Vertical Flight Society Award Recipients
John J. Schneider Historical Achievement Award
Established in 2003, in the memory of vertical flight historian/designer John J. Schneider, this award is given to an individual for distinguished achievement in encouraging appreciation of, and enhancing access to, the history and legacy of vertical flight aviation. The selection of the award recipient is based upon a significant achievement or sustained record of accomplishment in the documentation, preservation, analysis and illumination of historically significant events, prominent pioneers and/or technologies, designs and uses of vertical flight aircraft. The award recipient will receive a scale model of Leonardo da Vinci's "Aerial Screw" on an inscribed mount, and a book selected from the titles available through the VFS Online Store.
2026
Ben Oster
The Boeing Company
For preserving and promoting vertical flight history through the creation of the Ascending Innovation exhibit at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum.
The Boeing Company
For preserving and promoting vertical flight history through the creation of the Ascending Innovation exhibit at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum.
2025
Harry Pember
Historian of Vertical Flight
Pember is a key historian of vertical flight, founding the Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives, authoring four books, and preserving invaluable rotorcraft history.
Historian of Vertical Flight
Pember is a key historian of vertical flight, founding the Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives, authoring four books, and preserving invaluable rotorcraft history.
2024
Erasmo Piñero, Jr.
Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), a Textron Company
For Piñero has over 30 years of aircraft operations, systems integration and flight test experience and is a decades-long supporter of vertical flight history, authoring over 40 historical papers and supporting presentations.
Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), a Textron Company
For Piñero has over 30 years of aircraft operations, systems integration and flight test experience and is a decades-long supporter of vertical flight history, authoring over 40 historical papers and supporting presentations.
2023
Arthur W. Linden
Former Program Director
Boeing-Sikorsky Comanche Program
For the seminal historical book, The RAH-66 Comanche Helicopter: Technical Accomplishments, Program Frustration. published last year after nearly a decade of work in conceptualizing, organizing and writing the story of this extraordinary machine, the most advanced helicopter of its day.
Former Program Director
Boeing-Sikorsky Comanche Program
For the seminal historical book, The RAH-66 Comanche Helicopter: Technical Accomplishments, Program Frustration. published last year after nearly a decade of work in conceptualizing, organizing and writing the story of this extraordinary machine, the most advanced helicopter of its day.
2022
Paul D. Faltyn
Curator Emeritus
Niagara Aerospace Museum
Faltyn has dedicated much of his life to preserving the history and technological achievements of the Buffalo and Niagara Falls aviation history, with a special focus on the early Bell history in the area.
Curator Emeritus
Niagara Aerospace Museum
Faltyn has dedicated much of his life to preserving the history and technological achievements of the Buffalo and Niagara Falls aviation history, with a special focus on the early Bell history in the area.
2021
Paul J. Fardink
US Army (Ret.)
Paul J. Fardink has made significant contributions to documenting rotorcraft history — particularly focused on developments by the US Army — through dozens of papers and articles, and by supporting the recognition of three VFS Vertical Flight Heritage Sites.
US Army (Ret.)
Paul J. Fardink has made significant contributions to documenting rotorcraft history — particularly focused on developments by the US Army — through dozens of papers and articles, and by supporting the recognition of three VFS Vertical Flight Heritage Sites.
2020
Kenneth M. Bartie
The Boeing Company
This year’s John J. Schneider Historical Achievement Award recipient is Kenneth M. Bartie, The Boeing Company, for his efforts in support of vertical flight history. Bartie (left), congratulated in photo by Steve Parker, head of Boeing Vertical Lift.
The Boeing Company
This year’s John J. Schneider Historical Achievement Award recipient is Kenneth M. Bartie, The Boeing Company, for his efforts in support of vertical flight history. Bartie (left), congratulated in photo by Steve Parker, head of Boeing Vertical Lift.
2019
Robert Petite
Pilot
This year’s recipient is Robert Petite, pilot, fire-fighting air attack officer, author and one of the world’s foremost helicopter industry historians.
Pilot
This year’s recipient is Robert Petite, pilot, fire-fighting air attack officer, author and one of the world’s foremost helicopter industry historians.
2018
Dan Libertino
President
The Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives
Libertino has expanded its work and its mission to both preserve the legacy of Igor I. Sikorsky and to communicate the history of Sikorsky and the helicopter.
President
The Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives
Libertino has expanded its work and its mission to both preserve the legacy of Igor I. Sikorsky and to communicate the history of Sikorsky and the helicopter.
2017
Christopher Soltis
Museum Curator
Connecticut Air and Space Center (CASC)
For his work as the museum curator of the non‑profit Connecticut Air and Space Center (CASC).
Museum Curator
Connecticut Air and Space Center (CASC)
For his work as the museum curator of the non‑profit Connecticut Air and Space Center (CASC).
2016
Dr. Bruce H. Charnov
Professor Emeritus
Hofstra University
Dr. Bruce Charnov is a world-renowned expert in the history of rotary-wing aircraft with a specialization in Autogiros and gyroplanes. He is widely consulted by museums and aviation historians and has published over 80 articles on Autogiro/gyroplane history. He has served as a research proposal reviewer for NASA and is currently the historical editor for Rotorcraft magazine
Professor Emeritus
Hofstra University
Dr. Bruce Charnov is a world-renowned expert in the history of rotary-wing aircraft with a specialization in Autogiros and gyroplanes. He is widely consulted by museums and aviation historians and has published over 80 articles on Autogiro/gyroplane history. He has served as a research proposal reviewer for NASA and is currently the historical editor for Rotorcraft magazine
2015
David Gibbings
AgustaWestland (Ret.)
Gibbings retired from Westland in 1993 as the Chief Flight Test Engineer after 44 years in aviation. Since then, he has been actively engaged as a consultant, aviation artist, author and lecturer, and has written several histories of Westland aircraft
AgustaWestland (Ret.)
Gibbings retired from Westland in 1993 as the Chief Flight Test Engineer after 44 years in aviation. Since then, he has been actively engaged as a consultant, aviation artist, author and lecturer, and has written several histories of Westland aircraft
2014
Peter P. Papadakos
Executive Director
Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation
For investing decades of his personal time and wealth in enhancing access to and encouraging the appreciation of the history and legacy of vertical flight. Through his actions, he has saved and restored many QH-50 drones as historic aircraft
Executive Director
Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation
For investing decades of his personal time and wealth in enhancing access to and encouraging the appreciation of the history and legacy of vertical flight. Through his actions, he has saved and restored many QH-50 drones as historic aircraft
2013
Franklin D. Harris
F.D. Harris & Associates
Mr. Harris is currently completing the final volume of his Autogyros, Helicopters and Other V/STOL Aircraft trilogy. He has condensed and presented a highly technical and extremely important area of aeronautical development in an unassailably reliable and accessible manner
F.D. Harris & Associates
Mr. Harris is currently completing the final volume of his Autogyros, Helicopters and Other V/STOL Aircraft trilogy. He has condensed and presented a highly technical and extremely important area of aeronautical development in an unassailably reliable and accessible manner
2012
Sergei I. Sikorsky
Consultant
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Ret.)
From a young age, Mr. Sikorsky's lineage and august career allowed him unique experiences and opportunities to meet many key persons in the aviation industry and witness firsthand the development of the international helicopter industry. He has written several books on the helicopter pioneers, and has traveled the world giving lectures on the subject
Consultant
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Ret.)
From a young age, Mr. Sikorsky's lineage and august career allowed him unique experiences and opportunities to meet many key persons in the aviation industry and witness firsthand the development of the international helicopter industry. He has written several books on the helicopter pioneers, and has traveled the world giving lectures on the subject
2011
Robert M. Beggs
For his enthusiastic and effective leadership of the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center in West Chester, PA.
For his enthusiastic and effective leadership of the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center in West Chester, PA.
2010
J.J. Janovetz
XV-3 Restoration Team
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
For serving with distinction as the full-time leader of the XV-3 Restoration Project. The XV-3 tiltrotor, a joint project by Bell Helicopter Textron, the Army, the Air Force and NASA, was the first tiltrotor ever to demonstrate a complete transition from hover to horizontal flight and back to hover.
XV-3 Restoration Team
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
For serving with distinction as the full-time leader of the XV-3 Restoration Project. The XV-3 tiltrotor, a joint project by Bell Helicopter Textron, the Army, the Air Force and NASA, was the first tiltrotor ever to demonstrate a complete transition from hover to horizontal flight and back to hover.
2009
Ray D. Leoni
Former Senior Vice President, Engineering and Advanced Programs
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Ray D. Leoni is recognized for his recent book, "BLACK HAWK: The Story of a World-Class Helicopter." This is one of the few published books that preserves in great detail the entire design, production and service history of a new helicopter.
Former Senior Vice President, Engineering and Advanced Programs
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Ray D. Leoni is recognized for his recent book, "BLACK HAWK: The Story of a World-Class Helicopter." This is one of the few published books that preserves in great detail the entire design, production and service history of a new helicopter.
2008
Elfan ap Rees
Executive Director
Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare
This year’s recipients is Elfan ap Rees, publisher and editor of Helicopter International and the founder and executive director of The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, on the west coast of England. The museum, which preserves and restores full-scale helicopters to pristine condition, is believed to be the largest helicopter museum in the world.
Executive Director
Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare
This year’s recipients is Elfan ap Rees, publisher and editor of Helicopter International and the founder and executive director of The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, on the west coast of England. The museum, which preserves and restores full-scale helicopters to pristine condition, is believed to be the largest helicopter museum in the world.
2007
Jean Boulet
Flight Test Pilot
Eurocopter (Ret.)
The fourth recipient of this award is Jean Boulet, a Flight Test Pilot from Eurocopter who learned to fly helicopters in the U.S. at the end of 1947, and was the pilot for the first post-war French helicopter to leave the ground, in June 1948. Boulet was involved in testing of all of the Aerospatiale helicopters and was the company’s chief test pilot until 1975.
Flight Test Pilot
Eurocopter (Ret.)
The fourth recipient of this award is Jean Boulet, a Flight Test Pilot from Eurocopter who learned to fly helicopters in the U.S. at the end of 1947, and was the pilot for the first post-war French helicopter to leave the ground, in June 1948. Boulet was involved in testing of all of the Aerospatiale helicopters and was the company’s chief test pilot until 1975.
2006
Sikorsky Historical Archives
2005
John M. 'Slats' Slattery
For pursuing the preservation of helicopter history with passionate dedication for nearly 50 years.
For pursuing the preservation of helicopter history with passionate dedication for nearly 50 years.
2004
Eugene K. Liberatore
Cached June 18, 2026 11:10:05 PM CDT