Jim Rust Wins EAA’s 2021 August Raspet Award

July 29, 2021 – Whirlwind Propellers’ owner Jim Rust, EAA 443335, has been awarded the EAA 2021 August Raspet Memorial Award in recognition of his work in designing propellers for homebuilt planes.

“I was inspired by Rutan when I was a kid,” Jim explained. “That led me down the aeronautical and engineering path.”

Whirlwind Propellers has designed and manufactured a wide variety of props, including ground-adjustable and constant-speed, to name a few. Since 1960, the Dr. August Raspet Memorial Award has been presented every year to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of light aircraft design.

The award is named for the late Dr. August “Gus” Raspet, a professor at Mississippi State University and avid light aircraft enthusiast. Raspet was instrumental in elevating the aeronautical engineering program at Mississippi A&M College, as it was originally known, into one of the nation’s preeminent aerophysics research centers. The Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville, Mississippi — a tribute to all of his efforts — was completed in 1962.

The first recipient of the award was John Thorp, Lockheed engineer on the Little Dipper and Big Dipper, and designer of the Thorp Aviation Sky Skooter. Jim joins a long list of incredible aviation designers, including Ray Stits, Curtiss Pitts, and Bernard Pietenpol.

“It’s a humbling honor,” Jim said. “I understand the gravity of the award and the people that have come before me. I look forward to continuing to serve the experimental family with innovative propellers.”

Congratulations to Jim! Thank you for all you have done!