Robert J. Collier Trophy Award

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The Robert J. Collier Trophy Award was established in 1912 by Robert J. Collier, publisher and pioneer aviation enthusiast, as the Aero Club of America Trophy. In 1922 the Aero Club of America was incorporated as the National Aeronautic Association. In 1944, the Association renamed the award the Robert J. Collier Trophy. It is presented for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, or safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year.

Award Recipients

1989

  • Ben R Rich
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For production of the F-117A Stealth

1988

  • Mr. Richard Hugo Truly Jr.
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: for outstanding leadership in the direction of recovery of the manned space program

1986

  • Mr. Elbert L Rutan
    Scaled Composites LLC
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For design and development of the Voyager aircraft and skillful execution of the first nonstop, unrefueled global flight
  • Jeana L Yeager
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For design and development of the Voyager aircraft and skillful execution of the first nonstop, unrefueled global flight

1985

  • Russell W Meyer
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: for the outstanding safety record of the worlwide fleet of Citation aircraft

1984

  • David Lewis Jr.
    Awarded
    Award: .

1982

  • Mr. Thomas A Wilson
    McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Company
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of the 757 and 767 airliners

1979

  • Dr Paul B MacCready
    AeroVironment Inc
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Designing, building, and flying the Gossamer Condor

1978

  • Dr Sam B Williams
    Williams International
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For concept and development of the smallest high-efficiency turbofan, for use in powering cruise missiles

1977

  • Mr. Robert J Dixon
    Boeing Aerospace Co
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: for developing and implementing the Red Flag simulated flight-training program for military air crews

1974

  • Dr John F Clark
    Florida Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For proving the value of U S space technology (LANDSAT) in Earth resources and environment management, with special recognition to Hughes Aircraft Co and RCA
  • Daniel J Fink
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For proving the value of U S space technology (LANDSAT) in Earth resources and environment management, with special recognition to Hughes Aircraft Co and RCA

1973

  • William Schmieder Jr
    RAYTHEON
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Program director of Skylab Program

1972

  • ADM Thomas H Moorer
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Representing personnel of the 7th and 8th Air Forces of the USAF and Task Force 77 of the USN in Operation Linebacker II

1971

  • Dr R. R Gilruth
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: As representive of the engineering genius of the manned spaceflight team
  • David R Scott
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For demonstrating superb skill and courage as crew of Apollo 15
  • Dr Alfred M Worden
    Goodrich Corporation
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For demonstrating superb skill and courage as crew of Apollo 16

1969

  • COL Edwin E Aldrin Jr.
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: for the epic flight of Apollo 11 and first landing of man on the mooon
  • Neil A Armstrong
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: for the epic flight of Apollo 11 and first landing of man on the mooon

1968

  • Mr. William A Anders
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: As crew of Apollo 8, for successful and flawless execution of the first manned lunar orbit
  • Mr. Frank Borman
    Picacho Aviation
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: As crew of Apollo 8, for successful and flawless execution of the first manned lunar orbit

1967

  • Lawrence A Hyland
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For putting the hands and eyes of the USA on the moon

1965

  • Hugh L Dryden
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Representing the Gemini Program teams in significantly advancing the human experience in spaceflight

1964

  • GEN Curtis E LeMay
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: for great achievements with respect to air vehicles and national defense

1963

  • Clarence L Johnson
    Awarded

1962

  • LCDR M Scott Carpenter
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering manned spaceflight in the USA
  • MAJ L Gordon Cooper
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering manned spaceflight in the USA
  • John H Glenn
    John Glenn School of Public Affairs
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering manned spaceflight in the USA
  • MAJ Virgil I Grissom
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering manned spaceflight in the USA
  • CDR Walter M Schirra Jr.
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering manned spaceflight in the USA
  • CDR Alan B Shepard Jr.
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering manned spaceflight in the USA
  • MAJ Donald K Slayton
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering manned spaceflight in the USA

1961

  • Mr. A. S Crossfield
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For invaluable technological contributions to the advancement of flight, and for great skill and courage as test pilots for the X-15
  • CDR Forrest Petersen
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For invaluable technological contributions to the advancement of flight, and for great skill and courage as test pilots for the X-18
  • Mr. Joseph A Walker Jr.
    NASA
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For invaluable technological contributions to the advancement of flight, and for great skill and courage as test pilots for the X-16

1960

  • VADM William F Raborn
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For directing the creation of the Polaris fleet ballistic missile system

1958

  • Neil Burgess
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of the J79 engine
  • Clarence L Johnson
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For design of the airframe
  • Mr. Gerhard Neumann
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of the J79 engine

1956

  • Charles J McCarthy
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For design and development of the F8U Crusader
  • VADM James S Russell
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For design and development of the F8U Crusader

1955

  • GEN Nathan F Twining
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development and operation of the B-53

1954

  • Dr Richard T Whitcomb
    N A S A
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For discovery and experiments of the area rule, allowing greater speed and range with the same power

1953

  • Edward H Heinemann
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For the F4D Skyray
  • James H Kindelberger
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of the F-100 USAF Super Sabre, first truly supersonic plane

1952

  • Leonard S Hobbs
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: in designing and producing the P&W J57 turbojet engine

1951

  • Mr. John P Stack
    Awarded

1949

  • William P Lear
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development and production of the Lear F-5 Automatic Pilot and Automatic Approach Control systems

1947

  • Lawrence D Bell
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For successful supersonic flight
  • Mr. John P Stack
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of the transonic wind tunnel ventilated throat
  • CAPT Charles E Yeager
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For successful supersonic flight

1946

  • Lewis A Rodert
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: NACA aeronautical engineer, for pioneering research and development of a thermal ice-prevention system for aircraft

1945

  • Louis W Alvarez
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: for his conspicious and outstanding initiative in the concept and development of the Ground Control Approach system for safe landing of aircraft under all weather and traffic conditions

1944

  • GEN Carl A Spaatz
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For demonstrating the air power concept through employment of American aviation in the war against Germany

1943

  • CAPT Luis de Florez
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of synthetic training devices for flyers

1942

  • GEN Henry H Arnold
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: for organization and leadership of the USAAF

1940

  • Sanford A Moss
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of the supercharger

1938

  • Howard Hughes
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For a successful global flight

1935

  • Donald Douglas Jr.
    Awarded

1934

  • MAJ Albert F Hagenberger
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development and demonstration of a successful blind landing system

1933

  • Frank W Caldwell
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: With particular credit to Frank W Caldwell, Chief Engineer, for development of a controllable-pitch propeller

1930

  • Harold Pitcairn
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development and application of the autogyro and its demonstration as safe aerial transport

1927

  • Mr. Charles L Lawrance
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of radial air-cooled aircraft engines

1926

  • MAJ E L Hoffman
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of a practical parachute

1925

  • S Albert Reed
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of the metal propeller

1921

  • Grover Loening
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of the Aerial Yacht

1915

  • W Sterling Burgess
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of Burgess-Dunne hydro-aeroplanes

1914

  • Elmer A Sperry Jr.
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of the gyroscopic control

1913

  • Orville Wright
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of his automatic stabilizer

1912

  • Glenn H Curtiss
    Awarded

1911

  • Glenn H Curtiss
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For the invention of the single-pontoon seaplane and development of the flying boat