The Helicopter Museum.

Press Release 11th May 2008

MUSEUM FOUNDER WINS HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The American Helicopter Society has honoured the founder of The Helicopter Museum and Editor/Publisher of Helicopter INTERNATIONAL, Elfan ap Rees, by presenting him with their prestigious Historical Achievement Award for 2008. Capt. Ap Rees received the award from AHS Chairman and Boeing Vice President Phil Dunford at the AHS Forum Dinner, recently held in Montreal, Canada.

Established in memory of vertical flight historian John J Schneider, the Award is given in recognition of distinguished achievement of an individual in encouraging appreciation of and enhancing access to the history and legacy of vertical flight aircraft. The selection of Elfan ap Rees was based on his significant achievement in preserving the technologies and designs represented at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset and his record of accomplishment in researching and documenting rotary-wing history through articles and lectures over the past 40 years. The first British recipient, he is also only the second non-American to receive the award since it was first established.

A citation prepared by Roger Conner, the Smithsonian Institution’s curator of vertical flight and Chairman of the AHS historical committee, and read out at the Awards Ceremony said

“For the most part, the preservation of historic rotary wing aircraft has been haphazardly interspersed among the efforts of aviation museums with a primary focus on fixed wing aircraft. Of that hand full of rotorcraft museums, one in particular stands out in the breadth, scope and quality of its collection as well as its standards of preservation and care, The Helicopter Museum of Weston-super-Mare in the United Kingdom.

That this significant achievement occurred largely at the hands of one dedicated man makes it all the more remarkable. Elfan ap Rees has been acquiring historic airframes since 1969, while simultaneously developing a network of dedicated volunteers and interested supporters. After two arduous decades of fund raising, building a collection and negotiating for sites and facilities, Elfan ap Rees’ Helicopter Museum became a reality in 1989. His staff and volunteers have not only provided the world with the best collection of British rotorcraft, but they have also established a much broader collection of airframes, artefacts and archival materials to tell the fantastic story of vertical flight in superb detail. With over eighty aircraft in its collection, the Helicopter Museum is by far the most extensive collection of this type in the world.”

“The AHS History Committee endorses the nomination of Elfan ap Rees for the John Schneider award for his nearly fifty years of effort to preserve rotorcraft heritage in an unsurpassed manner. It is our opinion that no other candidate has done more in the field of historic rotorcraft preservation. The continued growth and excellence of this museum under Ap Rees’ leadership will be one of the most enduring accomplishments in the field of vertical flight history.”

Following receipt of the award Capt. Ap Rees said “Obviously I am personally flattered to have been honoured, but I also hope that the award will benefit The Helicopter Museum by raising its profile and ensuring its recognition as a unique and significant collection in the UK and particularly for Weston-super-Mare, where helicopter manufacturing was an important industry for almost 40 years.”

“This recognition will be valuable for the museum’s continued growth and presence for, although a registered charity, it receives no public revenue grant support but relies entirely on donations, volunteers and visitor income for its day-to-day operations.”