PiAC at the 75th Annual Vertical Flight Society Annual Forum
The Vertical Flight Society (VFS) held its 75th annual forum in Philadelphia May 13-16, 2019. It was a sold-out event highlighting the best in rotorcraft technology. The show featured displays from over 100 companies but as usual the backbone of the event were the several dozen technical presentations made about all things vertical flight. PiAC was a prominent player in the VFS’s 75th annual Forum ceremonial first night historic “commemoration of the founder’s” event. Board Chairman and Chief Technology Officer, Fred Piasecki, spoke offering multiple remembrances of his father, the late Frank N. Piasecki. Fred was joined on the panel along with (left to right); Mr. Ed Hey, a personal friend of the late Maitland Bleeker, who was an inventor and instrumental in early rotorcraft design; Duncan Pitcairn, nephew of Harold F. Pitcairn who developed The Pitcairn PCA-2 an autogyro developed in the US in the early 1930s and first to sell in quantity; Dan Kurkjian, representing the families of Burke Wilford and Arthur Young, early helicopter pioneers; Sergei Sikorsky, son of rotorcraft industry legend Igor Sikorsky; and, Mr. Fred Piasecki, son of Frank N. Piasecki, the founder of Piasecki Aircraft Corporation and a prominent early rotorcraft inventor and developer. A ceremonial kickoff reception took place following the Historical Commemoration with PiAC President John Piasecki speaking, He noted “Philly is the indeed America’s cradle of rotorcraft innovation.” John Piasecki referenced that autogyro’s, ducted fan, compound and tandem rotorcraft and tiltrotors were all developed in the Philly region. He stated at present over 9,000 people are currently employed locally in rotorcraft resulting in a $1.3B annual payroll and $1.5B in annual supplier purchases. All told this translates to a $9B+ annual local economic benefit. Mr. Neil Weaver, “executive deputy secretary” of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development also spoke representing […]
