The Society of Flight Test Engineers SFTE just celebrated its 50th birthday. At their October annual symposium in Savannah, Georgia the Perlan Team was highly honored with the Flight Test Team of the Year Award. Miguel wrote:
Al Lawless and Miguel Iturmendi received in Savannah, GA the James S. McDonnell Award “Best Flight Test Team” for 2018. Miguel accepted the Team award plaque and individual team member glass awards representing the Team. Miguel thanked the Society of Flight Test Engineers for selecting the Airbus Perlan Project for this prestigious award. Then Al Lawless gave a small inspirational presentation on how this team works together to achieve what was considered impossible.
The award banquet was fun and relaxing and Al Lawless received an additional plaque as the 2015 Kelly Johnson award winner. That is for the best Flight Test Engineer of the Year. The 2 Perlan Team members posed proudly with friends and instructors from their days in Mojave, California at National Test Pilot School. Afterwards many of us explored the pubs around old town Savannah near the DeSoto hotel where the Banquet took place. Overall a great night and a huge honor for the Perlan Team.
This prestigious award was named for James S. McDonnell because of his strong and enduring emphasis on the Team as exemplified in his many messages to employees over the intercom which always started with “This is Old Mac, Calling All The Team”. A nominated Team shall be or have been active in flight test engineering. Eligibility for the award shall not be contingent on SFTE membership or affiliation. Only Flight Test Teams may be nominated. This also is a major award with international recognition for which SFTE has created a new trophy which we are hoping to display in the acclaimed Museum of Flight in Seattle WA, pending ongoing negotiations.
