Annual aviation award administered by the US National Aeronautical Association
Award
The Robert J. Collier Trophy 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.
The Collier Trophy is administered by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) the oldest national aviation organization in the United States. Founded in 1905, the NAA oversees America's oldest and most prestigious aviation and aerospace recognitions. The Collier Trophy is the most coveted of all.
The award is presented once a year by the NAA president, with the trophy on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum.[1]
The trophy was stolen briefly in 1978, but was recovered.[3] The thieves left it at Fort Foote park and it was recovered 26 hours from the time it went missing.[4]
1935 – Donald W. Douglas and his technical and production personnel for the outstanding twin-engine transport airliner.[34][28]
1936 – Pan American Airways for establishment of a transpacific airline and the successful execution of extended overwater navigation in regular operations.[35][28]
1974 – John F. Clark of NASA and Daniel J. Fink of GE, representing NASA's Earth Resources Technology Satellite Program, LANDSAT for mankind's management of the Earth's resources and with recognition to Hughes Aircraft Company and RCA.[66]
1976 - USAF and Rockwell International Corporation for the highly successful design, development, management, and flight test of the B-1 strategic aircraft system.[62]
2007 - Automatic Dependent Surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) team that includes AOPA, ALPA, CAA, ERAU, FAA, ITT, Lockheed Martin, NASA, MITRE, UPS, and ACSS for supporting NextGen.[74][77][73]
2013 - Northrop Grumman/U.S. Navy/Industry team for designing, building, and demonstrating the X-47B; and for the aircraft's ability to autonomously operate from and perform arrested landings upon an aircraft carrier.[82]
2020 - Garmin for designing, developing, and fielding Garmin Autoland – the world's first certified autonomous system that activates during an emergency to safely control and land an aircraft without human intervention.[92]
2021 - The NASA/JPL/Ingenuity team for the first powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet, thereby opening the skies of Mars and other worlds for future scientific discovery and exploration.
2022 - NASA and Northrop Grumman for the James Webb Space Telescope "for its unprecedented discovery mission to explore, identify and photograph what lies beyond what is currently known and to seek what is unknown."[93]
2023 - NASA, Lockheed Martin, the University of Arizona and KinetX for OSIRIS-REx, the first American mission to gather an asteroid sample and its return to earth
^ a b c d"Collier Trophy". NAA.aero. NAA. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
^ a b c"Taft Believes in Aeroplanes; Other "Bird" News". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. February 4, 1912. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Collier Trophy Stolen from Mayflower".
^"Stolen Collier Trophy Found in Park". The Ithaca Journal. Ithaca, New York. Associated Press. June 1, 1978. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
^"The Curtiss Company." US Centennial of Flight Commemoration, 2003. Retrieved: January 28, 2011.
^ a b c d e f g"collier-1911-1919-winners". NAA.aero. NAA. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
^"Collier Trophy to Curtiss". New-York Tribune. New York, New York. January 30, 1913. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Orville Wright Receives the Collier Trophy for Stabilizer". The Dayton Herald. Dayton, Ohio. February 6, 1914. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Aviation Honors Awarded at Banquet". Buffalo Evening News. Buffalo, New York. January 15, 1915. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Safer Flight Trophy Awarded to Burgess". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. January 13, 1916. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Sperry's Get Trophy". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. March 31, 1917. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Collier 1911–1919 Recipients". National Aeronautic Association. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
^"Collier 1920–1929 Recipients". National Aeronautic Association. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
^Larson, George C. (August 1976). "The Founding Father". Features. Flying. Vol. 99, no. 2. Ziff Davis. p. 76. ISSN 0015-4806. Retrieved July 20, 2016 – via Google Books.
^"Speed Kings of Air get 1921 Prizes". The Oregon Daily Journal. Portland, Oregon. February 26, 1922. p. 53 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b c d e f g h i"Collier 1920–1929 Recipients". National Aeronautic Association. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
^"Collier Trophy Delivered to U.S. Air Mail Officials for Aviation Contributions". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Universal News Service. February 6, 1923. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b"U.S. Air Mail Wins Collier Award for Aviation Promotion". Great Fall Tribune. Great Falls, Montana. February 17, 1924. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Fliers Get Collier Trophy". Pittsburgh Daily Post. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. January 18, 1925. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^Ritchie Thomas. "Sylvanus Albert Reed Inventor". AAHS Summer 1992: 103.
^"Collier Trophy Awarded by President". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. February 8, 1927. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
^Kavanaugh-Jones, Helen (2002). Splendid Vision, Unswerving Purpose: Developing Air Power for the United States Air Force During the First Century of Powered Flight. History Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, Air Force Materiel Command. ISBN 9780160675997.
^"Coolidge to Give Medal". The Semi-Weekly Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. February 29, 1928. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Air Progress". August 1989. p. 60.
^"Collier Trophy Award Made". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. June 8, 1930. p. 54 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Pitcairn and his Associates Get Collier Trophy". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Associated Press. April 6, 1931. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b c d e f g h i j"collier-1930-1939-winners". NAA.aero. NAA. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
^"1931 Collier Trophy Awarded".
^"1931 Collier Trophy Awarded to Packard Co's Diesel Engine". Times Union. Brooklyn, New York. March 20, 1932. p. 57 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Glenn Martin is Winner of Collier Trophy". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. Associated Press. May 26, 1933. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Collier Trophy for Aviation Work Has Been Awarded to Three Daytonians". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. June 3, 1934. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Capt. Hegenberger Wins Collier Trophy". The Tampa Times. Tampa, Florida. July 19, 1935. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Douglas Gets Collier Trophy". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, Missouri. Associated Press. July 2, 1936. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Pan American Wins Collier's Air Trophy". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. August 7, 1937. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
^"U.S. Army Air Corps Wins Collier Trophy". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. Associated Press. September 16, 1938. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Howard Hughes is Winner of Collier Trophy Award". The Marion County News. Hamilton, Alabama. November 23, 1939. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
^McDonough, Stephen J. (February 3, 1941). "3 Scientists who Penetrated to Stratosphere Secrets Secrets Awarded". The Wilkes-Barre Record. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b c d e f g h i j"collier-1940-1949-winners". NAA.aero. NAA. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
^"General Arnold Wins Collier Trophy Award". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. December 17, 1943. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
^"General Spaatz Wins Collier Air Trophy". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. December 14, 1945. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Collier 1940–1949 Recipients". National Aeronautic Association. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^"Radar Expert will Receive Collier Trophy". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Associated Press. December 13, 1946. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Collier Trophy to Rodert for De-Icer Plan". Amarillo Daily News. Amarillo, Texas. Associated Press. December 12, 1947. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Three to Share Collier Trophy". The Semi-Weekly Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 15, 1948. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Aeronautics Group to get Collier Trophy". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, Wisconsin. December 24, 1949. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
^"36-Pound Automatic Jet Pilot Wins Collier Trophy for Lear". The Jackson Sun. Jackson, Tennessee. December 12, 1950. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Collier Trophy Goes to Helicopter Industry". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. December 14, 1951. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b c d e f g h i j"collier-1950-1959-winners". NAA.aero. NAA. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
^"Creator of Jet 'Waistline' is Collier's Trophy Winner". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Associated Press. November 24, 1955. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Collier Trophy Presented to Developers of B-52". The Journal Herald. Dayton, Ohio. December 5, 1956. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
^"F-104 Reaches New Altitude Mark". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. UPI. December 16, 1959. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
^"President to Award Collier Trophy Today". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. December 5, 1960. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b c d e f g h i j"collier-1960-1969-winners". NAA.aero. NAA. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
^"Collier Trophy Goes to X15 Pilots". The Berkshire Eagle. Pittsfield, Massachusetts. July 20, 1962. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
^Warren-Findley, Jannelle (1998). "The Collier as Commemoration: The Project Mercury Astronauts and the Collier Trophy". In Mack, Pamela E. (ed.). From Engineering Science to Big Science: The NACA and NASA Collier Trophy Research Project Winners. The NASA History Series. Washington, D.C.: NASA History Office, Office of Policy and Plans. p. 165. ISBN 0-16-049640-3. LCCN 97027899. OCLC 37451762. NASA SP-4219. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
^"Astronauts Have Their Day at the White House". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. October 11, 1963. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
^"LeMay says Air Power Short in Viet Nam". The Missoulian. Missoula, Montana. Associated Press. October 22, 1965. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b"Collier 1960-1969 Recipients - NAA: National Aeronautic Association". naa.aero. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
^"McDonnell Wins Top Aerospace Award". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. April 14, 1967. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Apollo 11 Honor". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. May 7, 1970. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b c d e f g h i"Collier 1970-1979 Recipients - NAA: National Aeronautic Association". naa.aero. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
^Haugland, Vern (March 22, 1972). "Apollo 15 astronauts, Gilruth to be honored". El Dorado Times. El Dorado, Arkansas. Associated Press. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
^Maisel, Martin D., Demo J. Giulianetti and Daniel C. Dugan. NASA SP-2000-4517, "The History of the XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft: From Concept to Flight" (PDF) p155 NASA, 2000. Accessed: 17 March 2012.
^ a b c d e f g h i j"Collier 1990-1999 Recipients". National Aeronautics Association.
^ a b cFreeze, Christopher (December 2021). "Award-Winning Teamwork". Air Line Pilot: 23–24.
^ a b c d e f g h i j"Collier 2000-2009 Recipients". National Aeronautic Association.
^"Propulsion System in Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter Wins Collier Trophy" (Press release). Fort Worth, TX: Lockheed Martin. February 28, 2003. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
^"GAPAN to bestow top flight operations award on Nick Lappos" HeliHub, 2 October 2013. Accessed: 13 October 2013.
^"NAA ANNOUNCES COMMERCIAL AVIATION SAFETY TEAM (CAST) AS THE WINNER OF THE 2008 ROBERT J. COLLIER TROPHY" (PDF). National Aeronautic Association. NAA. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
^"Sikorsky X2 Technology™ Demonstrator Wins Prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy" (Press release). Stratford, CT: Sikorsky. March 15, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
^Warwick, Graham (March 16, 2011). "Sikorsky's X2 – Collier Win, Commercial Next?". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
^Larson, George (March 23, 2011). "Sikorsky's X2 and the Collier Trophy". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
^ a b c d e f g"collier-2010-2019-winners". NAA.aero. NAA. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
^"Boeing 787 Dreamliner Wins Coveted Collier Trophy" (Press release). Washington DC: Boeing. PR Newswire. March 13, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
^ a b c"Collier 2010-2019 Recipients - NAA: National Aeronautic Association". National Aeronautic Association.
^Bosco, Cassandro (March 12, 2013). "NASA/JPL Mars Curiosity Project Team Receive 2012 Robert J. Collier Trophy" (PDF). National Aeronautic Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 23, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.