The Boeing Company 787 Dreamliner to Receive Robert J. Collier Trophy

March 15, 2012
The Collier Trophy is awarded annually "for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America.

Washington, DC, March 13, 2012 – The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) announced today at their annual Spring Awards Luncheon that The Boeing Company has been selected as the recipient of the 2011 Robert J. Collier Trophy for “designing, building, certifying, delivering, and supporting the Boeing 787; demonstrating significant advances in the use of materials, technologies, and systems to enhance safety, performance, comfort, and value in commercial aircraft.” 

The Collier Trophy is awarded annually "for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year." The list of Collier winners represents a timeline of air and space achievements, marking major events in the history of flight.

“I was very pleased with this year’s slate of nominations - all of them were impressive, inspirational, and innovative and certainly represent the future of aviation and aerospace,” stated Walter Boyne, Chairman of NAA and Chairman of the Selection Committee. “I congratulate Boeing on their great accomplishment with the 787.”

“The Collier Trophy is the Super Bowl of aerospace and we couldn't be more honored to receive the award for 2011,” said Jim Albaugh, President and CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “It's not often in a career that we have the chance to make history - to do something big and bold that will change the world in untold ways and endure long after we are gone. The men and women of Boeing and our partners around the world poured their hearts into designing, building and delivering the 787 Dreamliner. We want to thank the National Aeronautic Association and the members of the Collier Selection Committee for recognizing our team's work with such a tremendous honor.”

Jonathan Gaffney, President and CEO of NAA, managed the selection. “I want to particularly thank the Collier Trophy Selection Committee for their commitment to this process. We were honored to have an outstanding group of aviation and aerospace experts participate and, by their presence and interaction, certainly enhanced the entire Collier Selection process.”

Other nominees for the 2011 Collier Trophy were:

  • C-5M Super Galaxy
  • The Gamera Human-Powered Helicopter
  • Team Pipistrel-USA.com

The Collier Trophy will be formally presented at the annual Robert J. Collier Trophy Dinner on Thursday, May 10, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia. For tickets or more information please visit www.naa.aero and click on Events/Events Calendar. For a complete list of previous recipients of the Collier Trophy, please visit the NAA website at www.naa.aero.

The National Aeronautic Association is a non-profit, membership organization devoted to fostering America's aerospace leadership and promoting public understanding of the importance of aviation and space flight to the United States.