LAS VEGAS, NV, (NOVEMBER 18, 2015) – On Wednesday, November 18th, Kim Furst, Producer/Director of the award-winning documentary FLYING THE FEATHERED EDGE:The Bob Hoover Project, which chronicles the history of aviation through Bob Hoover’s seven decade career, will be honored with the 13th annual Combs Gates Award at the NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA 2015) in Las Vegas, NV.
The award will be presented to Furst during an honorary luncheon at 12PM at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Furst will receive the $20,000 prize, which recognizes aviation history research and preservation efforts, from representatives of the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) and several enshrines.
FLYING THE FEATHERED EDGE: The Bob Hoover Project was a passion project by Furst, to document the history and impact of Hoover’s career. The result is “a wonderful film” according to Harrison Ford, “one that captures Bob’s powerful story”. Over the course of the film Hoover reflects on his remarkable career as an Air Force fighter pilot, experimental test pilot, and airshow pilot. The film also includes appearances by Neil Armstrong, Clay Lacy, Dick and Burt Rutan, Carroll Shelby and other experts in the aerospace field.
The Combs Gates Award is made possible by a $1.3 million donation to the NAHF given by 1996 enshrinee Harry Combs, later supported by the Gates Frontiers Fund. The late Combs and Charles C. Gates were partners in several business aviation ventures, including the Combs Gates FBO chain and aircraft manufacturer Gates Learjet.
“It’s a who’s who of the industry at NBAA,” said Ron Kaplan, NAHF enshrinement director, about why the award is presented at NBAA’s convention. “Many of our enshrines – Bob Hoover, Russ Meyer – are already there as participants through their business associations.”On Thursday, November 19th following the award, Kim Furst will be a guest speaker at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base for an exclusive screening of her film.
