Nicholas Lappos

Last updated

Nicholas D. Lappos
Sikorsky S-92 inflight over Riyadh at night.jpg
Sikorsky S-92 night flight over Riyadh
Born
Nicholas D. Lappos

(1948-07-12) 12 July 1948 (age 74)
NationalityAmerican
EducationBS in Aerospace Engineering (1973)
Alma mater Georgia Institute of Technology
Occupation(s)Aircraft engineer and test pilot
Employer Sikorsky Aircraft
Known for S-92 team leader
Awards Collier Trophy (2002)
Sir Barnes Wallis Medal (2013)
Technical Fellowship from the American Helicopter Society [1]

Nicholas D. Lappos was the program director for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter. He shepherded the S-92 program through FAA certification. [2] Sikorsky Aircraft and the S-92 team, led by Nicholas Lappos, were awarded the 2002 Collier Trophy for their work on the S-92. [3]

Contents

History

Lappos joined the US Army in 1968. As a Vietnam veteran pilot on the Bell AH-1 Cobra, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with over 900 combat missions. [4] After graduating from Georgia Tech with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, Lappos was hired by Sikorsky where he worked on the CH-53, UH-60, and RAH-66 helicopter platforms. [5] He was the Sikorsky S-76 Project Pilot on board for the maiden flight on 13 March 1977 at William P Gwinn Airport in Jupiter, Florida. [6] Lappos also worked on Sikorsky's co-axial, rigid rotor, advancing blade concept; high speed aerodynamic research platform; the Shadow fly-by-wire flight control research program; and the fantail embedded fenestron rotor research project. He holds 17 patents for advanced engine and flight controls which increase flight safety in poor weather or during extreme maneuvers. In 2002 Lappos became program director for the S-92 helicopter winning the Robert J. Collier Trophy. He joined Gulfstream Aerospace in 2005 as Vice President of Government Programs responsible for the integration of radar and sensor technology into the Gulfstream G-5. [7] In 2008 with Bell Textron, Lappos worked as Senior VP Research Development/Rapid Prototyping and then as Chief Technology Officer. In 2011, he became Senior Technical Fellow for Advanced Technology at Sikorsky. Lappos is Chairman of the United States Vertical Lift Consortium, chartered by the United States Armed Forces next generation development of rotorcraft: The Future Vertical Lift (FVL) initiative. [1] In the FVL initiative, he lobbies for use of common components and a common cockpit to reduce costs while accepting minor inefficiencies. [8] In 2018, the Vertical Flight Society awarded him the Alexander A. Nikolsky Honorary Lectureship. Lappos lectures on the "Design Advantages of an Integrated Cyber-Physical Aircraft" which collates his test pilot experience and test engineer knowledge on how modern digital flight controls, real-time usage monitoring, and airborne analytics can replace the sub-system design rule paradigm. [9] Lappos has flown over 70 different helicopters and amassed more than 7,500 flight hours. [2]

Sikorsky S-92 team leader

Sikorsky S-92 Sikorsky S-92.jpg
Sikorsky S-92

FAA certified under part 29, the S-92 (military H-92) is a 19-passenger, twin-engine transport that has a range of approximately 575 miles at speeds of up to 190 miles per hour. Safety improvements include: an onboard health monitor of all critical drive-system components, the highest crashworthiness standard fuel system, enhanced bird-strike design, and increased protection from lightning and high-energy field radiation. The S-92 engine failure design permits safe landings within the entire flight envelope. Focused on reducing costs, the S-92's transmission is the only component requiring overhaul at 6,000 hours. It has a full-height cabin (six-foot) and reduces cabin noise by as much as 50 percent. Sikorsky developed an active vibration control system that creates counter vibrations to cancel the vibration signatures normally present which achieves a 30-percent decrease in vibration levels. [10] [11]

2002 Collier Trophy

In 2002, Nicholas Lappos became the director of test engineering and then the program director for the S-92 program, finishing its development and taking it through its successful certification. [2] Sikorsky Aircraft and the S-92 team, led by Nicholas Lappos, were awarded the 2002 Collier Trophy for their work on the S-92. [3] The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has chosen a rotorcraft for the Collier Trophy in only four previous occasions: in 1930, to Harold Pitcairn's autogyro; in 1950, to the Helicopter manufacturers, United States Armed Forces, and United States Coast Guard for using helicopters to rescue over 10,000 wounded in Korea; [12] in 1983, to the U.S. Army and Hughes Helicopters for the AH-64A Apache; and in 1990, to Bell Helicopter and Boeing for the world's first large-scale tiltrotor aircraft, the V-22 Osprey. [10] [13]

2022 National Academy of Engineering

In 2022, Nicholas Lappos was appointed to the National Academy of Engineering. Lappos (AE, 1973) is a Sikorsky Aircraft Senior Technical Fellow Emeritus in Advanced Technology, responsible for the Technical Fellow community and introduction of advanced technologies into new and existing products, and serves on the Georgia Tech Aerospace Engineering School Advisory Council (AESAC). During his career, he spent a total of 39 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, first as a flight test engineer then at the pilot office where he spent 27 years. He has flown over 70 different helicopters and amassed more than 7,500 flight hours. During his time at Sikorsky, he participated in the development of the S-76, UH-60 Black Hawk, RAH-66 Comanche, S-69 Advancing Blade Concept (ABC), S-76 Fantail, S-76 Shadow fly-by-wire demonstrator, CH-53E Super Stallion, and the S-92. In 2018, Lappos was selected for the prestigious 2019 Alexander A. Nikolsky Honorary Lectureship, awarded by the Vertical Flight Society (VFS). He is being recognized by NAE for “For improving rotary wing flight performance and serving as test pilot, engineer, inventor, technologist, and business leader.” [10] [14]

Related Research Articles

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is one that can take off and land vertically without relying on a runway. This classification can include a variety of types of aircraft including helicopters as well as thrust-vectoring fixed-wing aircraft and other hybrid aircraft with powered rotors such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and gyrodynes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky Aircraft</span> Aircraft manufacturer in the United States

Sikorsky Aircraft is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Stratford, Connecticut. It was established by aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky in 1923 and was among the first companies to manufacture helicopters for civilian and military use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collier Trophy</span> Annual aviation award administered by the US National Aeronautical Association

The Robert J. Collier Trophy is an annual aviation award administered by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association (NAA), presented to those who have made "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year."

The National Aeronautic Association of the United States (NAA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and a founding member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Founded in 1905, it is the oldest national aviation club in the United States and one of the oldest in the world, it serves as the “Aeroclub of the United States” and, by its Mission Statement it is "…dedicated to the advancement of the art, sport and science of aviation in the United States.” The NAA is headquartered at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell X-22</span> 1960s American V/STOL aircraft

The Bell X-22 is an American V/STOL X-plane with four tilting ducted fans. Takeoff was to selectively occur either with the propellers tilted vertically upwards, or on a short runway with the nacelles tilted forward at approximately 45°. Additionally, the X-22 was to provide more insight into the tactical application of vertical takeoff troop transporters such as the preceding Hiller X-18 and the X-22's successor, the Bell XV-15. Another program requirement was a true airspeed in level flight of at least 525 km/h.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iven C. Kincheloe Award</span>

The Iven C. Kincheloe Award recognizes outstanding professional accomplishment in the conduct of flight testing. It was established in 1958 by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots in memory of test pilot and Korean War ace Iven C. Kincheloe, United States Air Force, who died during flight testing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation</span> Company in Taiwan

Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation is a Taiwanese aerospace company based in Taichung. It is one of only two Taiwanese companies with the capabilities of a traditional American or European defense prime contractor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-92</span> Transport helicopter family by Sikorsky

The Sikorsky S-92 is an American twin-engine medium-lift helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the civil and military helicopter markets. The S-92 was developed from the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter and has similar parts such as flight control and rotor systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human-powered helicopter</span> Helicopter powered solely by human activity

A human-powered helicopter (HPH) is a helicopter powered solely by one or more humans carried on board. As in other human-powered aircraft, the power is usually generated by pedalling. It remains a considerable engineering challenge to obtain both the power-to-weight ratio and rotor efficiency required to sustain a helicopter in flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal air vehicle</span> Type of aircraft

A personal air vehicle (PAV) is a proposed type of aircraft providing on-demand aviation services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky X2</span> Experimental high-speed compound helicopter

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolls-Royce LiftSystem</span>

The Rolls-Royce LiftSystem, together with the F135 engine, is an aircraft propulsion system designed for use in the STOVL variant of the F-35 Lightning II. The complete system, known as the Integrated Lift Fan Propulsion System (ILFPS), was awarded the Collier Trophy in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-97 Raider</span> American high-speed scout and attack compound helicopter

The Sikorsky S-97 Raider is a high-speed scout and attack compound helicopter based on the Advancing Blade Concept (ABC) with a coaxial rotor system under development by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky planned to offer it for the United States Army's Armed Aerial Scout program, along with other possible uses. The S-97 made its maiden flight on 22 May 2015.

Aircraft can have different ways to take off and land. Conventional airplanes accelerate along the ground until sufficient lift is generated for takeoff, and reverse the process to land. Some airplanes can take off at low speed, this being a short takeoff. Some aircraft such as helicopters and Harrier jump jets can take off and land vertically. Rockets also usually take off vertically, but some designs can land horizontally.

The Robert J. Collier Trophy is owned and administered by the National Aeronautic Association and is awarded annually "for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell V-280 Valor</span> 2017 U.S. tiltrotor aircraft

The Bell V-280 Valor is a tiltrotor aircraft being developed by Bell Helicopter with Lockheed Martin for the United States Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program. The aircraft was officially unveiled at the 2013 Army Aviation Association of America's (AAAA) Annual Professional Forum and Exposition in Fort Worth, Texas. The V-280 made its first flight on 18 December 2017 in Amarillo, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AeroVelo Atlas</span> Type of aircraft

The AeroVelo Atlas is a human-powered helicopter (HPH) that was built for AHS International's Igor I. Sikorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition. On 13 June 2013, it became the first aircraft to achieve the goals of the competition and thus won the prize.

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is the use of small, highly automated aircraft to carry passengers or cargo at lower altitudes in urban and suburban areas which have been developed in response to traffic congestion. It usually refers to existing and emerging technologies such as traditional helicopters, vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft (VTOL), electrically propelled, vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft (eVTOL), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These aircraft are characterized by the use of multiple electric-powered rotors or fans for lift and propulsion, along with fly-by-wire systems to control them. Inventors have explored urban air mobility concepts since the early days of powered flight. However, advances in materials, computerized flight controls, batteries and electric motors improved innovation and designs beginning in the late 2010s. Most UAM proponents envision that the aircraft will be owned and operated by professional operators, as with taxis, rather than by private individuals.

An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is a variety of VTOL aircraft that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land vertically. This technology came about thanks to major advances in electric propulsion and the emerging need for new aerial vehicles for urban air mobility that can enable greener and quieter flights. Electric and hybrid propulsion systems (EHPS) have also the potential of lowering the operating costs of aircraft.

References

  1. 1 2 "GAPAN to bestow top flight operations award on Nick Lappos". helihub.com. Helihub. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Nicholas Lappos". Vertipedia.vtol.org. Vtol.org. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "GAPAN to bestow top flight operations award on Nick Lappos" HeliHub, 2 October 2013. Accessed: 13 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Helicopters". Newspapers.com. Newspapers.com. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Nick Lappos – Combat & Test Pilot, Engineer & Executive, Aviation Legend" (PDF). Vtol.org. VTOL. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  6. ↑ "13 March 1977". Thisdayinaviation.com. Thisdayinaviation.com. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Nicholas (Nick) D. Lappos Joins Gulfstream as Vice President, Government Programs". Gulfstreamnews.com. Gulfstream. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Future Vertical Lift: Industry Urges Common Cockpit". Breakingdefense.com. Breakingdefense. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Vertical Flight Society Recognizes Sikorsky For Technological Innovations". Lockheedmartin.com. Lockheedmartin. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "NAA News" (PDF). NAA.aero. NAA. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Sikorsky S-92 Wins 2002 Collier Trophy". Aero-news.net. Aero-News. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Collier Trophy Goes to Helicopter Industry". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. December 14, 1951. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Sikorsky S-92 Wins 2002 Collier Trophy". www.aero-news.net. Aero-news. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  14. ↑ "NAE Welcomes Nicholas Lappos and Sandy Magnus to the 2022 Class". ae.gatech.edu. Ga Tech School of Aerospace Engineering. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
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