The Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) presents the Iven C. Kincheloe Award - "Test Pilots of the Year" to SpaceShipOne Flyers

The Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) presented the Iven C. Kincheloe Award to SpaceShipOne pilots Mike Melvill (shown below, between Burt Rutan and X Prize Prez Peter Diamandis), Brian Binnie, and Peter Siebold of SCALED Composites at its gala awards banquet this past week. The award, named after test pilot Iven Kincheloe, recognizes the most outstanding achievement in flight test in the previous year.

Wednesday's successful X-Prize Flight 1 by Mike Melvill proves this recognition was well deserved. In addition, the James H. Doolittle award, for excellence in the technical management of aerospace technology, was awarded to Burt Rutan, President and Founder of SCALED Composites. Another award given at the banquet was the Ray E. Tenhoff award for the most outstanding paper presented at the SETP Symposium, won by William Gray of the USAF Test Pilot School for his paper entitled "Boundary Escape Tracking: A New Conception of Hazardous Pilot Induced Oscillation".

Finally, the Herman R. Salmon award for the best technical paper published in COCKPIT, the SETP's professional journal, was given to Squadron Leader Shaun Wildey, Royal Air Force, for his paper entitled "Flight Testing of Helmet Mounted Displays".  SETP wishes to congratulate the excellent work these individuals have accomplished in the advancement of aerospace technology.

SETP's vision is to be the recognized world leader in promoting safety, communication and education in the design & flight test of aerospace vehicles and their related systems. SETP also strives to maintain a viable professional and prestigious international society for all test pilots and aerospace corporations.

FMI: www.setp.org