What Outwest says is something I've been thinking for a long time.
Helicomp
"some big fish in a little pond"
Nope, a big fish in a big pond, a pond the size of the world helicopter industry.
Here's Nick's CV someone posted on another thread a while back --
NICK LAPPOS is the VXX Program Director for Sikorsky, responsible for the design, production, proposal and customer interface for the next generation Presidential helicopter bid.
Under his previous position as Director of S/H-92 Programs, the S-92 achieved FAA certification and was awarded the 2002 Robert J. Collier Trophy.
Nick became a Test Pilot at Sikorsky at the age of 24 - still the youngest ever - and has flown over 75 different helicopter types.
He was the chief Research & Development Test Pilot for over 12 years, and Director of Test Engineering in 1999 and 2000.
He flew the first flights of many experimental aircraft, including the S-76, the Shadow, Fantail and Fly-by-Wire technology demonstrators.
He participated in the development of the Black Hawk, the Super Stallion, the XH-59A Advancing Blade Concept (ABC), and the RAH-66 Comanche.
Nick graduated a Dean's List Aerospace Engineering Graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, and has recently been appointed to their Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni.
He has been awarded the American Helicopter Society's Feinberg Award as most outstanding pilot three times, once individually and twice as member of pilot teams and,
in 1994 was made a Fellow of the Society for his outstanding achievement in the vertical flight industry.
Nick is a Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and has received their Tenhoff Award for the most outstanding presentation to the association's annual symposium.
He holds 16 U.S. patents on flight and engine controls and cockpit displays, and three FAI recognized helicopter world records.
He has authored a number of technical papers for the AHS, SAE and has written a number of articles for Interavia, Rotor and Wing and Defense Helicopter magazines.
Nick holds helicopter and fixed-wing certificates with both instrument and instructor ratings.
He has over 7,500 hours of flight time in more than 75 different types of aircraft, including 950 hours of combat flying Cobras in Vietnam (awarded the Bronze Star) and 2,000 hours of Flight Test experience.
Big fish in a little pond?
The respect for Nick obviously gets up your nose but he's earned that respect.
B.