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Jean Tinsley |
1996 ELDER STATESMEN OF AVIATION SELECTED
News Release from National Aeronautic Association
"The National Aero Club of the United States"
Washington, DC -- The National Aeronautic Association announced on August 22, 1996 that seven persons have been selected to receive the prestigious Elder Statesman of Aviation award for 1996. They are Chip Collins, James Greenwood, Frank Jensen, Curtis Pitts, Dawson Ransome, Karl Stefan and Jean Tinsley.
The Elder Statesman of Aviation Award was established in 1954 to honor outstanding Americans, who by their efforts over a period of years, have made contributions of significant value to aeronautics, and who have reflected credit upon America and themselves. All of the selectees must be at least 60 years of age. Nominations were solicited from hundreds of organizations and aviation leaders in the United States and forty-eight individuals were nominated. The selections were made by a distinguished committee of 26 aviation leaders from all segments of the aerospace community. The awards will be presented in Washington, DC, on October 22, at a noon luncheon being held at the Capital Hilton and sponsored by the Aero Club of Washington.
JEAN KAYE TINSLEY: Jean Tinsley began her aviation career in the San Francisco area during the mid-1940s. She has served the industry in the capacity of Applications Engineer and as technical editor and writer on all types of manuals for operation and maintenance, overhaul and field instruction, as well as many types of brochures. The FAA has designated her as a Written Test Examiner and an Accident Prevention Counselor.
Jean is most well known for her work in, and service to, the helicopter industry. In 1965 she attended the annual meeting of the "Whirly Girls" and then set out to earn her rotorcraft rating and become "Whirly Girl" No. 118. Since that time, she has held several offices in the organization and is currently its Executive Director. Jean was co-founder of the Helicopter Club of America, is charter member No. 1, and was its first president. It was through this club that the U.S. became active in international team helicopter competition. In 1973, she was one of the six pilots on the first U.S.A. team to compete in the World Helicopter Championships. For this year's WHC she served as one of the prime organizers, Chief Judge, and as an instructor for judge training sessions. Jean was the first woman in the world to obtain a gyroplane rating in a constant speed propeller driven gyroplane and the first woman to pilot the Bell XV-15 experimental Tilt Rotor aircraft. She has been a delegate to many international aviation conferences, including the International Rotorcraft Commission of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. Jean is also a member of the Bay Cities Chapter of The Ninety-Nines, Inc.
