On September 5, 2026, the international aviation world will gather at Lake Wolfgang for the fifth time. The scalaria will host the Living Legends of Aviation Europe Awards – the European counterpart to the annual gala in Beverly Hills. Returning as host for the second time since 2022, Hollywood star Morgan Freeman will be back at the lake to personally present the awards to this year's honorees.

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On the red carpet at scalaria Beach, Morgan Freeman, accompanied by his partner Dr. Linda Keena, will once again be joined by high-profile guests from the worlds of aviation, business, and society. Earlier in the day, the future of flight will be discussed in the Science Lounge, and in the afternoon, the "Flying Emotions" air show will turn the sky over the lake into a stage – with a public viewing area on the St. Wolfgang promenade, free of charge.

The 2026 Honorees

Awards are presented to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the aerospace industry. They were selected by a committee of existing Living Legends of Aviation.

The Kenn Ricci Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award is awarded to Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. The Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader Award goes to Jérémie Caillet, President of Jet Aviation. The Eren Ozmen Entrepreneur of the Year Award is presented to Daniel Metzler , CEO and co-founder of Isar Aerospace: At just 35 years old, his space technologies are making a significant contribution to the rise of the European space industry.

Didier Delsalle, former chief test pilot for Airbus Helicopters and still the only person to have landed a helicopter on Mount Everest, will receive the Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Award honored. The Freedom of Flight Award goes to Marco Waltenspiel and Marco Fürst of the Red Bull Skydive Team, who became the first in the world to fly their wingsuits through London's Tower Bridge. This maneuver was only made possible by a newly developed technique that allows for gaining altitude again near the ground before safely deploying the parachute.

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Astronauts, engineers, and legendary pilots in the Hall of Fame

In 2026, five more individuals will be inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation: ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who completed two long-duration ISS missions, Slovakian engineer Štefan Klein, whose AirCar was the first flying car to receive a certificate of airworthiness, Hans Jürgen Ostler, founder of HTM Helicopter Travel Munich, as well as Raimund Riedmann and Siegfried “Blacky” Schwarz two pilot legends from The Flying Bulls.

‍➜ See an overview of all winners and awards here
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Science Lounge: Where the future of flight begins

The day kicks off at 11:00 a.m. with a panel talk in the scalaria Science Lounge under the theme "Pioneering Innovation," with content significantly shaped by Salzburg-based NXT Technologies.

Airbus Helicopters will present the new "RACER" helicopter, which features no tail rotor and achieves cruising speeds over 50 percent higher than conventional models. Together with Embraer, FACC will showcase the all-electric "EVE" eVTOL from Air Mobility. Klein Vision will discuss their AirCar, which transforms from a road vehicle into an aircraft in just a few minutes—a patented transformation mechanism that has received airworthiness certification in Slovakia after more than 200 take-offs and landings. And Rocket Factory Augsburg will demonstrate an approach to mass-producing rocket engines, similar to current automotive industry standards, to make European satellite launches more affordable.

The panel talk will be moderated by actress Annabelle Mandeng, known for the Netflix series "Vikings: Valhalla."

On the panel: Robert Machtlinger (FACC), Johannes Plaum (Airbus Helicopters), Dr. Stefan Brieschenk (Rocket Factory Augsburg), Niclas Bähr (AVILUS), Stefan Klein, and Anton Zajac (Klein Vision).

Experience it live on-site: the "EVE" eVTOL simulator, the AVILUS "GRILLE" rescue drone, an original mock-up of a Rocket Factory Augsburg rocket engine, and the AirCar model.

Find all information about the Science Lounge here.

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Flying Emotions: The Flying Bulls, Dario Costa, and the Austrian Armed Forces

From 2:00 p.m., the sky belongs to the aviators. World record holder Dario Costa, who recently became the first person in the world to land his Edge 540 on a moving train, will be performing, alongside The Flying Bulls with their historic aircraft, including the B-25 and the Mustang. Peter Salzmann will attempt a skydive with a wingsuit foil. The Austrian Armed Forces will present their new Leonardo AW169M, and the flight police will demonstrate modern rescue operations together with the COBRA unit.

In the public viewing area on the lake promenade, the Austrian Armed Forces and the flight police will be providing information about pilot training starting at 11:00 a.m.—a front-row seat with free admission, the likes of which are usually reserved only for invited guests at the scalaria event resort.‍

➜ You can follow the Flying Emotions air show live via our live stream

Erwin Schrott and Martin Gellner join the Flying Opera

As part of the "Flying Opera" – a collaboration with The Flying Bulls that has evolved over the years, blending live orchestral music with the art of flight – a special encounter will take place in 2026: bass-baritone Erwin Schrott will perform at Lake Wolfgang for the first time, presenting selected songs from his classic crossover album "Havana Nocturna," accompanied by the Big Island Orchestra under the direction of Martin Gellner. For the first time, music and aerial artistry will be brought together in a joint production.

Taking to the skies: a formation from The Flying Bulls, the Red Bull Blanix Team, and aerobatic pilot Dario Costa. Other artists performing that evening include Rolf Stahlhofen, a founding member of Söhne Mannheims, as well as Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar – both frontmen of Mike + The Mechanics.

Your seat at the Award Gala

The scalaria Living Legends of Aviation Europe 2026 will take place from September 4th to 6th, 2026, at scalaria on Lake Wolfgang. Exclusive sponsor tables for companies and partners, as well as individual tickets, are available for the Award Gala in the DO-X Teatro.

For all information and inquiries, please visit scalaria.com/living-legends-of-aviation and +43 6138 8000.