XV-15 litho - NASA's History Office
XV-15 litho - NASA's History Office
XV-15 litho - NASA's History Office
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<strong>15</strong>4<br />
Appendix D—Awards and Records<br />
Over the years the engineers, designers, and test pilots of the tilt rotor aircraft<br />
have been recognized by leading American aviation technical organizations and<br />
societies for having made important contributions to the state of the art. These<br />
awards, including the most prestigious symbols of aeronautical achievement in<br />
the United States, indicated the high level of technical competence, perseverance,<br />
and commitment that the award recipients, and the entire tilt rotor “supporting<br />
cast” demonstrated to accomplish the project’s goals. Looking back, it seems that<br />
the tilt rotor’s technical problems were solved not by engineering alone, but by<br />
the magical effects of the positive spirit exhibited by the industry and<br />
Government tilt rotor team.<br />
<strong>XV</strong>-3<br />
8 May 1959 Dr. Alexander Klemin Award (American Helicopter<br />
Society) presented to Robert L. Lichten, Bell chief experimental<br />
project engineer, for development of the tilt rotor<br />
type convertiplane.<br />
10 October 1959 Iven C. Kincheloe Award (Society of Experimental Test<br />
Pilots) presented to <strong>XV</strong>-3 test pilot USAF Major Robert G.<br />
Ferry, designating him as test pilot of the year.<br />
<strong>XV</strong>-<strong>15</strong><br />
13 December 1976 Laurels (Aviation Week and Space Technology) to Tommy<br />
Thomason, Textron Bell Helicopter Div., and David Few,<br />
NASA/Army program director for driving the <strong>XV</strong>-<strong>15</strong> tiltrotor<br />
research program through budgetary knotholes to the<br />
prospects for technical success that open a promising line<br />
for rotary-wing vehicle future applications.<br />
<strong>15</strong> May 1978 Paul E. Haueter Memorial Award (American Helicopter<br />
Society) presented to Ken Wernicke, Bell Helicopter technical<br />
manager of tilt rotor programs.<br />
16 November 1979 NASA Group Achievement Award awarded to the Bell and<br />
Army/NASA <strong>XV</strong>-<strong>15</strong> tilt rotor research aircraft team.<br />
16 November 1979 NASA Exceptional Service Medal awarded to David Few<br />
for leadership of the augmentor wing jet STOL research<br />
aircraft project and the tilt rotor research aircraft project.<br />
13 May 1980 Frederick L. Feinberg Award (American Helicopter<br />
Society) presented to Bell Helicopter pilots Ron Erhart<br />
and Dorman Cannon for the most outstanding helicopter<br />
piloting achievement during 1979 testing of the <strong>XV</strong>-<strong>15</strong>.