The Vertical Flight Society has announced nine individuals and nine groups as the 2020 recipients of its prestigious 76th Annual Awards program. Since its establishment in 1944, VFS Awards have paid tribute to the world’s outstanding leaders of vertical flight in industry, government and academia, and served as a catalyst for stimulating technological advances.

The 2020 individual award winners are:

Dr. Alexander Klemin Award: Lt. Col (Dr.) Arvind Kumar Sinha, Australian Department of Defence
François-Xavier Bagnoud Award: Patrick O. Bowles, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co.
Paul E. Haueter Award: Gwen Lighter, GoFly
Honorary Fellow: Andy Keith, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co.
Technical Fellow: Dr. Mahendra Bhagwat, US Army
Technical Fellow: Dr. Carlos Cesnik, University of Michigan
Technical Fellow: Dr. Changjian He, Advanced Rotorcraft Technology, Inc.
Technical Fellow: John Schillings, Bell
John J. Schneider Historical Achievement Award: Kenneth M. Bartie, Boeing

The 2020 group award winners are:

Captain William J. Kossler, USCG Award: UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) Chinook Force and Joint Helicopter Support Squadron (JHSS)
Frederick L. Feinberg Award: US AFSOC 8th Special Operations Squadron CV-22 crew
Grover E. Bell Award: Sikorsky-Boeing/Army Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Test Team
Harry T. Jensen Award: Leonardo TH-119 Certification Team
Heritage Site: The Site of McDonnell Aircraft Corp., St. Louis, Missouri
Howard Hughes Award: CH-53K Exhaust Gas Reingestion (EGR) Team
Leonardo International Fellowship Award: Subaru-Bell 412EPX Co-Development Team
Robert L. Pinckney Award: Sikorsky Assembly and Flight Operations (AFO) Laser Ablation Team
Supplier Excellence Award: Eagle Aviation Technologies, LLC

Please read these impressive accomplishments and inspiring achievements and congratulate all of our award winners! They will be honored at the 76th Annual Grand Awards Banquet on Oct. 7, as part of Forum 76 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.