Last week, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, took the stage at the 2025 Living Legends of Aviation Ceremony to deliver a powerful tribute to the aerial firefighters who risk their lives in the sky to protect communities on the ground.
The annual awards honor those who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace, bringing together icons of flight—from pioneering aviators and astronauts to innovators and industry leaders.
The Duke, who was inducted as a Living Legend of Aviation in 2024 for his decade of military service as an Apache helicopter pilot and for his continued advocacy for veterans and mental health, highlighted the extraordinary courage and resilience of the firefighting crews who answered the call during this year’s devastating wildfires in Southern California. As flames threatened homes, communities, and wildlife across the region, aerial firefighting teams played a vital role—navigating hazardous conditions to slow the spread of destruction and support emergency efforts on the ground.
Prince Harry’s Full Remarks at the 2025 Living Legends of Aviation Awards Ceremony:
“Good evening, everyone.
There are moments in life that reveal a great deal about who we are — not just as individuals, but as a people. Moments that test our courage, compassion and our commitment to one another.
And time and again, what I’ve seen — what the world sees — is that first responders rise to that challenge every single time, yet we rarely get the chance to thank them.
This community, bound and energized by service to others, shows up for us wherever we are and whenever they’re needed. They put their lives on hold for as long as we need them.
Those who are duty bound to answer the call, once they made the choice to wear the uniform.
This past January, when fires swept through over 50 square miles of Los Angeles County — threatening homes, businesses, communities — we saw that spirit in action.
We saw courage. We saw commitment. And we saw an extraordinary group of men and women take to the skies, also risking their lives to protect people they would never meet.
Tonight, we thank and honor members of our community, especially aerial firefighters and the supporting ground teams.
The pilots, crews, and support teams who met disaster with discipline, determination, and decisive drops of hundreds of gallons of water and thousands of gallons of fire retardant to turn chaos into coordination.
The aerial response to the LA fires was massive. More than 60 aircraft were deployed — from Cal Fire, the California National Guard, the U.S. Forest Service, private firefighting companies, and even a crew from Quebec, Canada.
Aircrafts also included Sikorsky Firehawks, UH-60 Black Hawks, Dash 8-400s and two CL-415 super scoopers — as well as DC-10-30’s capable of dropping over 9,000 gallons of fire retardant in a single pass.
Helicopters flew low over rugged terrain, in day and night, through thick smoke, dumping water with incredible precision and providing eyes in the sky for crews on the ground.
Air tankers dove down ridge lines laying down critical fire lines, helping contain the blaze and protect entire neighborhoods.
And none of it happens without the people you don’t see — the ones coordinating the airspace and flight paths, maintenance of aircraft, monitoring wind events and coordinating radio communications.
The ones making sure that every mission launches safely — and comes home safely. This truly was an awesome display of teamwork.
It has reminded us that in a world full of noise, there are still quiet heroes among us — steady, capable, and brave.
Tonight, we celebrate aviation legends — the kind forged in smoke, shaped by teamwork, and defined by the courage to fly into danger when others are told to flee.
This community doesn’t ask for attention or recognition. They don’t ask for praise. But tonight we’re gonna give it to them regardless because in my experience, it’s the people who don’t expect it or ask for it, that need and appreciate it the most.
Roll the tape….”
As the ceremony came to a close, the Duke’s words stood as a powerful reminder of the spirit of service that defines the Living Legends of Aviation. His appearance at the 2025 ceremony reaffirmed his enduring commitment to aviation and service, both through his own military experience and through his ongoing efforts to uplift those who serve others with bravery and humility.