Forum Program Overview

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Below is a schedule of the major events at Forum 77 (details subject to change), which is an all-virtual event due to COVID-19. Note: all times are in US Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), which is UTC-4. Please use this time zone converter to adjust the schedule to your local time. 

You can also check out these links for other schedule views and information:

Note: All times are in US Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), which is UTC-4. 

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

41st Annual Nikolsky Lecture: Fabio NannoniSenior Vice President for Safety Management Governance, Leonardo Helicopters: “Rotorcraft Design: The Crucial Influence of Safety from Concept to Fleet Support” — Sponsored by GE Aviation

Watch the event on the VFS YouTube Channel 

12:00pm-1:30pm

77th Annual Grand Awards Ceremony — Sponsored by Sikorsky, A Lockheed Martin Company

Featuring:  Individual Winners | Group Winners | VFF Scholarship WinnersLichten Winners 

Watch the event on the VFS YouTube Channel

2:00pm-3:00pm
Monday, May 10, 2021

Networking Session

  • Networking - at the registration desk
  • Networking - in the coffee line
  • Networking - meet the Executive Director
8:00am-9:00am
Technical Session A — Sponsored by Leonardo
  • Aerodynamics I
  • Aircraft Design I
  • Avionics & Systems
  • Crew Stations I
  • History
  • Health & Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) I
  • Manufacturing & Technology
  • Systems Engineering
9:00am–1:00pm
Special Session 1: NATO Next Generation Rotorcraft — Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada

Moderator: Dan Newman, Boeing

  • Lars Ericsson, US Army, PEO Aviation
  • Pat Collins, UK Ministry of Defense
  • Jose Rosa Dias, Grey Moose
  • George Buckingham, NATO Support and Procurement Agency
  • Air Cdre Chris Egan, UK Military Airworthiness Authority
9:00am-10:30am
Technical Session A Break — Sponsored by Rolls-Royce 10:30am–11:00am
Special Session 2: USN/USMC Rotorcraft Programs — Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada

Moderator: Maj Gen Gregory L. Masiello, USMC, Program Executive Officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault & Special Mission Programs 

  • Col. Jack Perrin, PMA-261, US Marine Corps
  • Col. Vasilios Pappas, US Marine Corps
  • CAPT Todd Evans, US Navy
  • Col. Brian Taylor, US Marine Corps 
11:00am-1:00pm
Lunch Break — Sponsored by Bell 1:00pm–2:00pm

Opening General Session — Sponsored by The Boeing Company

Welcome:

  • Mike Hirschberg, Executive Director, Vertical Flight Society
  • Edward Hoskin, Chair of the VFS Board of Directors, and Pratt & Whitney Canada, VP Engineering

Keynote Address: Lt Gen Thomas H. Todd, III, US Army, Deputy Commanding General for Acquisition and Systems Management, US Army Futures Command

Straight Talk from the Top

Moderated by Frank Colucci, Senior Editor, VFS Vertiflite magazine

  • Tomasz Krysinski, VP Research & Innovation, Airbus Helicopters
  • Glenn Isbell, VP Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing Innovation, Bell
  • Roberto Garavaglia, Senior VP Strategy & Innovation, Leonardo Helicopters
  • Mark Cherry, VP/GM, Boeing Vertical Lift
  • Paul Lemmo, President, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co.
2:00pm-4:00pm

Networking / Virtual Happy Hour

  • Networking - catching up with friends
  • Networking - in the refreshment line
  • Networking - talking shop
4:00pm-5:00pm
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Networking/ Virtual Happy Hour
  • Networking - at the registration desk
8:00 am - 9:00 am

Technical Session B — Sponsored by Leonardo

  • Advanced Vertical Flight I
  • Dynamics I
  • eVTOL I
  • Modeling & Simulation I
  • Operations
  • Product Support I
  • Propulsion I
  • Test & Evaluation I
9:00am–1:00pm

Special Session 3: Future Vertical Lift — Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada

Moderator: Matthew Isaacson, Chief of Operations, Signature Modernization Effort Integration Lead 

  • COL David Phillips, PM FLARA
  • COL Greg Fortier, PM FARA
  • Mr. Todd Smith, Deputy PM UAS Systems
  • Matt Sipe, MOSA Transformation Office
9:00am-10:30am
Technical Session B Break — Sponsored by Rolls-Royce 10:30am–11:00am

Special Session 4: US Army Rotorcraft Programs — Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada

Moderator:  Mr. Lars Ericsson, Army APEO Aviation for Engineering and Technology

  • LTC Jeffrey Poquette, Product Manager, Apache Production & Fielding
  • Dr. Wayne Hudry, Deputy PM Multi-National Aviation Special Project Office
  • Mr. Alan McClendon, Chief Engineer, Utility Helicopter Project Office
  • Mr. Travis Sinclair, Chief, Technical Management Division, Cargo Helicopters Project Office
  • Mr. Robert Sheibley, Deputy PM Aviation Turbine Engine
  • Dr. Wayne Hudry, Deputy PM Multi-National Aviation Special Project Office
11:00am–1:00pm
Lunch Break — Sponsored by Bell 1:00pm–1:30pm
Virtual Exhibit Hall Open 1:00pm-5:00pm

Networking / Virtual Happy Hour 

  • Networking - electric VTOL
  • Networking - meet the Nikolsky Lecturers
  • Networking - students and young professionals
4:00pm-5:00pm
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Networking/ Virtual Happy Hour
  • Networking - waiting for the session rooms to open
8:00am - 9:00 am

Technical Session C — Sponsored by Leonardo

  • Acoustics I
  • Advanced Vertical Flight II
  • Aircraft Design II
  • Crash Safety
  • Dynamics II
  • Handling Qualities I
  • HUMS II
  • Test & Evaluation II
9:00am–1:00 pm

Special Session 5: Canadian AAM Innovations — Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada

Moderator: Nicolas Chabée, Pratt & Whitney Canada

  • JR Hammond, CEO, Canadian Air Mobility
  • Clifford Dickman, Co-Founder, AirJet Helicopter
  • Danny Sitnam, CEO, HeliJet
  • Teara Fraser, CEO, Iskwew Air
  • Craig Bloch-Hansen, Transport Canada
9:00am-10:30am
Technical Session C Break — Sponsored by Continuum Dynamics, Inc.  10:30am–11:00am

Special Session 6: Progress in eVTOL — Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada

Moderator: Ken Swartz, Aeromedia Communications

  • Matt Chasen, LIFT, CEO Aircraft
  • Ben Tigner, CEO, Overair
  • Martin Peryea, CEO, Jaunt
  • Bob Labelle, CEO, XTI Aircraft
11:00am–1:00pm
Lunch Break — Sponsored by Bell 1:00pm–1:30pm
Exhibit Hall Open 1:00pm-5:00pm

Networking / Virtual Happy Hour

  • Networking - Honorary Fellows & Technical Fellows
4:00pm-5:00pm
Thursday, May 13, 2021

Networking/ Virtual Happy Hour

  • Networking - academic research
8:00 am - 9:00 am

Technical Session D — Sponsored by Leonardo

  • Acoustics II
  • Aerodynamics II
  • Crew Stations II
  • Handling Qualities II
  • Modeling & Simulation II
  • Propulsion II
  • Structures & Materials I
  • Unmanned I
9:00am–1:00 pm

Special Session 7: Electric VTOL Certification — Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada

Moderator: Charles Alcock, Aviation International News

  • Lowell Foster, GAMA
  • Greg Bowles, Joby Aviation
  • Eric Wright, Archer Aviation
  • Stephen Creamer, ICAO
  • David Solar, EASA
9:00am-10:30am
Technical Session D Break — Sponsored by L3Harris Technologies, Inc.  10:30am–11:00am

Special Session 8: Electric VTOL Technologies — Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada

Moderator: Jason Pritchard, eVTOL Insights

  • Michael Armstrong, EP Systems
  • Michael Ricci, LaunchPoint 
  • Phil Robinson, Honeywell
  • Lawrence Blakeley, Vertical Aerospace
  • Dan Dalton, Wisk Aero
11:00am–1:00pm
Lunch Break — Sponsored by Bell 1:00pm–1:30pm
Exhibit Hall Open 1:00pm-5:00pm

Networking / Virtual Happy Hour

  • Networking  - Future technologies
4:00pm-5:00pm
Friday, May 14, 2021  

Networking Session

  • Networking - making connections
8:00am-9:00am

Technical Session E — Sponsored by Leonardo

  • Aerodynamics III
  • Advanced Vertical Flight III
  • Dynamics III
  • eVTOL II
  • Modeling & Simulation III
  • Safety
  • Structures & Materials II
  • Unmanned II
9:00am–1:00 pm

Special Session 9: System Safety for New Technology — Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada

Moderator: Dan Newman, Boeing

Session Chair: William Randall, Bell

  • Ife Ogunleye, Joby Aviation
  • John Hewitt, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company
  • Cory Laflin, SAE S-18 & Textron
9:00am-10:30am
Technical Session E Break — Sponsored by Rolls-Royce 10:30am–11:00am

Special Session 10: Civil VTOL R&D — Sponsored by Pratt & Whitney Canada

Moderator: Graham Warwick, Aviation Week 

  • Antonello Marino, Clean Sky 2
    • Julien Guitton, Airbus
    • Andrea Artioli, Leonardo
  • Derek Gowanlock, NRC Canada
  • Klausdieter Pahlke, DLR
    • Gerald Ernst, DLR
  • Arnaud Le Pape, ONERA
  • Susan Gorton, NASA
11:00am–1:00pm


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Updated May 6, 2021