Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, February 19, 2021

Aviators honored during Hoover presentation

by Alyssa J. Cobb the number of stall/loss-of-control acci-
AOPA dents. He revolutionized the homebuilt
world by designing composite aircraft,
Courage, perseverance, and service in part because he discovered that he
— those characteristics are exempli- could build and flight test a composite
fied by the lives of the accomplished aircraft within one year. The Long-EZ
aviators the Aircraft Owners and Pilots is one of Rutan’s popular designs, and
Association honored Feb. 3 during the more than 2,000 of them are flying.
virtual, fifth annual R.A. “Bob” Hoover “You gotta have some courage” to
Trophy presentation: designer Burt Ru- design and be the first to fly your own
tan, retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. aircraft, Rutan said, while accepting
Charles McGee, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. the honor.
Kenyatta Ruffin, and BRS Aerospace Rutan recalled the first time he met
founder Boris Popov. Hoover 47 years ago at a Reno Air
Air show announcer Rob Reider Race where Hoover agreed to fly the
hosted the one-hour event with AOPA Bede BD–5J, which had only made
President Mark Baker, who dedicated a couple of flights before that. Rutan
the evening “to honor four remarkable left viewers in suspense regarding
aviators” who are following in the steps Hoover’s first flight in the jet, saying
of the legendary Hoover. The ceremony that the full story will be included in
celebrated the 2020 award winners be- the memoir that he is currently writing
cause that event was canceled last year and will be available free for download
by the coronavirus pandemic. to everyone.
“While he was a very humble man, Because Rutan has been on the lead-
Bob Hoover radiated a remarkable spir- ing edge of aviation design and inno-
it and overcame many obstacles in his vation for decades, one viewer sought
life’s journey to become an inspiring his opinion on the eVTOL designs cir-
and motivating, innovative pilot — not culating in the aviation industry. The
the least of which was surviving (and roughly 150 eVTOL companies world-
escaping) a POW camp during World wide “are all doing it wrong,” Rutan
War II,” Baker said. “It’s this spirit for quipped, adding that he has an idea that AOPA Screenshot
adventure, and for giving back to the he believes will be “kind of cool.” If it Burt Rutan speaks during the Feb. 3 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association virtual presentation of the 2020 R.A.
aviation community, why this award gets built, Rutan said, it will be his 50th “Bob” Hoover Trophy.
and this evening exists.” research airplane.
Rutan was bestowed the highest Rutan joins Clay Lacy, Ford, Tucker, men, McGee fought two wars at once ple a first flight in a GA aircraft. munication caused the boater to speed
honor of the night, the R.A. “Bob” and Hoover himself as recipients of the during World War II, one against fas- “Thank you so much, Mark, and a … up instead of slow down, making the
Hoover Trophy for exhibiting “the air- annual award. cism in Europe and the other against special thank you to Brig. Gen. McGee. hang glider pitch up dramatically.
manship, leadership, and passion for racism in the United States. McGee, Truly, you sir, have been an inspiration Popov fell 500 feet and hit the water,
aviation” that Hoover had, as well as Brig. Gen. Charles E. McGee now 101, persevered to make the world to me for so long, and it’s just unfath- knocking the fillings out of his teeth.
for having a “distinguished career as a Aviation Inspiration Award a better place, and he encourages others omable that I would be here, receiving He decided then to develop a parachute
pilot and aviation advocate, while also to do the same. In a pre-recorded mes- an award in your namesake,” Ruffin safety device to help prevent similar
serving as a source of inspiration and sage, he encouraged young people to said. Ruffin explained that his mother accidents. The concept expanded and
encouragement for current and pro- follow four Ps: perceive, prepare with taught him that “To whom much is was approved for ultralights and exper-
spective aviators.” a good education, perform to the best given, much is required, and General imental aircraft. Later, it was approved
Rutan has designed 49 aircraft, in- of their ability, and persevere despite McGee has given me, has given us, for installation on certified aircraft, and
cluding Voyager, which flew around their circumstances. and truly given the world so much that now more than 30,000 GA aircraft are
the world in 1986 and SpaceShipOne, “His 138 combat missions are just there is no way that I could live my life equipped with BRS parachutes. Cirrus
which put the first civilian astronaut in one part of General McGee’s story,” without honoring his gifts of freedom, was the first manufacturer to install
space in 2004. Baker said. “He has been a trailblazer service, and opportunity.” the parachute as standard equipment
Rutan is well known as an innova- for generations of aviators. He has en- on certified aircraft.
tor, but he was also one of “Hoover’s abled thousands of enthusiasts to fol- General Aviation Safety Award Popov said the award was “a pre-
Heroes,” actor, pilot, and aviation low dreams— who might not have had “Safety is our DNA here at AOPA,” cious tribute” to all who worked dili-
advocate Harrison Ford and airshow a chance to climb into the cockpit.” Baker said, introducing AOPA Air
performer and aviation mentor Sean Baker also presented the award to Safety Institute Senior Vice President gently to help develop the BRS para-
D. Tucker noted in special tributes re- another aviator and hero in the name of Richard McSpadden, who presented chute. More than 438 lives have been
corded for the presentation. The late General McGee: Ruffin, an F–16 pilot the 2020 General Aviation Safety saved to date, Popov said, asking view-
Hoover admired Rutan and the aircraft Brig. Gen. Charles E. McGee and commander of the 71st Operations Award to Popov. ers to imagine the families and busi-
he designed. Support Squadron at Vance Air Force “We’ve been able to drive the gen- nesses whose loved ones and employ-
“He is someone I have admired for Base, Okla. Ruffin soloed a glider at eral aviation safety accident rate down ees were saved as well as the benefit to
his many contributions to aviation over age 14; became a flight instructor; year after year thanks to people like GA through fewer fatal accidents.
the years,” Baker said, announcing the Brig. Gen. Charles E. McGee, a founded a flight school; helped found Boris,” McSpadden said. Van’s Aircraft’s Dick VanGrunsven
award. member of the Tuskegee Airmen, was a STEM summer camp; and founded Popov designed the whole-airframe and ForeFlight’s Tyson Weihs and
One of Rutan’s goals that he honored with the inaugural Aviation Legacy Flight Academy, which works parachute concept after he survived a Jason Miller previously received the
achieved was designing a stall-resistant Inspiration Award that bears his name. to preserve and grow the legacy of the hang gliding accident. Popov was hang award.
airplane — the VariViggen — to reduce As a member of the Tuskegee Air- Tuskegee Airmen and gives young peo- gliding behind a boat when a miscom- © AOPA, www.aopa.org.
SPACE FORCE. from 1

ficially joined the Space Force. ship in his high school’s rocketry team that spurned his interest in systems operations) Air Force Specialty Codes were identified as
“I’ve always been a space nerd, and the chance to use that pas- space. Organic Space career fields. Airmen in AFSCs common to the Air
sion in a professional setting is awesome,” said Carlson, originally “It is the foundation of my education and profession, past and Force and Space Force such as cyber, acquisitions, engineers and
from Boulder, Colo.. “I have a Master’s Degree in Space Systems now future,” said Zeitler, 15th Test Flight Detachment 2, 53rd intelligence may also apply to transfer.
Engineering and I’ve always wanted to get involved in the space Wing, Air Force Air Combat Command. “I was an Astronautical “When this opportunity arose, I had no reservations about pur-
community. Transferring into the USSF is a great way to do that.” Engineering major at the Air Force Academy and have done work suing it,” said Master Sgt. Sheldon Newton, Operations Flight Su-
Besides transferring to the Space Force, Carlson was selected to as a satellite engineer and orbital analyst. I enjoyed my time work- perintendent, 412th Communications Squadron, 412th Test Wing.
attend the Space Test Fundamentals course at the Air Force Test ing with space systems as much as I do my time working Test & Newton, originally from Watha, N.C., began his service with the
Pilot School and also received an Education within Industry fel- Evaluation. I hope to work some combination of the two in the Air Force in 2005. He said he felt that the Air Force offered him an
lowship with a civilian launch provider to further strengthen his future. Encouragement and advice from close friends and family opportunity to learn more about himself and to interact with people
space career skillset. also helped.” from around the world. Now as a Guardian in the Space Force, new
Another future Space Test Fundamentals student, Capt. George In May 2020, active-duty Air Force personnel in specified “Or- challenges await him.
Zeitler of Sunrise, Fla., said it was his father’s 20-year Coast Guard ganic Space” career fields were able to officially apply to transfer “This is a unique opportunity; a chance to get outside of my
career that inspired him to join the military. But it was his member- to the Space Force. The 13S (space operations) and 1C6 (space comfort zone and to lead in an unfamiliar territory,” Newton said.
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