Dr. Alexander Klemin Award

Welsh was recognized for more than 40 years of contributions in the field of rotorcraft dynamics, including his leadership in advancing the state of the art in the active control of noise and vibration in helicopters. His 35 patents attest to his unique combination of theoretical expertise, understanding of complex machinery, and ingenuity to solve problems and bring new products to fruition.

Sinha was recognized for more than 45 years of contributions, while in various roles in the military (including the elite 17 Parachute Field Regiment as its Para Eagle), academia and government (as Director of Engineering) for vertical flight operations, training, engineering, safety and service, providing enthusiastic leadership and promoting exemplary international collaboration.

Throughout his career, Dr. Peters has been a leader in rotary-wing and vertical flight aeromechanics. The dynamic inflow models he developed early in his career are now included in most flight simulators used in government and industry. He has served as a mentor for many of the junior faculty at Georgia Tech as well as Washington University. Many of his PhD students have, upon graduation, become the rotary-wing aeromechanics leaders in industry and government. Working with other faculty, Dr. Peters has expanded his dynamic inflow modeling techniques to multirotors, coaxial rotor, tandem rotors and tiltrotors. His publications (more than 100 refereed papers) are frequently referenced and serve as a foundation for vertical flight interactional aerodynamics.

Dr. Michael P. Scully has significantly influenced major Department of Defense VTOL acquisition programs and helped shape critical thinking of high-level DoD officials defining future rotorcraft.

In 1998, Mr. Kerr was appointed to the additional position of Director, National Rotorcraft Technology Center (NRTC) at Ames Research Center. His tireless and successful efforts to preserve the highly productive Army/NASA rotorcraft partnership, to resurrect the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex, to support and promote the NRTC and the Rotorcraft Centers of Excellence, and to launch the High Performance Computing Institute for Advanced Rotorcraft Modeling and Simulation (HI-ARMS) are just a few of his accomplishments that will have long-lasting value, not just for the US Army but for the entire rotorcraft community.

He guided many research and development programs including the development and flight testing of a control system for a tip-jet driven helicopter; the design and development of the ultrasport family of lightweight helicopters; and the design, fabrication and qualification of an advanced, all-composite Sikorsky S-61 rotor blade.

John Magee is a well-known figure in the rotary-wing industry.

Dean Borgman is a well-known figure in the rotary-wing industry having contributed to significant advances in rotary-wing technology in his more than 35 years of service to the industry. He has held executive positions at NASA Ames Research Center, the US Army, Hughes Helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.

Hiller's influence in the industry has been felt for a half-century, and continues to have a significant impact on the industry today.

In the image, Jack Real receives Klemin Award from Horner, formerly president of McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co.

Kaman began his career as an engineer at the Hamilton Standard Division of the then United Aircraft Corporation where he devised a number of innovative rotor designs. Kaman's rotary wing aircraft have established several world firsts, including: the first turbine powered helicopter a modified K-225 in 1951. In 1957, Kaman Sciences was formed to branch out into analysis of strategic weapon defense systems, advanced aerodynamics, nuclear research, environmental instrumentation and other technical endeavors.

Piasecki has been an innovator and pioneer in the helicopter industry since the early forties, and his leadership and engineering skill were demonstrated early when he designed, built and test-flew the first successful tandem-helicopter in the world and later brought it into production. He established the P-V Engineering Forum, later known as the Piasecki Helicopter Corporation in the early forties to start work on the helicopter designated the PV-2. This aircraft was first flown by Piasecki in 1943 and was the second successful American Helicopter to be flown publicly.

Paul was cited for "more than 20 years of contributions to the helicopter field, including innovative design and development of helicopter vibration control devices, titanium spar composite blade technology, advanced blade tip concepts, and rotor blade elastomeric bearing technology, and for his engineering leadership and motivation that culminated in Sikorsky success with the UTTAS, ABC, and LAMPS helicopter systems. "

Alex received the honor "in recognition of a long and illustrious career in many areas of helicopter engineering, including those of project engineer on the XR-4, first U.S. helicopter to be placed in production, and as designer of the R-6A. S-52, and XH-39 helicopters; and for his untiring work in promoting a broad understanding of rotary-wing aircraft engineering."

In parallel with these achievements, he aided in the development of the first rotor hub employing strap retention, which led in turn to the first production hub not requiring anti-friction bearings. Mr. Amer has authored some 30 technical articles and professional reports on rotary-wing subjects. He served this Society as technical director in 1971 and as technical chairman of the 26th Annual Forum.

Recipient had been a student of Dr. Klemin.

For notable technical contributions to the advancement of rotary wing theory as evidenced by his numerous publications and work in industry. As technical advisor and recently technical director of the American Helicopter Society, he has contributed unselfishly of his time and high technical competence to the basic objectives and progress of the Society.

Col. A. T. Culbertson, USAF, presented the award to Mrs. Wayne W. Eggert on behalf of Major Wayne W. Eggert (1922-1957)