Nick Lappos headhunted by Bell
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Congratulations Nick!!!!!
If you get stuck on any particular nasty technical problems I am sure this lot here on PPRUNE are happy to solve it for you.
Exciting times ahead. Looking forward to them.
If you get stuck on any particular nasty technical problems I am sure this lot here on PPRUNE are happy to solve it for you.
Exciting times ahead. Looking forward to them.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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I don't want to sound selfish...BUT...i hope you still have time for PPRuNe, i do enjoy reading your posts and i think it speaks volumes about the caliber of people who contribute to these threads.
Congratulations to you, but especially to Bell.
Congratulations to you, but especially to Bell.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Is there any truth in the rumour that the Mk2 tilt rotor will now have one big rotor on top, a tail rotor and two ruddy great turbines on the back end? 
Good luck Nick!
Good luck Nick!
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Some of my favourite Lee Iacocca quotes:
'We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.'
'I have always found that if I move with seventy-five percent or more of the facts that I usually never regret it. It's the guys who wait to have everything perfect that drive you crazy.'
Maybe Bell followed Iacocca's advice when they decided to try to recruit Nick:
'We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.'
'I have always found that if I move with seventy-five percent or more of the facts that I usually never regret it. It's the guys who wait to have everything perfect that drive you crazy.'
Maybe Bell followed Iacocca's advice when they decided to try to recruit Nick:
'In the end, all business operations can be reduced to three words; people, product and profits. Unless you've got a good team, you can't do much with the other two.'
FL
Join Date: Aug 2003
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For an Army Warrant Officer Cobra pilot who couldn't remember how to tie his combat boots
I would like put together a team that can hit both chip shots and long drives
Congratulations from this side of the world.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Einstein also lived for seven years with cellaphane wrapped around an aortic aneurism, but I digress.
Congratulations Mr. Lappos, what luck, getting to exercise personal and imaginative initiative in such company.
Congratulations Mr. Lappos, what luck, getting to exercise personal and imaginative initiative in such company.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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I'm ecstatic!
Truly a great day for Bell Helicopter and the entire helicopter industry! Engineering at Bell has long needed a true champion and I think they will have that in Nick. There are many at Bell who share Nick's passion for vertical lift, and he will be the one to carry that passion in the leadership team.
Congratulations Nick!
Tompkins
Congratulations Nick!
Tompkins
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nick, great news! look forward to meeting you in person. will you be involved directly with the 429? also will you be spending time in mirabel? we are currently working on the flir camera and searchlight mounts for the 429, so maybe we meet soon
thanks
cal
thanks
cal
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Nick,
Genuine best wishes for your new post at Bell. Your sound words of wisdom have taught me (and many more) a lot both about helicopter design and about the nature of the industry. I have no doubt that there will be many young engineers who will relish the advice that you give them, and whose designs will benefit from the experience you offer. I am always amazed by your approachable manner for such an accomplished pilot and engineer.
Warmest regards,
Mart
Genuine best wishes for your new post at Bell. Your sound words of wisdom have taught me (and many more) a lot both about helicopter design and about the nature of the industry. I have no doubt that there will be many young engineers who will relish the advice that you give them, and whose designs will benefit from the experience you offer. I am always amazed by your approachable manner for such an accomplished pilot and engineer.
Warmest regards,
Mart
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Good one Nick..........
Nice to know that all that talent isn't being wasted with a bunch of plankers anymore.
Oh, and by the way Nick, if you get your way and get some of the high-tec toys that will help make helicopters easy and safer to operate don't forget that the training world will be waiting to do their bit to ensure that, unlike the situation hitherto, where we were all expected to climb in on day one with a copy of the 'Owners Manual' and expected to teach ourselves how to work it!!
All the best and please don't desert us. It's folk like you that make PPrune Rotorheads worth visiting.
G: ok:
Oh, and by the way Nick, if you get your way and get some of the high-tec toys that will help make helicopters easy and safer to operate don't forget that the training world will be waiting to do their bit to ensure that, unlike the situation hitherto, where we were all expected to climb in on day one with a copy of the 'Owners Manual' and expected to teach ourselves how to work it!!
All the best and please don't desert us. It's folk like you that make PPrune Rotorheads worth visiting.
G: ok:
This must be good news for Bell future customers....
What will be the first task Nick? replacement for the JetRanger maybe?
A new small single engine 5-7seater,that performs equall or better than AS-350 is what Bell needs and Nick without doubt is the best man to take Bell tech and desing to new heights
Congrats on the new job
What will be the first task Nick? replacement for the JetRanger maybe?
A new small single engine 5-7seater,that performs equall or better than AS-350 is what Bell needs and Nick without doubt is the best man to take Bell tech and desing to new heights
Congrats on the new job
Interesting observation
AFAIK the current Sikorsky president was from Bell (reference: http://www.pprune.org/forums/showpos...43&postcount=1). Now Nick, a former Sikorsky guy, is going off to Bell. Why didn't they just stay where they were? Clearly, they are both high caliber people, and should have been good choices to promote from within. Maybe our corporate society is changing, where the default place to look for answers and change is from the outside.
Regardless, Nick, I wish you all the best of luck in the next phase of your career, and hope you will stay with us on pprune. Your sparring, teaching, and plain old helicopter talk is both entertaining and enlightening.
-- IFMU
Regardless, Nick, I wish you all the best of luck in the next phase of your career, and hope you will stay with us on pprune. Your sparring, teaching, and plain old helicopter talk is both entertaining and enlightening.
-- IFMU
After 20 years of plank flight, I had to get rotor-rated because I wanted to see if I could handle the challenge that I had always heard about helis. It took much time and money and was more than worth it. Although I'm still a low-time private pilot, helis fascinate me to no end. I've learned and laughed with many here, but none more than Nick.
From a selfish standpoint, I hope Nick still has time for my favorite forum. I'm am greatly looking forward to new rumors of new technology. Even though I can't fly the slick toys, I get to in my mind by reading your posts. Hurry and get on with it, already!! Congrats to Nick and Bell.
rf
From a selfish standpoint, I hope Nick still has time for my favorite forum. I'm am greatly looking forward to new rumors of new technology. Even though I can't fly the slick toys, I get to in my mind by reading your posts. Hurry and get on with it, already!! Congrats to Nick and Bell.
rf
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PPRUNERS,
Thanks so much for the support! I do treasure our conversations here, and will try to continue them ad nauseum!
CEFOSKEY,
The bad guy was certainly NOT you! The guy goes by "Vertiflight", he posted in about 5 sites, even after the mods asked him to reflect on how he was compromising my position. I have no idea how someone just figures his little patch of knowledge makes him empowered to screw up someone else. There must be a job working as a celebrity reporter in Vertiflight's future!
Thanks so much for the support! I do treasure our conversations here, and will try to continue them ad nauseum!
CEFOSKEY,
The bad guy was certainly NOT you! The guy goes by "Vertiflight", he posted in about 5 sites, even after the mods asked him to reflect on how he was compromising my position. I have no idea how someone just figures his little patch of knowledge makes him empowered to screw up someone else. There must be a job working as a celebrity reporter in Vertiflight's future!
Last edited by Senior Pilot; 17th Mar 2008 at 04:25. Reason: Blaming the wrong username!
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Congratulations !
About time someone shakes the tree(s) there.
Apart from the Tilt Rotor project(s), nothing new happened at Bell since the time that the Shah of Iran financed the 214 series in the late sixties....
About time someone shakes the tree(s) there.
Apart from the Tilt Rotor project(s), nothing new happened at Bell since the time that the Shah of Iran financed the 214 series in the late sixties....
Should Vertiflight get busted....he can always apply for the coming Chief Pilot job at Wackenhut/Aiken, SC. He would be a form fit for that job it appears!
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Congratulations Nick!
It was refreshing to see someone at Bell has some sense and if anyone can get them past their sedated H-1 mindset, you can.
Good luck and hope you have enough time to drop in on us now & then!
It was refreshing to see someone at Bell has some sense and if anyone can get them past their sedated H-1 mindset, you can.
Good luck and hope you have enough time to drop in on us now & then!