Former Member Of The American Helicopter Association Board Of Directors

Rotorcraft aerodynamics pioneer and former member of the American Helicopter Society (AHS) Board of Directors Ray Prouty passed away on September 26. He was 88.

HAI reports on its website that Ray began his career at Hughes Tool Company in 1952. In 1954, he moved to Sikorsky as a helicopter aerodynamicist, and from 1958–1960 he served as a stability and control specialist at Bell Helicopter. He then worked as a group engineer for helicopter aerodynamics at Lockheed Aircraft until 1973, when he returned to Hughes as chief of stability and control until his retirement in 1987.

Following retirement, Ray taught helicopter aerodynamics courses around the world, including the Helicopter Aerodynamics without Equations course at HAI HELI-EXPO. He also wrote a number of books, including Helicopter Aerodynamics, and Helicopter Performance, Stability, and Control. Ray was the author of the “Aerodynamics” column of Rotor & Wing magazine for more than 20 years, which he moved to the AHS Vertiflite magazine in 2000. He published more than 80 articles in Vertiflite, including his 75th and final column in the forthcoming November/December issue.

Ray joined AHS in 1952 and served in many roles for the society, including on the Board of Directors from 1999–2003. He was designated an AHS Honorary Fellow in 1983 and was awarded the 2000 AHS Dr. Alexander Klemin Award, “the highest honor the AHS bestows on an individual for notable achievement in advancing the field of vertical flight aeronautics.”

Ray was known for sharing his knowledge with students and new engineers. “I have been one of Ray’s “students” for my entire career it seems, studying his aerodynamics articles,” says Paul Schaaf, HAI’s vice president of operations. “This is indeed sad news.”

Ray is survived by his wife, Joyce, and their son, David. Ray and Joyce’s daughter, Jenny, preceded Ray in death.

To honor Ray Prouty and his commitment to educating the rotorcraft community, donations are sought to create the Raymond W. Prouty Scholarship, through the AHS Vertical Flight Foundation

(Image provided by HAI)

FMI: www.vtol.org/vff