Barron Hilton, the subject of the fourth book in the Passion for Flight series, is the retired chairman, president, and CEO of Hilton Hotels Corporation. He became fascinated by aviation when he was a child and learned to fly when he was 17. Regarded by many as the “patron saint” of sport aviation, his involvement includes founding the Hilton Cup, an international soaring competition, and sponsoring Earthwinds Hilton and Global Hilton, both efforts to circumnavigate the earth in a manned balloon. He received the Gold Air Medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in 2009 and was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame in 2012 for his lifetime support of aviation. He owns a Cessna Citation V Ultra, a restored Beech Staggerwing, a vintage Bull Stearman, a Bellanca Super Decathlon, five gliders, two tow planes, three hot air balloons — and until recently — an Extra 300 and an MD 500-E helicopter. Before he retired from the cockpit in 2012, he flew them all.
