Leonardo International Fellowship Award

The joint Israeli Air Force and Sikorsky Support Team, honored for outstanding collaboration in sustaining UH-60 and CH-53D helicopter operations. Their efforts enhanced aircraft availability, improved maintenance processes, and ensured mission readiness — even under conflict conditions.

Recognizes significant contributions to the extension of fellowship and accomplishment in the international vertical flight community.

François-Xavier Bagnoud Award

Dr. Klimchenko’s work has significantly influenced rotorcraft digital transformation, shaping future flight technology and rotorcraft performance optimization.

Recognizes an outstanding career-to-date contribution to vertical flight technology by a society member who is 35 years old or younger.

François-Xavier Bagnoud Award

Dr. Saetti’s research and leadership are shaping the future of rotorcraft simulation, control and pilot training.

Recognizes an outstanding career-to-date contribution to vertical flight technology by a society member who is 35 years old or younger.

Grover E. Bell Award

For executing the first fully autonomous aerial firefighting mission. By integrating Sikorsky’s autonomous Black Hawk with Rain’s wildfire detection system, the team enabled rapid, precise, and around-the-clock wildfire suppression — advancing the future of autonomous fire response.

Given for an outstanding research and experimentation contribution to the field of vertical flight development brought to fruition during the preceding 18 months.

Frederick L. Feinberg Award

The team demonstrated autonomous external load delivery in complex, contested environments using sensor-based navigation and real-time route adaptation, setting a new benchmark in rotorcraft autonomy and logistics.

Presented to the vertical flight aircraft pilot or crew who demonstrated outstanding skills or achievement during the preceding 18 months.

Paul E. Haueter Award

Jim's leadership and technical expertise have significantly advanced the electric VTOL / advanced air mobility (AAM) industry.

Presented for an outstanding technical innovation in the development of vertical takeoff and landing aircraft other than a helicopter or other operational VTOL aircraft.

Honorary Fellows

O’Neill has dedicated over 40 years to advancing vertical flight, pioneering rotorcraft model-scale testing at Sikorsky, while providing exceptional service to the Society as a technical leader, committee chair, and organizer, strengthening industry collaboration, mentorship and pre-college outreach.

Honorary Fellowships are granted to Society members whose career-based leadership, vision or other meritorious contribution has advanced significantly the interests of Vertical Flight Society and the vertical flight community. The granting of Honorary Fellows shall be in perpetuity and limited in number to two per annum.

Honorary Fellows

Hirschberg’s contributions over the past three decades reflect his deep commitment to advancing vertical flight and aerospace education, while making a significant impact on technology, policy and the global community across industry, academia and government agencies.

Honorary Fellowships are granted to Society members whose career-based leadership, vision or other meritorious contribution has advanced significantly the interests of Vertical Flight Society and the vertical flight community. The granting of Honorary Fellows shall be in perpetuity and limited in number to two per annum.

Howard Hughes Award

Developed under the Clean Sky 2 program, the Racer high-speed demonstrator surpassed 260 mph (420 km/h) shortly after its first flight. With innovations in aerodynamics, propulsion and systems design, Racer represents a leap forward in the development of fast, fuel-efficient rotorcraft.

Given in recognition of an outstanding improvement in fundamental vertical flight technology brought to fruition during the preceding 18 months.

Harry T. Jensen Award

Enhanced Maintenance Analysis Tool (EMAT) team (EMAT) uses AI and natural language processing to convert unstructured maintenance data into actionable insights — helping reduce downtime, identify failure trends, and enhance aircraft reliability across the enterprise.

Given in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the improvement of rotorcraft reliability, maintainability, or safety through improved design brought to fruition during the preceding 18 months.

Dr. Alexander Klemin Award

Recognized for his numerous innovative and technical contributions that have greatly advanced vertical flight and significantly strengthened the defense capabilities.

Given for notable achievement in advancement of vertical flight aeronautics.

Captain William J. Kossler, USCG Award

As operator of the world’s largest civilian firefighting aviation fleet, CAL FIRE has demonstrated exceptional capability in rapid deployment, advanced rescue operations, and pioneering night aerial suppression.

Given for the greatest achievement during the preceding 18 months related to the operation or application of a vertical flight aircraft.

Robert L. Pinckney Award

The team developed and implemented a robotic blade sanding system that improves quality, increases production throughput and eliminates ergonomic risks. Now in full production, the system also delivers significant cost savings and is adaptable for future aircraft models.

Is given in recognition of notable achievement in manufacturing research and development for rotorcraft or rotorcraft components brought to fruition in recent years.

John J. Schneider Historical Achievement Award

Pember is a key historian of vertical flight, founding the Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives, authoring four books, and preserving invaluable rotorcraft history.

Given in recognition of distinguished achievement of an individual in encouraging appreciation of and enhancing access to the history and legacy of vertical flight aircraft.

Supplier Excellence Award

for more than 15 years of delivering critical flight safety components with zero-defect quality and on-time performance.

Created in 1995, the VFS Supplier Excellence Award is given to a supplier who, through the quality, innovativeness and cost-effective technology of its products, has made a notable contribution to improving the state of the art of vertical flight aircraft.

Technical Fellows

Knaust is a distinguished technical leader in vertical flight, renowned for his expertise in test piloting, flight safety, and fly-by-wire systems, with contributions that have set industry standards and continue to shape the future of rotary-wing aviation.

VFS Technical Fellowships are granted to Society members whose career-based accomplishments towards the goals and objectives of the vertical flight community constitute an outstanding technical achievement.

Technical Fellows

Kang is a renowned rotorcraft aeromechanics expert, recognized for his contributions to tiltrotor aeroelastic stability — including as part of a team that won the 2024 VFS Grover E. Bell Award — rotorcraft simulation (RCAS and FLIGHTLAB), and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) innovation, with over 100 publications and multiple patents.

VFS Technical Fellowships are granted to Society members whose career-based accomplishments towards the goals and objectives of the vertical flight community constitute an outstanding technical achievement.

Technical Fellows

Dr. Pahlke is a pioneering expert in rotorcraft computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and aeroelastic simulations, renowned for advancing high-fidelity modeling, leading international collaborations, and developing industry-standard CFD tools.

VFS Technical Fellowships are granted to Society members whose career-based accomplishments towards the goals and objectives of the vertical flight community constitute an outstanding technical achievement.

Technical Fellows

Maier is a leading expert in rotorcraft aeromechanics, advancing aeroelastic stability, rotor dynamics, and dynamic stall modeling while driving US Army, NASA and international collaborations, earning multiple VFS awards and mentoring future leaders.

VFS Technical Fellowships are granted to Society members whose career-based accomplishments towards the goals and objectives of the vertical flight community constitute an outstanding technical achievement.

Alex M. Stoll Award

This year's winner Dr. Natasha Schatzman who embodies the qualities like exceptional commitment and contributions to the advancement of the mission of the organization, making a significant impact both personally and professionally in the workplace and the larger vertical flight community.

Robert L. Lichten Award

For her paper, "Modeling Unsteady Aerodynamics in RCAS for High-Speed Rotor Aeroelastic Applications."

Established to provide an incentive to VFS members, who have not previously presented the results of their work at a technical forum, to begin presenting their work at local and regional VFS meetings.

Vertical Flight Heritage Site

The first US Coast Guard and Navy helicopter base, it played a central role in early search and rescue (SAR), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and police aviation missions, and remains a pivotal site in rotorcraft history.

Given to recognize and preserve noteworthy and significant contributions made in both the theory and practice of helicopter and other VTOL aircraft technology. This award promotes the rich history of the vertical lift industry to the public.

Vertical Flight Heritage Site

Site of the world’s first helicopter hoist rescue in 1945, proving the helicopter’s life-saving potential and helping to establish its role in modern search and rescue.

Given to recognize and preserve noteworthy and significant contributions made in both the theory and practice of helicopter and other VTOL aircraft technology. This award promotes the rich history of the vertical lift industry to the public.