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Memorium

119th Assault Helicopter Company veteran Robert R. "Bob" Taylor of Fort Worth, Texas passed away Sunday, December 18, 2011. Bob helped give life to the mission Going Home with America’s Huey 091, the final flights and gift of a 1965 H Model Huey helicopter  to the Smithsonian Museum of American History Price of Freedom Exhibit as a tribute to all those who served during the Viet Nam War, and later the birth of America’s Huey 091 Foundation and  its new  mission, helping wounded disabled veterans obtain state of the art mobility devices.

Prior to joining Bell Helicopter in 1977, Bob Taylor served 21 years in the U.S. Army with final military assignments as a U.S. Army Acceptance Test Pilot at Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas (1970-1977) following duty as a combat aviator (2+ tours) in Vietnam. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Commendation Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 6 stars, and various other US and foreign awards.

Mr. Taylor served as a Crew Systems Design engineer in the Systems Integration Department of Bell Helicopter Textron, Ft. Worth, Texas, until his retirement as Principal Engineer in Dec. 2000. Mr. Taylor's accomplishments include:
being a design engineer for the man-machine interface for the Army Digital Avionics System (ADAS), one of the early research "glass" cockpits, Lead Display Analyst and a senior engineer in the design of the OH-58D cockpit and the display symbology, the first production military helicopter with a computer display cockpit. Mr. Taylor received a patent for a NVG compatible landing light for efforts during this program.
 
Bob Taylor served as the lead analyst and a research designer as part of the Army Rotorcraft Technology Insertion (ARTI) research program, a predecessor research program that led to the development of the US Army LHX. Mr. Taylor worked various systems on the MV-22 and CV-22 Tilt Rotor and served as team leader of the Communications Working Group. He was also a team member on the digital map, flight display, and electronic  warfare design teams.  During the AH-1 Cobra Upgrade Program (AH-1Z Super Cobra), Mr. Taylor served as the engineering team leader of the communications system man-machine interface design team for system functions designs, display functions and symbology and as working group leader of the Electronics Warfare Systems man-machine interface design working group.  Mr. Taylor's last working assignment at Bell Helicopter was as a research engineer working with NASA, the U.S. Army, DARPA, and other federal agencies to develop “pathway in the sky” and synthetic vision technology and symbology.  Beginning in late 1998, as the co-chair of the Government/ Industry working group, he helped develop symbology and display standardization recommendations for national standards in cockpit displays. As part of the program, he researched the industry and brought onboard, systems and personnel that could be used as springboards to provide 21st century flight and navigation systems and techniques for helicopter operations.
 
In addition to technical publications Mr. Taylor has been recognized for providing "significant research" contributions to the condensed aviation history of the Vietnam War entitled "Primer of the Helicopter War” by Charles Holley and Mike Sloniker. He holds a BS degree in Aviation Technology with advanced work in Human Factors engineering.

Wings
 
Once the wings go on, they never come off whether they can be seen or not.
It fuses to the soul through adversity, fear and adrenaline and no one who has ever worn them with pride, integrity and guts can ever sleep through the `call of the wild` that wafts through bedroom windows in the deep of the night.
When a good pilot leaves the `job' and retires, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder.
We wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.
We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.
We know in the world of flying, there is a fellowship which lasts long after the flight suits are hung up in the back of the closet.
We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life.
We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.
Because we fly, we envy no man on earth.
           -Author Unknown

Bob Taylor’s professional life was inspiring, his warmth and friendship was legend.  Each of us who spent time with Bob Taylor are richer for the experience. Bob is survived by his wife Anna.

Thank you for your love of country, family and friends. Our friend, you will be missed.