An award in honor of Brig. Gen. Charles McGee goes to Lt. Col. Kenyatta Ruffin. Burt Rutan, legendary aircraft designer and thought leader, was honored with the 5th annual AOPA R. A. âBobâ Hoover Trophy. Courtesy David Tulis, AOPA A touch of inspiration keeps us going when difficult times surround usâso the advent of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association annual awards presented on February 3 via livestream felt like the push forward we all need. The General Aviation Awards honor select people in the industry who have made major contributions over the course of their careers to key areas within GA. The primary award, named after legendary pilot and pioneer R. A. âBobâ Hoover, was first bestowed upon Hoover prior to his death and is now in its fifth year. The 2021 honoree is aircraft designer, engineer, and thought leader Burt Rutan, whose 49 singular aircraft projects have pushed the envelope in performance, safety, and enduranceâeven the boundaries of space. Rutan accepted the award, speaking from his home officeâwhich is graced with a gravity-defying bookshelf in a cheeky tip of the hat to the designerâs out-of-the-box solutions to aerodynamic problems. âThe most important thing that any aviator can do is to encourage other to learn to fly,â Rutan said. He noted that application of his âThree Csâ was the foundation of his success: Curiosity, Creativity, and Courage.