Abstract:
Mr. Piñero will cover a selection of highly successful vertical flight machines that enable V/STOL technologies to mature. The lessons and challenges these highly advanced machines provided to the discipline of V/STOL remind us how difficult this regime of flight is. The major milestones and lessons learned from these aircraft will be covered in detail with the intention of gaining an insight on future technologies and applications of those hard-earned lessons. Aircraft such as the LTV XC-142A, BAe Harrier, Bell X-22A, etc., will be reviewed and their contributions examined. Finally, a personal look at the eVTOL “crystal ball” will be attempted.
Bio:
Mr. Piñero has over 35 years of aircraft operations, systems integration, and flight test experience. After graduating from the University of Florida as an Aerospace Engineer, he joined the United States Navy, as a Naval Flight Officer. Mr. Piñero is also a Space Defense Specialist and served in the U.S. Naval Space Command.
At the completion of his military service, he joined Sikorsky Aircraft where he worked on the S-76, Blackhawk, Comanche, and S-92 helicopters. Early in the X-35 Joint Strike Fighter demonstration program, he served as a Test Engineer on the X-35’s engine ground test development. He officially joined Lockheed Martin in 2002, to continue working on the F-35 JSF program.
He has been associated with Bell Textron since 2012 and he is currently the R & D Chief Engineer at Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), another Textron company. Between 2012 and 2022, he was a subject matter expert on the propulsion systems of the Bell V-22, V-280 tilt-rotors and other Bell rotorcraft products.
Mr. Piñero completed his postgraduate studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. His professional affiliations include the Vertical Flight Society, AIAA V/STOL Systems Technical Committee, and the Society of Flight Test Engineers. He is currently an Associate Fellow of the AIAA.