Given to an individual who has a highly distinguished career in vertical flight aircraft research and development, and is skilled at communicating their technical knowledge and experience, for whom a summary of their original work represents a valuable reference publication.
Read more about Alexander Nikolsky at Vertipedia.
2023
- Serge Germanetti
- Executive Expert for Avionics Systems
- Airbus Helicopters
For his Nikolsky Lecture titled, “50 Years of Innovation, Reducing Pilot Workload and Enhancing Safety by Helping Pilots Manage Helicopter Performance.”
2022
- Prof. Marilyn J. Smith
- Professor and Director of the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence (VLRCOE)
- Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia
This, the 42nd Annual Nikolsky Lecture, will be entitled, “Computational Vertical Lift Aeromechanics and Its Future in the Twenty-First Century," which Smith will deliver in an hour-long presentation and VFS will publish as an authoritative peer-reviewed article.
2021
- Fabio Nannoni
- Senior Vice President for the Safety Management Governance
- Leonardo Company's Helicopter Division
For his paper entitled, "Rotorcraft Design: The Crucial Influence of Safety from Concept to Fleet Support.” This, the 41st Annual Nikolsky Lecture, Nannoni will publish as an authoritative article and deliver in an hour-long presentation at VFS Annual Forum 77, 2021.
Nannoni was nominated for his fundamental contributions to the methodologies and design solutions embedded in the rotorcraft at Leonardo Helicopters (formerly Agusta and AgustaWestland). In his career spanning nearly 40 years — spent in all of the rotary-wing disciplines and ranging from preliminary design to the management of Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and airworthiness of helicopters in service — Nannoni has led the company’s engineering directorate through technological challenges, fostering an innovative culture. He is one of the architects behind the company’s successful “Family Concept.”
2020
- Dr. Mark B. Tischler
- Senior Scientist
- US Army
This, the 40th Annual Nikolsky Lecture, is entitled, “Flight Control Challenges and Technologies for Future Rotorcraft.” In his lecture and the accompanying in-depth article, Tischler articulated his vision based on his vast expertise in aircraft system identification, flight control, handling qualities and simulation.
Dr. Tischler’s efforts and ground-breaking accomplishments in rotorcraft system identification, flight control, handling qualities and simulation have had a significant impact on how modern rotorcraft flight control systems are designed and developed, how handling qualities requirements are characterized, specified and evaluated, and how aircraft flight test and simulations are conducted. His efforts have reduced the time and cost required to characterize the flight dynamics of rotorcraft and to optimize and tune a flight control system to meet specification requirements. His ability to envision change, collaborate with industry, academia, and international partners, develop and transition technology, publish comprehensive and world-recognized standard textbooks, teach his methods for over 25 years, and seek a broad range of flight-test applications for continuous improvements in his methods has provided tools and methods that will increase the safety and effectiveness of future rotorcraft that must fly faster, have greater agility, autonomy and operate more frequently in degraded visual conditions. Tischler has also mentored a generation of vertical flight researchers and equipped them with the fundamentals, methods and skills they will need to solve increasingly difficult problems.
2019
- Nicholas D. Lappos
- Senior Fellow Emeritus
- Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company
Lappos was chosen in recognition for his vast contributions and experiences as a US Army Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter pilot, test pilot, test engineer and executive, as well as his overall knowledge of both practical and theoretical dimensions of his subject matter.
His lecture, “Design Advantages of an Integrated Cyber-Physical Aircraft,” was presented on May 14.
2018
- Dr. Inderjit Chopra
- Alfred Gessow Professor in Aerospace Engineering, Distinguished University Professor, and Director of the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center
- University of Maryland
For his contributions over a 40+ year career in the field of aeromechanics, as well as educating future generations of rotorcraft engineers, professors and industry leaders. For his lecture entitled, “Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Delivery Drones: Challenges & Opportunities”
2017
- Dr. Karen E. Jackson
- Senior Aerospace Engineer, Structural Dynamics Branch, Langley Research Center
- NASA Langley Research Center
For advances in Rotorcraft Crashworthiness, and trends Leading to improved survivability.
2016
- Tommie L. Wood
- Chief Technologist
- Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
50 Years of Industry Perspective
2015
- Dr. Robert A. Ormiston
- Scientist Emeritus
- US Army
For dedicating over 40 years to analyzing and understanding critically important rotary wing aeromechanics phenomena
2014
- Dewey H. Hodges
- Professor, School of Aerospace Engineering
- Georgia Institute of Technology
For seminal contributions to analysis methodology of aeroelasticity and structural dynamics of rotors, and his development of textbooks and courses in these areas
2013
- Prof. Peretz P. Friedmann
- Professor, François-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of Aerospace Engineering
- The University of Michigan
2012
- Gareth Padfield
- Professor of Aerospace Engineering
- University of Liverpool
For a long and distinguished career as a research scientist and professor that has been instrumental in establishing and expanding the analytic boundaries in rotorcraft handling qualities and many other areas
2011
- William Bousman
- Aerospace Engineer, US Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate
- NASA Ames Research Center (Ret.)
The Lectureship is awarded to "an individual who has a highly distinguished career in vertical flight aircraft research and development and is skilled at communicating their technical knowledge and experience." Bousman is being awared for his lecture "Full-Scale Airloads Measurements – Extraordinary Costs, Extraordinary Benefits."
2010
- Dr. Wayne R. Johnson
- Aerospace Engineer
- NASA Ames Research Center
For his long and distinguished career and numerous outstanding contributions to rotorcraft fundamental research. He developed the Comprehensive Analytical
Model for Rotorcraft Aerodynamics and Dynamics (“CAMRAD”) computer program that for close to 30 years has been pivotal to government, industry and academia in their rotorcraft design and analysis activities.
Dr. Johnson has been a leading contributor in rotorcraft aeromechanics theory, analysis, and testing and he has
been instrumental in the design and development of advanced configurations such as the tiltrotor. He is also
the author of the seminal 1,128 page textbook on helicopter engineering, titled “Helicopter Theory.”
2009
- Dr. Fredric H. Schmitz
- Senior Research Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
"The Challenges and Possibilities of a Truly Quiet Helicopter", his winning Nikolsky Honorary Lecture.
2008
- Dr. David A. Peters
- Associate Director
- Georgia Tech Rotorcraft Center of Excellence
"How Dynamic Inflow Survives in the Competitive World of Rotorcraft Aerodynamics"
2007
- Dr. Kenneth M. Rosen
- President
- General Aero-Science Consultants, LLC
Title: "A Prospective: The Importance of Propulsion Technology to the Development of Helicopter Systems with a Vision for the Future"
2006
- Franklin D. Harris
- Former Vice President Engineering (Ret.)
- Bell Helicopter Textron
"No Accidents—That's the Objective", was title of his Nikolsky Honorary Lecture.
2005
- Walter G. Sonneborn
- Senior Vice President and General Manager (Ret.)
- Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
For his forty-year career in the vertical flight industry.
"Quo Vadis Helicopter Community? A Highly Opinionated Outlook in Three Parts – Technology, Management and Operations"
2004
- Dr. Barnes W. McCormick
- Professor Emeritus
- Pennsylvania State University
For his lecture titled "Hurricanes, Tornadoes Wake Turbulence and BVI vortices Come in all Sizes," presented in Forum 60.
2003
- Santino Pancotti
- President, Advance Design
- AgustaWestland
For his lecture entitled,"After 50 years of Helicopter Design Are Rotorcraft Mature Enough For the Commuter Roll?"
2002
- Troy M. Gaffy
- Senior Vice President, Research and Engineering
- Bell Helicopters Textron
For his significant contributions to the vertical flight industry.
His lecture entitled,"The Devil is in the Aeromechanics and Other Product Development Lessons Learned."
2001
- Dr. Richard M. Carlson
For his significant contribution to the aerospace field in the technology triad of industry, government and academia.
His lecture is entitled "Helicopter Performance - Transportation's Latest Chromosome."
2000
- Prof. Howard C. Curtiss, Jr.
- Princeton University
The Nikolsky Lecture was titled,"Rotorcraft Stability and Control, Past, Present and Future."
1999
- Dr. Daniel P. Schrage
- Georgia Institute of Technology
For his Nikolsky lecture "Technology for Rotorcraft Affordability Through Integrated Product/Process Development (IPPD)."
1998
- Robert J. Huston
For individual who reflects the highest ideals, goals, and achievements in the field of helicopter and V/STOL aircraft engineering and development.
The Nikolsky Lecture is entitled, "The Future of Vertical Lift."
1997
- Bruce Blake
- Boeing Helicopters (Formerly)
For his lecture,"Flying Qualities and Flight Control."
1996
- Dr. David S. Jenney
- Formerly Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
His Nikolsky Lecture was titled, "Helicopter Technology: A Look Back... And Forward."
1995
- Bruno Lovera
For his winning lecture, "Gruppo Agusta Forty Years History In The Helicopter Design and Development."
1994
- Evan Fradenburgh
"The First 50 Years Were Fine But What Should We Do For An Encore?" title of his Nikolsky Honorary Lecture presented in 1994.
1993
- Kenneth I. Grina
- Formerly with Helicopters Div.
- Boeing Defense & Space Group
For Nikolsky Honorary Lecture titled, "Development of Helicopter Design Capability—Progress from 1970 to 1993."
Edward J. Renourard, the Society's outgoing president and Dr. John Shaw, AHS (now VFS) technical director, present the Nikolsky Lectureship award to Kenneth I. Grina, formerly of Boeing Defense & Space Group, Helicopter Div.
1992
- Robert R. Lynn
- Senior Vice President (ret.), Research and Engineering
- Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Ft. Worth, TX
His Nikolsky Honorary Lecture was titled "The Rebirth of the Tiltrotor."
1991
- Dr. Robin B. Gray
- PhD.
- Georgia Institute of Technology
His Nikolsky Honorary lecture was titled "Vortex Modeling for Rotor Aerodynamics"
1990
An Aerospatiale helicopter
pioneer.
1989
- Charles C. Crawford, Jr.
- Head, Aviation Technology Branch
- Georgia Tech Research Institute Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
For his lecture,"Rotorcraft Analytical Improvement Needed to Reduce Developmental Risk"
1988
- Kenneth B. Amer
- Consultant
- The RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA
For his lecture "A "NEW" Philosophy of Structural Reliability, Fail Safe Versus Safe Life"
1987
- Jan M. Drees
- Consultant
- Formerly: Vice-President Technology, Bell Helicopter Textron, Fort Worth, TX
For his lecture, "Prepare for the 21st Century."
1986
- John F. Ward
- Executive Scientist, Aeronautics and Space Technology Division
- ORI, Inc., Rockville, MD
For his lecture,"Rotorcraft Research—A National Effort"
1985
- Alfred Gessow
- Professor
- University of Maryland
"Understanding and Predicting Helicopter Behavior—Then and Now", Nikolsky Honorary Lecture 1985
1984
- Robert G. Loewy
- Professor
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
For the award because of his goals and achievements in the field of helicopter and V/STOL aircraft engineering and development.
Loewy's presentation was entitled "Helicopter Vibrations: A Technological Perspective".
1983
- Rene H. Miller
- Professor
- Princeton Univresity
His outstanding carrer as a rotorcraft engineer and teacher at Princeton University. Te title of his lecture was "Potential Impact of Technology on VTOL Utilization".
1982
- Bartram A. Kelley
- Technical Consultant
For his lecture, "Helicopter Evolution"
1981
- Wieslaw Z. Stepniewski
- Head
- International Technical Associates Ltd.Pennsylvania
In recognition of his distinguished career and the significance of his lecture, "Factors Shaping the Conceptual Design of Rotary Wing Aircraft", which was published in Journal of the American Helicopter Society. His lecture was "Factors Shaping Conceptual Design of Rotary-Wing-Aircraft."
Cached June 8, 2023 4:31:10 AM CDT