Celebrating 70 Years of International Cooperation in Vertical Flight Technology By Mike Hirschberg, Executive Director

he American helicopter industry namely . Likewise was born in January 1943 when in , Agusta entered into an T the US Army Air Forces issued a agreement to build the Bell 47 range of contract for 29 Sikorsky XR-4 helicopters under license in 1952. This helicopters. Just a few weeks later, the partnership established Agusta as Italy’s American Helicopter Society was helicopter company. The cooperation officially founded – largely by Sikorsky grew from Agusta-Bell 47s and employees – in February 1943. JetRangers to the initial development of At Sikorsky Aircraft – the only the (then) AB139 helicopter and BA609 helicopter manufacturing company in civil tiltrotor. The Westland/Sikorsky and the “free world” – the founders of this Agusta/Bell license agreements were technology organization reportedly quite generous in their scope, and made first thought about calling it the a significant contribution to the “Sikorsky Helicopter Club,” but thought development of the rotorcraft industry more broadly than their own company. in Europe. Connecticut. The First Annual Dinner They invited leaders in the American In , the helicopter industry was held eight months later on October government – including then Army had been well ahead of the rest of the 7, 1944, in New York City, at which the Major H. Franklin Gregory and Coast world at the beginning of World War II first awards were given: Honorary Guard Commander Frank Erickson – and and held its technological edge through Fellowships to Frank Gregory and Igor I. known American helicopter developers the war. The defeat of the Axis powers Sikorsky. By that time, Sikorsky’s C.L. W. Laurence LePage and Havilland Platt. led to a ban on aerospace development (Les) Morris was President of AHS and Others were invited as they became in Germany and Italy until 1952. German the Air Ministry’s Bennett was the Vice- known, such as Frank Piasecki, Arthur helicopter engineers and scientists were President. (A group photo of this dinner Young of Bell Aircraft, and Stanley Hiller, scooped up by , the US, UK and can be seen at the back of the 2014 AHS to name a few. USSR, helping to advance the state of History Calendar. A copy of the First The organization was international the art in each of those countries. Annual Dinner program, signed by each from the beginning, as British rotary In the subsequent decades, cross- of the event’s speakers, as well as wing experts were asked to join the border cooperation continued. After all Bennett and Brie, can be seen on the fledgling organization despite a virtual helicopter activities were consolidated AHS website at www.vtol.org/history .) wartime moratorium on rotary wing separately within Germany and France, The First Annual Forum was held on development in the United Kingdom. the helicopter divisions of Aérospatiale April 3, 1945, in Philadelphia. By 1948, Early inductees included Royal Air Force and Daimler-Benz Aerospace (MBB) the Annual Banquet and Honors Night Wing Commander Reggie Brie and Air merged in 1992 to create Eurocopter. was held in conjunction with the Ministry leaders James A.J. Bennett, The divisions of these companies that technical program of Annual Forum, a O.L.L. Fitzwilliams and Raoul Hafner. had been established in North America tradition that continues today. During the War, Brie was instrumental in and around the world quickly increased establishing a British purchase of 100 fter the War, the cross-Atlantic their capabilities, dramatically Sikorsky R-4s for the Royal Navy, while technical cooperation expanded expanding the helicopter industry Fitzwilliams helped establish the Ainto production partnerships. globally to what exists today. licensing of Sikorsky helicopter designs Westland’s production of Sikorsky The in-country production of foreign by Westland. Bennett was initially the helicopters and their own derivative aircraft, such as production of Agusta Chief Technical Officer for rotary-wing designs established leadership over aircraft in the US and of Boeing aircraft aircraft at the Air Ministry, and then was other British companies developing in the UK, further enhanced assigned to Sikorsky Aircraft. indigenous rotorcraft. By 1960, aviation collaboration between Europe and The first technical meeting of this industrial “rationalization” by the UK North America. Several national new American Helicopter Society was government resulted in a single collaborations in Europe, such as EH held on February 4, 1944, in Stratford, company for rotorcraft in England, Industries – preceding the birth of

Vol. 60, No. 3 1 AgustaWestland – and NHIndustries, continents. The Society has 70 years of AHS chapters have recently been facilitated further cooperation and resources and relationships to bring to formed in India and Singapore, and collaboration. More recently, European bear to advance the technical exploratory discussions are underway in Union research initiatives have led to understanding of burgeoning and several other countries. cooperative efforts between established helicopter technical As with every Awards Banquet since AgustaWestland and communities. the First Annual Dinner held in 1944, (formerly Eurocopter). Many more Just as the international helicopter Forum 70 will honor the inspiring international joint ventures and industry has expanded through 70 years achievements and contributions that production agreements have been of cross-border cooperation, so too has exemplify the very best of the technical established, in and across Asia (e.g. AHS expanded across the globe. In the and operating communities. This year’s China, India, Japan, Korea, Turkey), 1990s, the Society became known as prestigious AHS Awards are bestowed Australia, Europe (Poland, Russia, ) “AHS International.” The Society has for activities by recipients in 11 and South America (Brazil). made substantive changes to its countries, across Asia, Europe and North structure and to its Board of Directors, America, with most of these winners n Canada, site of the AHS both following and leading dramatically recognized as a result of international International 70th Annual Forum and expanded international membership. cooperation. ITechnology Display, Bell Helicopter AHS is intently focused on its role and On behalf of the Society, and its Canada and Airbus Helicopters Canada responsibility as the world’s Vertical members from across the globe, I invite have been building helicopters for three Flight Technical Society. you to join this worldwide community decades. The AHS Montréal-Ottawa The Annual Forum will be held in in celebrating international cooperation Chapter – with 450 members, the fifth Montréal this year for the fourth time, in vertical flight technology at the 70th largest chapter in the world and the with papers presented by authors from Annual Forum and Technology Display largest outside the US – celebrated its 15 countries. Through our support of being held in Montréal on May 20-22. 25th anniversary last year. the European Rotorcraft Forum and AHS Go to www.vtol.org/forum to register. As new markets hungry for rotorcraft conferences around the world – from You don’t want to miss la plus open up in Asia and Latin America, the Japan and Korea to China, Singapore importante conférence internationale sur international helicopter community is and Australia – the Society is working to les technologies de vol vertical – The competing vigorously for market share, expand the body of knowledge and Biggest and Best Vertical Flight as well as creating and leveraging new international cooperation in vertical Technology Conference in the World! cooperative agreements with local flight technology. More than 20% of industry. AHS International can be of AHS members are now outside the US, particular assistance here, with AHS with the number growing rapidly. New chapters active in nine countries on four

2 VERTIFLITE May/June 2014