We had a great turnout for our dinner meeting on Wednesday September 11th, 2024, where Mark Ballew, Senior Director or Vertical Lift Business Development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security led a discussion on Boeing Vertical Lift 2025-2035.
Category Archives: Dinner Meetings
European Rotorcraft Developments & US Naval Academy Capstone Design Presentation
Thanks to all that came out for our April dinner meeting at the Emerald Room in Philadelphia! We heard two presentations: one from the United States Naval Academy Rotorcraft Students on their Capstone Work, as well as a presentation on European Rotorcraft Developments by Jim McLaughlin, Director – Technology & Innovation, Leonardo Helicopters. Special thanks to the National Defense Industrial Association Delaware Valley Chapter (NDIA DVC) for sponsoring this meeting!
To see the presentations from the dinner, check out our Members Only Content page
A Night at the American Helicopter Museum
On Wednesday February 28th, VFS Philly heard from Kaydon Stanzione, CEO of LogistiWerx Inc and VFS Membership VP and the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center. In addition to his extensive experience in advanced technology development, Kaydon has aided both VFS and AIAA in varying capacities – especially in expanding student outreach and programs.
Thoughts from the Vertical Flight Society Executive Director
VFS Philadelphia had the great opportunity to hear from VFS Executive Director Angelo Collins at our January 24,m 2024 dinner meeting at the Inn at Swarthmore! We want to give a big thank you to our sponsor, Insight Global, for a great night!
Boeing Vertical Lift: Past, Present, and Future
VFS Philly had a great dinner meeting a Widener University, sponsored by Boeing! Attendees heard from many great Boeing Vertical Lift employees, including Bob Beggs, Keith Conaron, and Mark Osborne. They discussed Past, Present, and Future of Boeing Vertical Lift!
“Seeing the Unseen: A Smart Image-Based Framework for In-Flight Long-Range Atmospheric Visibility Estimation” and “The FAA Perspective on eVTOL”
VFS Philly hosted another great dinner meeting near Rowan University in Glassboro New Jersey on September 19th, 2023 with two impressive presentations! We were very excited to host the dinner meeting at a new location, as well as had the opportunity to interact with one of our newest student chapters of Rowan University.
Both presenters gave impressive discussions, with Dr. Giuseppina Carannante’s topic of “Seeing the Unseen: A Smart Image-Based Framework for In-Flight Long-Range Atmospheric Visibility Estimation”, and Cliff Johnson presenting on “The FAA Perspective on eVTOL”.
“The Current State of Powered-Lift Training and the Implications for Advanced Air Mobility” at Leonardo Helicopters
VFS Philadelphia Chapter had a very special dinner meeting at Leonardo Helicopters in Northeast Philadelphia on April 19, 2023 that included a presentation by Kevin Semler, Leonardo Instructor Pilot, and included tours of the Leonardo Helicopters facility. The presentation discussed the implications of the new Powered-Lift category and how it effects operator training, especially in relation to Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). The tours included Leonardo’s production and flight lines, including AW119s, TH-73As, AW139s, and static displays of the AW609 and MH139. No photos were allowed inside the facility, so be sure not to miss out next time!
US Naval Academy Midshipmen “AURORA – Vertical Lift Student Design Project” and “Investigation of Helicopter Performance in Confined Areas”
VFS Philly had the opportunity to hear from US Naval Academy midshipmen as they presented two of their capstone projects. The presentations were about AURORA, Arctic Unmanned Rapid Oil Response Aircraft, a design, build, and fly project to help track oil spills in Alaska, and Investigation of Helicopter Performance in Confined Areas, a further analysis of recent flight test activity completed at Pax River Test Pilot School to analyze the impact of confined spaces on operational safety.
The midshipmen traveled to Piasecki Aircraft and Boeing earlier in the day to tour the facilities and hear more about the history of vertical flight in Philadelphia.
The dinner also had a special guest, Angelo Collins, Vertical Flight Society’s new CEO, to replace Mike Hirschberg officially in May at the .
A big thank you to Piasecki Aircraft for sponsoring the dinner meeting, as well!
“Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: A History of Vertical Air Travel”
VFS Philly had the opportunity to hear from Paul Taylor, Educations and Programs Manager at the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center (AHMEC) as he presented on Tuesday, February 7.
Thoughts from the VFS Executive Director
On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, VFS Philly had the incredible opportunity to hear from the Executive Director of the Vertical Flight Society, Mike Hirschberg!