The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) announced that nine aviation and aerospace projects will compete for the prestigious 2013 Robert J. Collier Trophy.<\/p>\n
For 102 years the Collier Trophy has been the benchmark of aviation and
\naerospace achievement. Awarded annually \u201c\u201c\u2026for the greatest achievement in aeronautics
\nor astronautics in America,\u201d it has been bestowed upon some of the most important
\nprojects, programs, individuals, and accomplishments in our nation\u2019s history. Past
\nwinners include the crews of Apollo 11 and Apollo 8, the Mercury 7, Scott Crossfield,
\nElmer Sperry and Howard Hughes. Projects and programs which have been the recipient
\nof the Collier include the B-52, the Polaris Missile, the Surveyor Moon Landing Program,
\nthe Boeing 747, the Cessna Citation, the Gulfstream V, the F-22, and the International
\nSpace Station. The 2012 Collier was awarded to the National Aeronautics and Space
\nAdministration and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the Mars Curiosity Rover.<\/p>\n
The nominees this year are:
\n
\n\u2022 The Human-Powered Helicopter Teams Atlas and Gamera
\n\u2022 The NASA Deep Space Network
\n\u2022 The NASA Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration (LLCD) Project
\nTeam
\n\u2022 The Orbital Sciences Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)
\nProgram Team
\n\u2022 The Pratt & Whitney PurePower\u00ae Geared Turbofan\u2122 Engine
\n\u2022 The United States Navy P-8A Poseidon
\n\u2022 The Voyager Project Team
\n\u2022 The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) Team
\n\u2022 The X-51A<\/p>\n
Led by NAA Chairman Walter J. Boyne, the Selection Committee will consist of leaders
\nrepresenting organizations throughout aviation and aerospace. Included on the Committee
\nare four former recipients of the Collier Trophy:
\nAdmiral Richard Truly, USN (Ret) \u2013 Collier Trophy Recipient, 1981 and 1988
\nPeggy Gilligan \u2013 Collier Trophy Recipient (Commercial Aviation Safety Team), 2008
\nDick Rutan \u2013 Collier Trophy Recipient, 1986
\nLarry James \u2013 Collier Trophy Recipient (Mars Curiosity Rover), 2012
\nThe Selection Committee also includes:
\nRichard Aboulafia, The Teal Group
\nThe Honorable Marion Blakey, Aerospace Industries Association
\nBob Blouin, Beechcraft
\nEd Bolen, National Business Aviation Association
\nCharles Bures, Aero Club of New England
\nSteve Callaghan, NAA Awards and Events Committee
\nBrian Chase, Bell Helicopter
\nDave Coleal, Spirit AeroSystems
\nKaren Gebhart, Helicopter Association International
\nRandy Greene, Safe Flight Instrument Corporation
\nT.C. Jones, Northrop Grumman
\nTim Keating, The Boeing Company
\nLeo Knaapen, Bombardier Aerospace
\nJohn Langford, Aurora Flight Sciences
\nDave Manke, United Technologies\/Pratt & Whitney
\nMary Miller, Signature Flight Support
\nStan O’Connor, GE Aviation
\nKen Panos, AeroJet Rocketdyne
\nSam Parks, Balloon Federation of America
\nSteve Plummer, Rolls-Royce North America
\nBob Rubino, Lockheed Martin
\nBob Stangarone, Embraer
\nLaurie Sussman, Rockwell Collins
\nMark Van Tine, Jeppessen
\nTony Velocci, Forbes<\/p>\n
Jonathan Gaffney, President and CEO of NAA, will serve as the Director of the process
\nand is a non-voting member of the Committee.<\/p>\n
The Selection Committee will meet on Monday, March 17, in Arlington, Virginia,
\nand the winner will be announced the next day, March 18, at the NAA Spring Awards
\nLuncheon to be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott.<\/p>\n
The formal presentation of the Collier Trophy will take place on May 8, 2014, at
\nthe Collier Dinner in Arlington, Virginia. More information can be found at
\nwww.naa.aero.<\/p>\n