The original documents are located in Box 133, folder “June 4, 1974 - Speech, Collier Trophy Award, Washington, DC” of the Gerald R. Ford Vice Presidential Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. . Digitized from! BoxI 133 of the Gerald R. Ford Vice Presidential Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library l I COLLIER TROPHY AWARD WASHINGTON HILTON TUESDAY1 JUNE 41 7:00 PM
MR CHAIRMAN1 DISTINGUISHED GUESTS1 LADIES AND GE NTLEMEN1
I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO
PARTICIPATE IN MAKING THIS DISTINGUISHED AWARD.
OF ALL THE CREATURES OF THE EARTH1 THERE HAS BEEN NONE
THAT MAN ENVIES AS MUCH AS THE BIRD. FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME1
MEN HAVE LONGED TO FLY. - 2 -
THE FALCON1 THE HAWK1 AND THE EAGLE HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY
INTO ART AND LITERATURE AS EXPRESSIONS OF UNIVERSAL YEARNING TO
ESCAPE FROM AN EARTHBOUND EXISTENCE. THEIR QUALITIES OF ~,~
B~Y ST~NA/AND S~ HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED INTO NATIONAL SYMBOLS
TO PERSONIFY MAN'S OUTREACH1 HIS GOALS1 AND THE SEARCH FOR NEW
HORIZONS.
/ - 3 -
DESPITE ALL OF THE OTHER 20TH CENTURY ACHIEVEMENTS OF
TECHNOLOGY) RADIO) THE AUTOMOBILE AND TELEVISION) OUR ERA WILL
PROBABLY BE KNOWN BEST AS THE AGE OF FLIGHT. FOR OUR GENERATION
THIS AGE-OLD DESIRE WAS FULFILLED -- MAN WAS NO LONGER PRISONER
OF THE EARTH. LIKE THE SEAJ THE SKY HAS ALSO BECOME MAN'S ENVIRONMENT.
HE HAS UNLOCKED THE SECRET OF FLIGHT. - 4 -
IN JUST TWO AND A HALF DECADES AFTER THE WRIGHT BROTHERS'
PLANE) LIFTED OFF THE SANDS OF KITTY HAWK) THE "SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS"
CROSSED THE ATLANTIC) AND THE WORLD HAD A NEW HERO IN A YOUNG MAN
NAMED CHARLES LINDBERGH. IN JUST OVER FORTY YEARS AFTER LINDBERGH
"THE LONE EAGLE" TOUCHED DOWN AT LE BOURGET CBOOR-JAY) FIELD NEAR
PARIS THE WORLD WOULD HEAR TRANSMITTED FROM THE SURFACE OF TH E MOON
\ THE WORDS---IN PUREST AMERICAN ACCENTS---"THE EAGLE HAS LANDED." --.
MAN HAS TRULY BEGUN HIS TREK INTO SPACE. - 5 -
FROM THE SAND DUNES OF KITTY HAWK TO THE CRATERS OF THE
LUNAR SURFACE IS A STORY OF ONE OF MAN'S GREATEST ADVENTURES THAT
DRAWS ITS INSPIRATION FROM PIONEER SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF KITTY HAWKJ THE UNITED STATES HAS
LED IN AVIATION. AIRCRAFT DESIGN AND ENGINE DEVELOPMENT ARE JUST
PART OF T ~ OF AMERICAN AVIATION HISTORY. ~ - 6 -
THESE ADVANCES HAVE ENABLED US TO HAVE AS FIRSTS MANY OF
THE EPOCH PIONEER FLIGHTS THAT ARE INDELIBLY WRITTEN IN THE PAGES
OF HISTORY. THE DARINGJ THE SKILLJ AND THE COURAGE OF THOSE MEN WHO ------.._ -- - MADE THESE FLIGHTS ARE AS MUCH A PART OF THE AMERICAN FOLKLORE AS
THE EXPLORERS AND SCOUTS WHO CHARTED THE TRAILS ACROSS THE AMERICAN
WEST.
TODAYJ THE FRAIL BIPLANE OF THE WRIGHTS SEEMS A PRIMITIVE
RELIC FROM A BYGONE ERA. - 7 -
HOWEVER) I SUSPECT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS IN THE YEAR
2000---THE PRESENT SKYLAB SPACE VEHICLE WILL NOT ONLY APPEAR
ANTIQUATED) BUT WILL EVOKE AMAZEMENT THAT MEN REALLY EVER LIVED
IN SPACE IN SUCH A PRIMITIVE CRAFT. - 8 -
ON ITS FIRST FLIGHT IN DECEMBER OF 1903) THE WRIGHTS'
SIMPLE BIPLANE WITH A 12 HORSEPOWER MOTOR THEY BUILT THEMSELVES)
MANAGED TO FLY 120 FEET IN TWELVE SECONDS. BASICALLY IT HAD MUCH
IN COMMON WITH THE COMPLEX SPACECRAFT WE KNOW TODAY WHICH FLY 500)000
MILES AT SPEEDS UP TO 17)000 MILES PER HOUR. I WOULD MENTION THREE.
EACH IS AN ACHIEVEMENT OF ~ IEN~E ;T~HNOLOGY~ND HUMAN SKJl-L .
IT IS THIS ACHIEVEMENT THAT WE HONOR HERE TONIGHT. - 9 -
WE HONOR THE ENGINEERING AND MODERN DESIGN THAT BRINGS
TOGETHER THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED THROUGH SCIENCE} AND MORE
PARTICULARLY} THROUGH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. - 10 -
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT AND OF TECHNOLOGY AND
APPLICATION OF SCIENCEJ WE SEE THE TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PHASE OF
AVIATION. WITHOUT THIS TALENT BANK WE COULD NOT HAVE A SKYLAB,
WITHOUT THIS MANAGEMENT WE COULD NOT UNDERTAKE OUR COMPLEX FLIGHTS
INTO SPACE. WE HONOR THIS TEAM EFFORT THROUGH THE PRESENTATION
OF THE COLLIER TROPHYJ NOT ONLY TO THE THREE SKYLAB CREWSJ BUT TO
THE 26JOOO MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE MUTUAL EFFORTS GAVE US THIS GREAT
SUCCESS. - 11 -
I MENTION TO YOU THE COMBINATION OF SCIENCE) TECHNOLOGY)
AND SKILL) THESE FACTORS TOGETHER WITH OUR GREAT RESOURCES OF PEOPLE
ACCOUNT FOR AMERICAN PREEMINENCE IN AVIATION AND FLIGHT INTO SPACE.
THIS PREEMINENCE HAS BEEN ACHIEVED THROUGH ADVANCES IN THE STATE-OF-
THE-ART THROUGH TECHNOLOGICAL ACHIEVEMENT WHICH COMBINES SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH) ENGINEERING) AND DESIGN. THIS SAME TECHNOLOGY TAKES A MINIATURIZED CIRCUIT FROM A SPACECRAFT AND ADAPTS IT TO A- HOME APPLI ANCE) A HEART PACEMAKER AND EVEN INTO MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS. - 12 -
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IS THE PROCESS WHEREBY WE BRING
ON STREAM NEW AND IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY. IT IS A FIELD IN WHICH AMERICA
HAS EXCELLEDJ AN} BECAUSE WE HAVE EXCELLED WE HAVE BECOME PREEMINENT. ~a~/J~ ~~~~fM_~. THE 2Lcd CENTURY WILL BE SHAPED AND INFLUENCED BY THOSE WHO
CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THE STATE-OF-THE-ART. IT WILL BE~HAPED BY THOSE
WHO EXCEL IN DEVELOPING HUMAN RESOURCES AND BY THOSE WHO EXCEL IN
THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY. - 13 -
HOWEVER~ THE HISTORY OF AVIATION HAS PLACED AN UNPRECEDENTED
EMPHASIS ON HUMAN SKILLS. THE FAILURE OF DESIGN OR OF ENGINEERING
CAN EXACT A TERRIBLE PRICE.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PARTS OF OUR SPACE PROGRAM
WHICH I FEEL INSPIRED AMERICANS OF ALL AGES WAS THE EXCELLENCE OF
THOSE SELECTED TO BE OUR ASTRONAUTS. THEIR COMBINATION OF PHYSICAL lKILL~NOWLEDGE OF FLIGHT"'ND COURAGE MADE US ALL AWARE OF HUMAN
POTENTIAL. - 14 -
THE FUTURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE FRONTIER OF AVIATION. IT
IS AN EVER-EXPANDING FRONTIER. ~ ~~ ~--""'"-- J!&4--~ ~ ~ ~ ,£,("-7 ~ ~ -r f'"T':.~ t iM' THIS FUTURE ENC6MPASES BOTH COMMERCIAL AVIATION AND ~ I FLIGHTS INTO SPACE. - 15 -
SINCE THE DAYS OF KITTY HAWK AND LINDBERGH'S SOLO CROSSING
OF THE ATLANTIC) COMMERCIAL AIRLINES CRISS-CROSS OUR NATION AND
EXTEND TO THE FAR CORNERS OF THE GLOBE. THE CAPITALS OF OTHER
CONTINENTS ARE CLOSER IN TIME THAN THE MAJOR CITIES OF OUR OWN
COUNTRY A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. - 16 -
WE HAVE BEGUN TO PROBE THE REACHES OF SPACE WHERE
DISTANCES ARE MEASURED IN LIGHT YEARS RATHER THAN IN MILES.
HOWEVER, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT VAST UNKNOWN IS ANY MORE TERRIFYING
THAN WERE THE VAST REACHES OF AN UNSAILED ATLANTIC FIVE HUNDRED
YEARS AGO.
OUR FRONTIER TODAY IS IN OUTER SPACE. THE MYSTERY OF
OUR UNDISCOVERED CONTINENT IN THE 16TH CENTURY GIVES WAY TO THE
MYSTERY OF UNEXPLORED PLANETS IN THE 20TH. - 17 -
TODAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE PATHFINDERS TO
THE GALAXIES AND CONSTELLATIONS ON WHICH MAN HAS HITHERTO ONLY
GAZED AND GUESSED.
WE HAVE BEGUN TO MOVE TOWARDS THIS NEW HORIZON THROUGH
THE EFFORTS OF THOSE WE HONOR TONIGHT. WE ARE EMBARKED ON A
CHALLENGE TO EXCEL1 AND IN THIS CHALLENGE} THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS}
I AM CONFIDENT WE SHALL SUCCEED. - 18 -
WE SHALL SUCCEED BECAUSE IN THE WORDS OF JOHN STE INBECK
IN THE GRAPES OF WRATH --- "UNLIKE ANY OTHER THING IN THE
UNIVERSEJ MAN GROWS BEYOND HIS DREAMSJ WALKS UP THE STAIRS OF
HIS CONCEPTSJ AND EMERGES AHEAD OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS."
####
CPAUSE) CGO ON TO NEXT PAGE) STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT FORD WHEN PRESENTING AWARD OF COLLIER TROPHY TO MR. WILLIAM C. SCHNEIDER) DIRECTOR OF SKYLAB PROGRAM) NASA
THE ROBERT J, COLLIER TROPHY FOR 1973 IS AWARDED TO
THE SKYLAB PROGRAM) WITH SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO WILLIAM C. SCHNEIDER)
PROGRAM DIRECTOR) AND THE THREE SKYLAB ASTRONAUT CREWS FOR PROVING
BEYOND QUESTION THE VALUE OF MAN IN FUTURE EXPLORATIONS OF SPACE
AND THE PRODUCTION OF DATA OF BENEFIT TO ALL THE PEOPLE ON EARTH.
####
CPAUSE) CGO ON TO NEXT PAGE) STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT FORD WHEN READING NAMES OF THREE SKYLAB CREW COMMANDERS WHO ACCEPT PLAQUES ON BEHALF OF EACH CREW
HERE TONIGHT ARE THE COMMANDERS OF THE THREE SKYLAB
CREWS TO ACCEPT PLAQUES ON BEHALF OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CREWS:
CAPTAIN CHARLES CONRADJ JR.J U.S. NAVYJ RETIRED
LT. COLONEL GERALD P. CARRJ U.S. MARINE CORPS
CAPTAIN ALAN L. BEANJ U.S. NAVY
#### THE NATIONAL AVIATION CLUB & THE NATIONAL AERONAUTIC ASSOCIATION
Welcome you to the
ROBERT J. COLLIER TROPHY
For 1973
Presentation, Reception and Banquet
June 4, 1974
Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C. c:J-IL~to't!J of the. d?obe.'tt :J.. Coffle.'t Cf'toph!J
In 1911 Robert J. Collier be if not in the world." The sculptor came President of the Aero Club was Ernest Wise Keyser, pupil of America. He was a prominent of Augustus St. Gaudens. The publisher, patriot, sportsman, symbolism is-The Genius of and aviator and the first person Man, having overcome Gravity to purchase an airplane from the and Contrary Winds (the two Wright Brothers for personal lower figures) and having I use. He believed that the Club touched the bird and learned its ~hould take a stand against what secrets, soars from the earth, a he called, "the useless and reck conqueror. less exhibition of flying that had cost America so many priceless The recently revised citation: lives." He deplored what he Awarded annually for the great called, "the spirit of commer est achievement in aeronautics cialism that hung like a cloud or astronautics in America, with over aviation in America. In the respect to i!)lproving the per hope of doing something to en formance, efficiency, and safety courage the sounder aspects of of air or space vehicles, the the sport, I shall ask the Club to value of which has been thor accept the Aero Club of America oughly demonstrated by actual Trophy, which is to be awarded use during the preceding year. annually by the Club for the greatest achievement in aviation in America, the value of which has been thoroughly demon strated during the preceding year."
Robert J. Collier died soon after completing his military service in World War I. By reso lution of the National Aeronau tic Association, successor to the Aero Club of America, the Trophy was named for him. It has been justly called, " The greatest and most prized of all aeronautical honors in America,
1 THE ROBERT J. COLLIER TROPHY HONORABLE BARRY GOLDWATER Member, Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences FOR 1973 MR. FLOYD D. HALL Chairman of the Board and President Eastern Air Lines, Inc. Is Awarded to MR. FRANK W. HULSE President THE SKYLAB PROGRAM, WITH SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO W ILLIAM C. Southern Airways, Inc. SCHNEIDER, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, AND THE THREE SKYLAB ASTRONAUT CREWS MR. JAMES S. McDONNELL FOR PROVING BEYOND QUESTION THE VALUE OF MAN IN FUTURE EXPLORATIONS Chairman of the Board OF SPACE AND THE PRODUCTION OF DATA OF BENEFIT TO ALL THE PEOPLE ON McDonnell Douglas Corporation EARTH. HONORABLE J. WILLIAM MIDDENDORF Secretary of the Navy Designate
MR. J. B. MONTGOMERY President, National Aeronautic Association
ADMIRAL THOMAS H. M OORER; USN c)-/-ead fJab.fe §ue1-t1- Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff HONORABLE FRANK E. MOSS d?obe7.t :J.. Coffie'i CJ7.oph!:J 23an9uet Chairman, Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences MR. JACK S. PARKER Vice Chairman and Executive Officer General Electric Company
CAPTAIN ALAN L. BEAN, USN MR. WAYNE W . PARRISH Commander, Skylab 3 Special Representative of the Chairman HONORABLE ALEXANDER P. BUTTERFIELD Pan American World Airways Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration HONORABLE JAMES W. PLUMMER LIEUTENANT COLONEL GERALD P. CARR, USMC Under Secretary of the Air Force Commander, Skylab 4 HONORABLE JOHN H. REED MR. FRED A. COLLIN Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman, Collier Trophy Banquet Committee CAPTAIN CHARLES CONRAD, JR., USN MR. WILLARD F. ROCKWELL. JR. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Commander, Skylab 2 Rockwell International Corporation MAJOR GENERAL HOWARD H. COOKSEY Deputy Chief of Staff, Research and Development MR. WILLIAM C. SCHNEIDER Department of the Army Director, Skylab Program National Aeronautics and Space Administration HONORABLE CARL T. CURTIS Member, Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences ADMIRAL OWEN W. SILER GENERAL ROBERT E. CUSHMAN, JR. Commandant, United States Coast Guard Commandant, United States Marine Corps MR. A. N. SPANEL GENERAL RICHARD H. ELLIS Chairman of the Board Vice Chief of Staff International Latex Corporation Department of the Air Force REVEREND EDWARD L. R. ELSON HONORABLE STUART SYMINGTON Chaplain of the United States Senate Member, Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences HONORABLE JAMES C. FLETCHER HONORABLE O LIN E. TEAGUE Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Chairman, House Committee on Science and Astronautics HONORABLE GERALD R. FORD The Vice President of the United States HONORABLE ROBERT D. TIMM Chairman, Civil Aeronautics Board HONORABLE DON FUQUA Member, House Committee on Science and Astronautics MAJOR GENERAL CLIFTON F. VON KANN, USA (RET.) President, National Aviat ion Club (Continued)
2 3 PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE ROBERT J. COLLIER TROPHY
1911 Glenn H. Curtiss 1912 Glenn H. Curtiss PRESIDING 1913 Orville Wright Major General Clifton F. von Kann, USA (Ret.) 1914 Elmer A. Sperry President, National Aviation Club 1915 W. Starling Burgess 1916 Elmer A. Sperry INVOCATION 1917-1920 No awards, due to World War I 1921 Grover C. Loening Reverend Edward L. R. Elson Chaplain of the United States Senate 1922 Post Office Department 1923 Post Office Department PRESENTATION OF COLORS AND NATIONAL ANTHEM 1924 U.S. Army Air Service 1925 Dr. Sylvanus Albert Reed Color Guards of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, 1926 Major E. L. Hoffman Marine Corps and Coast Guard 1927 Charles L. Lawrance United States Marine Corps Band 1928 Department of Commerce Aeronautics Branch 1929 National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics MASTER OF CEREMONIES 1930 Harold F. Pitcairn and associates Mr. Wayne W. Parrish 1931 Packard Motor Car Co. 1932 Glenn L. Martin INTRODUCTION OF DISTINGUISHED GUESTS 1933 Hamilton Standard, Frank Walker Caldwell 1934 Capt. Albert F. Hegenberger SPONSOR, ROBERT J. COLLIER TROPHY 1935 Donald W. Douglas and Co. Mr. J. B. Montgomery 1936 Pan American Airways President, National Aeronautic Association 1937 U.S. Army Air Corps 1938 Howard Hughes and associates PRESENTATION OF 1973 ROBERT J. COLLIER TROPHY BY ) 1939 U.S. Airlines and Drs. Boothby, Lovelace and Armstrong The Vice President of the United States ) 1940 Dr. Sanford A. Moss of the General Electric Co., and to the Army Air Corps to 1941 U.S. Army Air Forces and the Airlines of the United States Mr. William C. Schneider, Program Director 1942 General H. H. Arnold and 'J 1943 Capt. Lu is de Florez, USNR The Skylab Astronaut Crews 1944 General Carl Spaats .1 1945 Dr. Luis W. Alvarez RESPONSE 1946 Lewis A. Rodert of N.A.C.A. 1947 John Stack, Lawrence D. Bell and Capt. Charles E. Yeager Mr. William C. Schneider, Skylab Program Director 1948 Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics 1949 W illiam P. Lear DANCING Gene Donati and His Orchestra 1950 Helicopter Industry, Military Services, and Coast Guard (Continued)
4 5 1951 John Stack and associates at Langley Laboratory, N.A.C.A. Dff ice't1- and Executiue Committee of 1952 Leonard S. Hobbs of United Aircraft Corp. 1953 J. H. Kindelberger, of North American Aviation, and Ed Heinemann o f Douglas Co. fJhe dVational clfuiation Club 1954 Richard Travis Whitcomb of N.A.C.A. 1955 William F. Allen of Boeing, and General Nathan F. Twining, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Major General Clifton K. von Kann, USA (Ret.), President 1956 Charles J. McCarthy and associates of Chance Vought Aircraft, Inc., and Vice Mr. James E. Reinke, Vice President Adm. James S. Russell and associates, U.S. Navy Mr. Forbes Mann, Vice President 1957 Edward P. Curtis Mr. William P. Condon, Treasurer 1958 U.S. Air Force, Clarence L. Johnson of Lockheed, Neil Burgess and Gerhard Neu Mr. Thomas S. Miles, Secretary mann of G.E. Co., Lt. Col. Howard C. Johnson, USAF, and Major Walter W. lrmin, Mr. Russell S. Bernhard, General Counsel USAF Mr. Wayne W. Parrish 1959 U.S. Air Force, Convair Division of General Dynamics Corp., and Space Technol Mr. Emery F. Johnson ogy Laboratories, Inc. Mr. Joseph W. Baird 1960 Vice Adm. William F. Raborn, Jr., USN Mr. Charles F. Spence 1961 Major Robert M . White, USAF, Joseph A. Walker of NASA, A. Scott Crossfield of Mr. John F. Hogan North American Aviation, and Cdr. Forrest Peterson, USN Mr. Jerry J. Boyer 1962 The seven original astronauts-Carpenter, Cooper, Glenn, Grissom, Schirra, Shepard, and Slayton 1963 Clarence L. Johnson of Lockheed Aircraft Corp. 1964 General Curtis E. LeMay, USAF 1965 James E. Webb and Dr. Hugh L. Dryden 1966 James S. McDonnell 1967 Lawrence A. Hyland 1968 Col. Frank Borman, USAF, Capt. James A. Lovell, Jr., USN, Lt. Col. William A. Anders, USAF-Crew of Apollo 8 1969 Mr. Neil A. Armstrong, Col. Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., USAF, Col. Michael Collins, Dff ice't1- and Executiue Committee of USAF-Crew of Apollo 11 1970 William M. Allen, The Boeing Company, with particular recognition to Pratt & Whitney Aircraft and Pan American World Airways, Inc. fJhe dVational clf e'tonautic clf1-1-ociation 1971 Colonel David R. Scott, USAF; Colonel James B. Irwin, USAF, and Lieutenant Colonel Alfred M. Worden, USAF; and to Dr. Robert R. Gilruth as representative The Honorable Frederick B. Lee, Chairman of the Board of the engineering genius of the manned space flight team, culminating in Apollo The Honorable A. S. Mike Monroney, Honorary Chairman 15 Mr. J. B. Montgomery, President 1972 Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN , representing the Officers and men of the 7th and 8th Air Forces of the United States Air Force and Task Force 77 of the United Mr. John P. Henebry, Senior Vice President States Navy Mr. David Cochran, Executive Vice President Miss Jean Ross Howard, Secretary Mr. J. Dawson Ransome, Treasurer Mr. Joel H. Fisher, General Counsel Mr. John R. Allen, Member, Executive Committee Mr. Edward W. Stimpson, Member, Executive Committee Dr. Mervin K. Strickler, Jr., Member, Executive Committee Mr. John Worth, Member, Executive Committee
6 7 THE ROBERT J. COLLIER TROPHY SELECTION COMMITTEE Mr. Jack S. Parker, Chairman Mr. John P. Henebry General Electric Company Chadwick Corporation Mr. John R. Alison Mr. Robert B. Hotz Northrop Corporation Aviation Week & Space Technology Major General Brooke E. Allen, USAF Vice Admiral William D. Houser (Ret.) United States Navy National Aeronautic Association Mr. Walter A. Jensen Mr. James P. Bass Air Transport Association of America Aero Club of Washington Mr. Arthur F. Kelly The Honorable Alexander P. Butterfield Western Airlines, Inc. Federal Aviation Administration Mr. J.B. Montgomery Mr. Ernest A. Carrere, Jr. National Aeronautic Association Navy League of the United States Colonel Edward L. Nielsen, USA (Ret.) Mr. David Cochran Army Aviation Association of General Electric Company America The Honorable Michael Collins Mr. Joe L. Shosid National Air and Space Museum Air Force Association Mr. Daniel J. Fink Mr. Edward W. Stimpson American Institute of Aeronautics & General Aviation Manufacturers Astronautics Association Mr. Willis H. Shapley The Honorable Robert D. Timm National Aeronautics & Space Civil Aeronautics Board Major General Clifton F. von Kann, Administration Reception before Dinner USA (Ret.) Major General Roqert N. Ginsburgh courtesy of National Aviation Club United States Air Force The Airlines of America Mr. Karl G. Harr, Jr. Aerospace Industries Association
THE ROBERT J. COLLIER TROPHY BANQUET COMMITTEE Mr. Fred A. Collin, Chairman Mr. Peter Macdonald Eastern Air Lines, Inc. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Mr. Evan S. Baker Company GTE Sylvania, Inc. Mr. W. Jack Reed Mr. Jerry J. Boyer Westinghouse Electric Company General Aviation Manufacturers Colonel Myron A. Roth, USAF (Ret.) Association National Aeronautic Association Mr. James A. Hawkins Miss Dianne Sherwood Eastman Kodak Company Courtesy Associates Mr. Frank A. Hinchion Raytheon Company Mr. John F. Hogan, Jr. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Arrangements by Courtesy Associates
8 REMARKS BY VICE PRESIDENI' GERALD R. FORD COLLIER TROPHY AWARD WASHINGTON HILTON WASHINGTON, D. C. TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1974, 7:00 P.M.
FOR RELEASE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1974, A.M. 'S
Mr. Chairman, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am grateful to you for the opportunity to be here this evening to participate in making this distinguished award.
Of all the creatures of the earth, there has been none that man envies as much as the bird. From the beginning of time, men have longed to fly.
The falcon, the hawk, and the eagle have found their way into art and literature as expressions of universal yearning to escape fran an earthbound existence. Their qualities of grace, beauty, stamina and speed have been translated into national symbols to personify ma.n's outreach, his goals, and the search for new horizons. Despite all of the other 20th Century achievements of technology, radio, the automobile and television, our era will probably be known best as the Age of Flight. Four our generation this age-old desire was fulfilled -- man was no longer prisoner of the Earth. Like the sea, the sky has also becane ma.n's environment. He has unlocked the secret of flight.
In just two and a half decades after the Wright ·Brothers' plane lifted off the sands of Kitty Hawk, the "Spirit of St. Louis" crossed the Atlantic, and the world had a new hero in a young man named Charles A. Lirrlbergh. In just over forty years after Lindbergh, 1'The Lone F.agle~ 1 touched down at Le Bourget Field near Paris the world would hear transmitted from the surface of the moon the words in purest American.accents -- "The Eagle Has Landed." Man has truly begun his trek into space.
From the sand dunes of Kitty Hawk to the craters of the lunar surface is a story of one of ma.n's great~st adventures that draws its inspiration from pioneer spirit of the American people.
Since the early days of Kitty Hawk, the United States has led in aviation.
Aircraft design, and engine development are just part of the saga of American aviation history. (more) I Page 2 These advances have enabled us to have as firsts many of the epoch pioneer flights that are indelibly written in the pages of history. The daring,
the skill, and the courage of those men who ma.de these flights are as much a part
of the American folklore as the explorers and scouts who charted the trails across the .American West.
Today, the frail biplane of the Wrights' seems a primitive relic fran a bygone era. However, I suspect to future generations in the year 2000 -- the present Skylab space vehicle will not only appear antiquated, but will evoke amazement that men really ever lived in space in such a primitive craft. On its first flight in December of 1903 the Wrights' simple biplane with a 12 horsepower motor they built themselves, managed to fly 120 feet in twelve seconds. Basically it had much in cannon with the complex spacecraft we know today which fly 500,000 miles at speeds up to 17,000 miles per hour. I would mention three. Each is an achievement of science, technology, and human skill. It is this achievement that we honor here tonight. We honor the engineering and modern design that brings together the technology developed through science, and more particularly, through Research and Development. When we look at the developnent and of technology and application of science, we see the tremendous investment of human resources. Tens of thousands of people contribute to this phase of aviation. Without this talent bank we could not have a Skylab. Without this management we could not undertake our canplex flights into space. We honor this team effort through the presentation of the Collier Trophy, not only to the three Skylab crews, but to the 26,000 men and women whose mutual efforts gave us this great success. I mention to you the canbination of science, technology, and skill. These factors together with our great resources of people account for American preeminence in aviation and flight into space. This preeminence has been achieved through advances in the state-of-the-art through technological achievement which canbines scientific research, engineering, and design. This same technology takes
.i miniaturized circuit from a spacecraft and adapts it to a home appliance, a heart pacemaker and even into mass transit systems.
Research and Development is the process whereby we bring on stream new and 1Inproved technology. It is a field in which America has excelled, and because we have excelled we have become preeminent. The 21st century will be shaped a..'1d influenced by those who continue to advance the state-of-the-art. It will be shaped by those who excel in developing human resources and by those who excel in the development of technology. (more) I
Page 3 However, the history of aviation has placed an unprecedented emphasis on human skills. The failure of design or of engineering can exact a terrible price. One of the most impressive parts of our space.program which I feel inspired .Americans of all ages was the excellence of those selected to be our astronauts. Their combination of physical skill, knowledge of flight, and courage made us all aware of human potential. The Future has always been the frontier of aviation. It is an ever expanding frontier. This future encanpasses both conmercial aviation and flights into space. Since the days of Kitty Hawk and Lindbergh's solo crossing of the Atlantic, corrmercial airlines criss-cross our nation and extend to the far corners of the
globe. The capitals of other continents are closer in t.llne than the major cities of our own country a hundred years ago. We have begun to probe the reaches of space where distances are measured in light years rather than in miles. However, I do not believe that vast unknown
is any more terrifying than were the vast reaches of an unsailed Atlantic five hundred years ago.
Our frontier today is in outer space. The mystery of our undiscovered continent in the 16th Century gives wa:y to the mystery of unexplored planets in the 20th. Today we have the opportunity to be the pathfinders to the galaxies and constellations on which man has hitherto only gazed and guessed. We have begun to move towards this new horizon through the efforts of those we honor tonight. We are embarked on a challenge to excel, and in this challenge, through their efforts, I am confident we shall succeed.
We shall succeed because in the words of John Steinbeck in the GRAPES OF
WRATH, "Unlike any other thing in the Uni verse, man grows beyond his dreams, walks
up the stairs of his concepts, and emerges ahead of his accanplisllnents." I thank you.
# # # 0
!Jo.e ;
man envieXs much as the bird. From the beginning of time, men have (
..
The falcon, the hawk, and the eagle have found their way into . .. .
art andl iterature. as-"'u....,.c. expression.sf~~f o a to escape ram an
earthbound existence. Their qualities of grace, beauty, stamina and
.:£;;.$ p@Wf JQtJ WC spee~~~i~ national symbols to
.r personify nian1 s :. outreach,_ his goals., and the:..s-earch for new horizons.
man was no rofigerf pi-i:soner of the:.. [;:th. ~ ~ J{L-tf'-4- a lso becomeJ21 environment. He haS.unlocked the secret of flight. Mr. Chairman, distinguished guests , ladies and gentlernen,
I am grateful to you for the opportunity to be he!'e this evening to participate in making this distinguished award.
(
l
t-
- -~~ 1 t·' I I 1/1-f,·-tt:il '.] In J·ust two a n d a half decades after the Wrirrht 1 s planet •Y'oicb b I .
"?as @alh d "Tln~ Flye~ lifted off f~ the sand s of Ki tty Haw k, the
" Spirit of St., Louis 11 crossed t he Atla ntic, a nd the world had a new oU,4- ~ hero in a young man named LindberV In just over forty years after ,1. tr , - ~ -~~ (8ooR.-.1'AV) Lindberg tou:yt:'wnlJI at~ Field neai- Paris the worl~ would fiJ , . t;fµ_~ ~~~{(J~ I hear transmLtted from ~e surface of the moo.'.)"The Eagle Has Landed' ~ - !. ~,. ,
~W.an haJ truly begun .his trek into ~ space. ~ -~ I 0 I ,.,_
From the sand dunes of KittyyHawk to the craters of the lunar
~· : ·~ ... - ·. . .. . ·.: ~ . -- - ·- .. .. s.-a.i-face is a -, sto.ry-of:"one, of man.1 s greatest adventures t hat draws i f s
. ;: '; -
. ., ---·· " ,... " .<; ',.;. .• -~ •• ,· • Sinc ~the -,e~;iy days of Kitty Hawk, the United St ates has led
~ •·I Aircraft design,/\ engine development are just part of the
s a g a of A merican aviation history.
These advances have enabled us to have as firsts many of the
epoch p ioneer flights. tha~e ind elibly written in t h e pages o f
2
J h istory. Tr_" daring, the skill. a nd the coui- -;:5 e of those men who
made these flights are as much a part of the _0._ merican folklore as
the explorers and scouts who charted the trails across the American
West.
Today, the frail biplane of the Wrigh6 seems a primitive
' ·-, '
However, a
. 1
~· ·. ·.- .. quarter of a cenrury f:retB ft6H-=~hien ~ll be in the year- 2000~-the
- ·. ~- . ..: . ,, . . ·"' .. /';,. . ~ ~ _. present- Skylab ~-.'.s£ace · veliicl.e-'..will not"'only-appea.r-antiquated, ·but will
~ ;,J 'S.r-~ ~ ~ evoke am a e:M amazement that men really lived in space ia tl!!:a:e !d:M:!ig~ A.. rJ)~~"G - ~Pi-+• ·-ti tf. P - ~r1hl..feusui.I:m~pu.1e.e...:l;l*oil'~1ba~nrree-;,-ppiC0Rwveer=r:ee:can:b>)yraaLFtw\VEe~1[;vr"Ee;-IhiCo):rr-ss-ee"i=p~o~w~e-rr:r.rnt'r010~ II
,~ ' ~ fLA ~t_ (;;- J0 .~' ~ r !,_,,_/) . I ' 120 feet in twelve second;, !Ras ical'.~ n,'.~c~ i~ :o(A w~~~ ,,:f- I I ~ v ·~ }' Arr~ LL ~-- complex spacecraft we know today/ I would mention three. Each is an I;• ..._ ~ . ' r...o.
achievement of science, technology, and human skill. It is this ~-1
achievement that we honor here tonight.
i/';\_:,)~....-..... We honor the engineering and ~ep.f design that brings
'i' together the technology developed through scienc:_.and more particularl~ i I - .. I t(;;. .,,/ I(., sear ch and,,J)\,veloprnent. I -- When we look at the development and of technology and application .I-
of scif:m_ce,. - ~is be~ we see the' tremendous investment of human __-_ .. -.·" ' ...... r-t;;.;' {~~:·, t:'~'IJ.;---- · . - ~,..,, .: ,.~~'; ~~-- ,~~,. ... ~ resources . .. _:t:He rally thousands <>,f~ p:eople contribute to this pha _~e __ qf ..
., ,;< ~.,,.... -- aviation. vVitliout th.is talent-bank ·we-could not have a Skylab. Without
l - _. th&''4nanagement we- could not undertake our complex flights into ~
space. We honor this team effort through the presentation of the Collier t-
Trophy, not only to the three Skylab crews, but to t~and.'>V<)rnen I I 4
I J 'vvho se r:J.utual e ffo r ts gave us this g r eat s u ccess.
I mention to you the combina tio n of scienc e, tec hnol ogy, and
skill. These factors tog ether with our g reat r esources of people
account for American preeminence in aviation a nd flight into space.
This preeminence has been achieved throug h a dvances in the s tate-of-
the-art through technological achievement which combines scientific .... ,.,. \ •- ,· . . . . . - -· · ~ •. ' ;tL~.k . -;r:-,1:.. -.· t· . -. _·-- __ . __ _ ..res -,..ea;c~, ~· O&e*""-'-.C ~g1p.ee~1ng,. ~~_a. nd.de~ . - "lli-_·· . .. ~.- - - . ~- l~-J ,...... ,._ t:z- ;-- _-· . t.·· - ~ - ~- A,, /...i. •tf 9;.n1t1A 7 o.,. .., ,, · · - p-u.r~ tMS.-. ..;..,t;,....,.,_ ~ . - Research and Devel0pment is the: proce ss whereby web.ring ~:t::" i_ '
continue to advance the state-of-the-art. It will be s haped by those
~- who human. resources and by those., who excel in
the 5 However, the history of avi ati on has placed an. u n p r ecedent ed emphasis on human skills. The failure of design or of engineering can I exact a terrible price. t I f I I I I One of the most impressive parts of our space program which I~ ,_ I ,. I £.eel in_spired Americans of all ages was the excellence of those :?electe_d_ f ,: ..~ l to be our_astronauts. Their combination of physical skill, knowledge of I - • ! ..._.; flight-, and courage ~de us all aware of human potential. -"" 'JZ_k:;e The fG_tu:re.-has always. been the frontier of aviation,,.a1:1d therefore ·;;.·._ .... is an ever·-expa.nd.in:g; fro:titie:r: - This future encompasses both commercial aviation and -1 · . '1 ,. > 6 I NC. ""'- s e f- g the days ~e K i tty Hawk and Lindberg·~~ s: c .ro s sing ~ :' ti;; f~L- '"' Atlanti c , c ommer cial)lines c riss - c r os s our nation and exte nd t o the far corner s of the globe. T he c apitals of other c o ntinents in :;;i. time i:,.,~-t;~ ~ i: •ae are closer than the major citi es of o ur own countr y a hundre d /t years ago . strive to = '· wJ~~~~'beg;/ni to•. p~~~~fhe,~ i~;:hes;o f space where-distances • _.t/i;.~ -~ ·';. ~.. _, .._,., ·-~ -....-,.. -'-""'· . I - . - ;.~ •I ~ < ~ measuredi ih.light· years rather than in miles. However, I do not I·! •wl ..~;·.~ ... ~, .. ; _·__ :· --??ft.::~·~· -- - ~ believ e that- t~ v ast unknown is a n y m ore t err ifying than the vast I ~ *'\ reaches o f a::-unsa~~::d:~Atiantic:~- ~five .hundred years a go. ~ .• 7 ' • ( 4... Our frontier today is th:er~ outer space. The mystery of our undiscovered continent in the 16th century gives way to the mystery v .., -E.."' (::. ,..,_J ~111.s:,t:;;- o £ sp?'J'?e in the 20th. A.. Today we have the opportunity to be the pathfinders to the '7!J] _d: . t 11 t• ~,.J h" h. t~nl. . . ~ d. ~1...1...~ ...... --l ·. gal a ~es - an. '- cons e a ions ~ w ic man ua~;\ y gaze i-a ear~.. '""'~ . · : ~; tvw_f2_ ~ . . -w:c1 ... dc2. ~ - - . vVe have begun to. move towards this new horizen through . ,, the efforts oLthose· we"honor tonight. vVe are embarked on a challenge • Of all the creatures of the earth, there has been none that man envieY..s much as the bird. From the beginning of time, men have ~.i~y~~)< The falcon, the hawk, and the eagle have found their way into ~ ~ art and literature as.; earthbound existence. Their qualities of grace, beauty, stamina and personify man's outreach, his goals, and the search for new horiz ons. . ""hr. be of f;ght fulfilled- - kno~~eA ,. 9~~ ~was man was no longer f prisoner of the '[;:th. ~,,.,,~/::~::~e~~ ~ ~also becomen environment. He ha$ unlocked the secret of flight. • ' I Mr. Chairman, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am grateful to you for the opportunity to be here this evening to participate in making this distinguished award. • ~~ol In just two and a half decade s after the W rig hf plan", wi,; •• wzi s @alb a 11 'l'he Fly er-1-1-; lifted off f~ the sands of Kitty Hawk, the 11 Spirit of St. Louis 11 crossed the Atlantic, and the world had a new hero in a young man~i~ber~ust over forty years after tr ~ * (600~-~AV) Lindberg tou:;t:'wnf at~ Field near P~ris the worl~ would /;' t;;f;:i_, ~ - ~ ~'lt1 · hear transmitted from the surface of the moo 11 The Eagle Has Landed'' ~an ha): truly begun his trek into_..,,, space, From the sand dunes of Kitty Hawk to the craters of the lunar surface is a story of one of man's greatest adventures that draws its inspiration from pioneer spirit ~ieB: is a: lega.sy of the American people. Since the early days of Kitty Hawk, the United States has led ? Aircraft design,f\ engine development are just part of the saga of American aviation history. These advances have enabled us to have as firsts many of the epoch pioneer flights tha~e indelibly written in the p a ges of 2 • history. The daring, the skill, and the courage of those men who made these flights are as much a part of the American folklore as the explorers and scouts who charted the trails across the American West. Today, the frail biplane of the Wrigh6 seems a primitive relic from a bygone early cars are the best However, I suspect to ~ng generat~oL O•EI d •quarter of a centlily fto:ffi Rovo vvhich: 'vvill b"e in the year 2000 - -the present Skylab space vehicle will not only appea r antiquated, but will ~ ;,..) ~ tJ ~~ e~:k:;z ." >£lid amazement that men reall:;{ived in space i" tha; thlftg, ---..; 1 !f- . p -- \ ...::Cb e simple Bi-plane, powered by a twelve hor s epowe~ /l • ,. ft-~ Urk~ 120 feet in twelve second;, fasically~ much in common wj,th the '() I /l ~ ~~coo• h\~ complex spacecraft we know todayhuld mention three. E~ achievement of science, technology, and human skill. It is this achievement that we honor here tonight. 'M.u We honor the engineering and ~ep design that brings together the technology developed through scienc:_, and more particularly.) ~,L &,search and Ji\velopment. When we look at the development and of technology and application of science, ~is lrn~ we see the tremendous investment of human resources~~.J~nds of people contribute to this phase of aviation. Without this talent bank we could not have a Skylab. Without t~~anagement we could not undertake our complex flights into ~ space. We honor this team effort through the presentation of the Collier ~o Trophy, not only to the three Skylab crews, but to tne,men and women 4 • whose mutual efforts gave us this great success. I mention to you the combination of science, technology, and skill. These factors together with our great resources of people account for American preeminence in aviation and flight into space. This preeminence has been achieved through advances in the state-of- the-art through technological achievement which combines scientific ~ ... c 'J:L.4 J -;t;.ku, resea;cq, rJ.Zgipe~ ing,. and, dest:i· n. ~·r7~~~ ..._. r ltr continue to advance the state - of-the - art. It will be shaped by those I ~ · who excel~ developing human resources and by those who excel in the development of technology. 5 • However, the history of aviation has placed an unprecedented emphasis on human skills. The failure of design or of engineering can exact a terrible price. One of the most impressive parts of our space program which I feel inspired Americans of all ages was the excellence of those selected to be our astronauts. Their combination of physical skill, knowledge of flight, and courage made us all aware of human potential. _.... "lZ-.t· The future has always been the frontier of aviation.apd therefore is an ever- expanding frontier. This future encompasses both commercial aviation and flights into space. 6 • S1we- 0 ~ ~ ict::J~:i.L-- ~the days ~e K itt y Hawk and Lindberg's cr.ossing iM- ~ -itL;,_ tlantic, cornrne r cia~:;;; s c ri s s - cross our nation and extend to the far corners of the globe. The capitals of other continents ig. a frERe ~~ sel!!'e-e are closer than the major cities of our own country a hundred I\ years ago. commercial aviation we must s. structure whereb , We have begun to probe the reaches of space where distances ~ ~measured in light years rather than in miles. However, I do not ~ believe that t~ vast unknown is any more terrifying than the vast /'\ reaches of an unsailed Atlantic ..__five hundred years ago. 7 Our frontier today is the reach~.£ outer space. The mystery of our undiscovered continent in the 16th century gives way to the mystery l,J"" -e..... 1> ( ~ ,.._ J /~d;;- of S{"'?"'B'e in the 20th. I\ Today we have the opportunity to be the pathfinders to the /} ,_ J _j}_ (),J ~ and constellations i" which man lia~t\nly gazed~:::.;t-p /< ~n:eict. We have begun to move towards this new horiztn through the efforts of those we honor tonight. We are embarked on a challenge ~ to excel, and in this challenge, through~ efforts, I am confident