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Collier Trophy
Nomination Period: November 1 - January 31
About the 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 list of Collier winners represents a timeline of aviation, as many of the awardees mark major events in the history of flight.
In addition to being an aviator, humanitarian, and sportsman, Mr. Collier was a prominent publisher whose family created the popular Colliers Weekly. Robert Collier commissioned the trophy in 1910 with the intent to encourage the American aviation community to strive for excellence and achievement in aeronautic development.
In recognizing the worth and future of aviation, Mr. Collier proclaimed the ideal that, "the flying machine should be unselfishly and rapidly developed to its ultimate potential for economic advancement in America." In support of his statement, Collier was the first person to purchase an airplane from the Wright brothers for personal use. Shortly thereafter, he loaned his aircraft to the U.S. Army for flight evaluations at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, which led to the first military orders for a flying machine. Robert J. Collier died in 1918 after completing his military service in World War I.
The Collier Trophy show here is on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum.
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Collier Trophy Winner Announced
Arlington, Virginia, March 3, 2010 – The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) announced at their Annual Spring Awards Luncheon that the International Space Station has been selected as the recipient of the 2009 Robert J. Collier Trophy, “For the design, development, and assembly of the of the world’s largest spacecraft, an orbiting laboratory that promises new discoveries for mankind and sets new standards for international cooperation in space.”
The Collier Trophy will be formally presented at the Annual Collier Dinner to be held on Thursday, May 13, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.
“We had a remarkably strong list of candidates, one that visibly impressed the distinguished members of the Collier Trophy Selection Committee,” stated Walter Boyne, Chairman of NAA as well as Chairman of the Selection Committee.
“I believe that the International Space Station is a wonderful example of what the Collier Trophy signifies: Accomplishment, vision, and advancement in aerospace.”
“I want to thank the Collier Trophy Selection Committee for their commitment to this process. We were honored to have an outstanding group of aviation and aerospace experts participate in this very competitive and challenging competition.”
The 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 list of Collier winners represents a timeline of aviation, as most of the awardees mark major events in the history of flight.
The International Space Station Team nomination consisted of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, The Boeing Company, Charles Stark Draper Labs, Honeywell Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, United Space Alliance, and United Technologies Corporation.
Other nominees for the 2009 Collier Trophy were:
- Aircell;
- Ares I-X Flight Test and Ares I Design Teams;
- C-5M Super Galaxy;
- Kandahar Airfield Operations Team;
- MC-12W Project Liberty Enterprise Team;
- SpaceX Falcon 1 Development Team; and
- John Warner and the Excalibur Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle
“This was truly as professional and competitive set of deliberations as we could have hoped for,” said Jonathan Gaffney, President and CEO of NAA. “I believe that all the nominees will look back at this process as a valuable experience for themselves and their organizations.”
“The Selection Committee did a wonderful job evaluating nominations that spanned almost the entire spectrum of our tremendous aerospace industry, and I am very proud of the work that was done to select the International Space Station.”
For tickets or more information about the Collier dinner on May 13, visit www.naa.aero and click on Events. For a complete list of previous recipients of the Collier Trophy, please visit the NAA website at http://www.naa.aero/.
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