Stanley Hiller Jr. passed away

[gyroplanes]

As read in ANN (my favorite source for aviation news) http://www.aero-news.net/

Stanly Hiller Jr. has passed away.

I. like many of you, dreamt of flight at a very early age. Some of us dreamt of rotary winged flight. Most of us didn't fulfill those dreams for many, many years.

While Stanley Hiller was in high school, he not only dreamt of flight, he designed, built and flew a helicopter.

Read and learn more about this remarkable dreamer.

[Vance]

Stanley Hiller was a source of inspiration for me. He understood business in a most elegant way and experimented with some wonderful rotary wing concepts. His stories of his early helicopter experiments where enchanting. His business advice was always deep and fundamental. He had quite an impact on the Palo Alto area.

He is partially responsible for my interest in collective pitch in an autogiro. He felt that anything without collective pitch was dangerous because it limited your landing options. He was also helpful with my jet tip helicopter concept. He always encouraged and warned of potential challenges in a subtle way.

I believe that a study of Stanley Hiller’s life’s path would benefit anyone. The Hiller Aircraft Story by Jay Spenser has some wonderful incites into the man and his life. Spencer’s book Whirlybirds is also useful to understand who Stanley Hiller Jr. was.

I will miss him.

Thank you, Vance

[Chris Burgess]

The OH-23 Hiller "Raven" was my primary trainer for initial Army helicopter school in 1968. It was a good aircraft. Thank You Mr Hiller.