The Georgia Aerospace Innovation Center has awarded the first Ben T. Epps Aerospace Innovation Trophy for an Invention to Chuck Dixon for his design and flight test of the Vortex Control Eaglet, a unique device that significantly improves aircraft safety of flight. Those of you who attended the September 27, 2007, AIAA Atlanta Dinner meeting were treated to a first hand description, including flight test video, by Chuck of this innovative device. According to the AIC website , “The Epps Trophies will be awarded in three categories to recognize the most influential and outstanding aerospace innovations made by Georgians in the last two years. The Epps Trophies are intended to honor fundamental research and development, effective aerospace program management and aerospace education programs that empower the next generation of Georgians to aim higher. The Trophy for an Invention recognizes an individual, team or an enterprise's patented or patentable work in a first-of-a-kind technology. Eligible inventions may be critical devices, such as sensors, sub-systems, such as avionics, or entire systems, such as an aircraft or satellite. “ Chuck is President of Consulting Aviation Services , Incorporated (CAS), and has extensive experience in virtually all areas of Flight Sciences and is a recognized expert in the field of vortex flow phenomenon.

Chuck will receive the Epps Trophy on October 20, 2007, at the Georgia's Centennial of Flight Celebration banquet honoring the first aircraft flight in Georgia in 1907 by Ben T. Epps over a cow pasture near Athens. Please join me in extending a rousing “Well Done” to Chuck for this well-deserved honor.

The Georgia Aerospace Innovation Center is a Georgia agency that strives to create networking and partnering opportunities and supports the vision of making Georgia the premier air and space support center in the nation. The Aerospace Innovation Center is deployed on three fronts that interact and support each other: Applied Research and Development, Education and Workforce Development, and Companies and Capital Development. For more information, please visit the AIC website.