air or the most notable contribution to Aviation by an Australian or in Australia."
Previous winners have included Charles Kingsford Smith, Bert Hinkler, Reg Ansett, Henry Millicer, Andy Thomas and Sqn Ldr Paul Simmons.