November 18, 2010 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce that William F. Milliken Jr., Cornell Aeronautical Library (retired), and founder of Milliken Research Associates Inc. (retired), of Buffalo, N.Y., has won the AIAA 2011 Pendray Aerospace Literature Award. Milliken will receive the award on Monday, December 1, 2010 during the 11:00 a.m. dedication ceremony for the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory/Calspan aerospace historic site, 4455 Genesee Street, Buffalo, N.Y.
He is being honored for his "seven decades of outstanding technical accomplishments and unparalleled leadership in the field of vehicle dynamics, and for this inspiring autobiography for future generations."
Milliken was the former head of flight research and managing director at the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory, and retired as head of its Transportation Research Division. Under Milliken's direction, the Flight Research Department of the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory initiated a program for measuring aircraft dynamics in flight using automatic control techniques, accomplishing the first frequency response measurements. He was also the co-inventor of the variable stability aircraft, in 1948, and pioneered stability augmentation and modern electrohydraulic flight control systems.
Milliken, a 1934 graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was the assistant head of Flight Testing at Boeing Aircraft, now The Boeing Company, overseeing the development and first flights of the B17 "Flying Fortress" and XB-29 "Super Fortress" bombers during World War II.
Milliken has authored and co-authored countless papers and four books on vehicle dynamics, chassis design, and vehicle stability and control. For over 70 years, Milliken's writings have defined the science of stability control in aviation, space and ground vehicles. His autobiography: "Equations of Motion – Adventure, Risk and Innovation. An Engineering Autobiography," has been especially praised for its ability to inspire a new generation of engineers.
In addition to his leadership in the field of aeronautical science, Milliken was a celebrated race-car driver, using his knowledge of vehicle dynamics and control to good effect, while competing in over 100 road races. His MX-1 "Camber Car" is still turning heads at vintage racing events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England. A founding member of the Watkins Glen Road Races, "Milliken's Corner" on the old Watkins Glen circuit is named for him. A centenarian, Milliken continues to actively consult with racing and chassis engineers the world over.
Milliken is an SAE Fellow, and a past recipient of SAE's Edward N. Cole Award – presented for significant accomplishments in automotive engineering. He has also been awarded the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award by the Flight Safety Foundation for notable achievement in the field of aviation safety — civil or military — in method, design, invention, study or other improvement. Additionally, Milliken is a member of the Sports Club Car of America Hall of Fame, and is the recipient of numerous other awards and accolades.
The AIAA Pendray Aerospace Literature Award, named for Dr. G. Edward Pendray, a founder and past president of the American Rocket Society, honors outstanding contributions to aeronautical and astronautical literature.
AIAA is the world's largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession. With more than 35,000 individual members worldwide, and 90 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org.
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