“Engineering Challenges of an Experimental Helicopter X-49A” NAVAIR Cheif Engineer Larry Trick Seminar

Mr. L. L. Trick (PSU ’82 AERSP, 94g) was the Chief Engineer for the Naval Aviation Center for Rotorcraft Advancement (NACRA) where he monitored various technology programs throughout the Navy such as Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) until 2014.

Mr. Trick began his civil service career as an engineer at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD in 1982. There, he was a project engineer for shipboard tests of the H-1, H-2, H-3, H-46, H-53, H-57, and H-60 helicopters and was the lead shipboard compatibility engineer for the V-22.

In 1988, he became the head of the Dynamic Interface Department; there he managed over 200 detachments to Navy ships, flight testing rotorcraft and expanding operational flight limits on such aircraft as the V-22, H-60 Seahawk and Blackhawk; H-46; H-3, H-1 Huey, Cobra and Super Cobra; H-2 Sea Sprite and Super Sea Sprite; H-53 Sea Stallion, Super Sea Stallion and Sea Dragon; OH-58D Kiowa Warrior; MH-68 Stingray, H-47D/E Chinook and Aerospatiale Puma. These tests were conducted on a myriad of ship classes from frigates to aircraft carriers including destroyers, cruisers, battleships, and converted landing craft.

From 1993 to 1994, he was also assigned to Program Manager Aircraft Launch Recovery Equipment (PMA 251) as the Certification and HOSTAC Officer. There, he certified US and foreign ships for operations with US and foreign helicopters. In 2000, he was again assigned to PMA 251 where he was an IPT leader for aircraft ship interface systems. He was responsible for the procurement and management of glide slope indicators (GSI), recovery, assist, secure, and traversing systems (RAST), and flight deck lighting for new construction ships. He later was the IPT leader and then the Deputy Program Manager for Landing Systems Acquisition.

In 2001, he was selected as the vectored thrust ducted propeller (VTDP) experimental helicopter program chief engineer. He held that job until 2003, when he became the program manager. During that time, he was responsible for the VTDP being redesignated X-49A.

In 2004, he joined Aviation/Ship Integration as Head of Policy, Processes, and Training. In this job, he completed a first-of-its-kind Joint Service Specification Guide (JSSG) on Aircraft/Ship Integration. He also served as a technical advisor to several programs on ship integration including the LHA Replacement, Firescout UAV, F-35,  ScanEagle UAV and H-53K.

In addition to his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Penn State, Mr. Trick graduated with Highest Distinction from the US Naval War College. He was also a guest lecturer at the US Naval Test Pilot School for 12 years.

He is the past president of the Patuxent River Chapter of the American Helicopter Society (AHS) and is also a Gold Circle and Life Member of AHS.  Mr. Trick is also a Col in the Civil Air Patrol, where he has been active for 42 years as a wing, group and squadron commander. He was also the former National Director of Cadet Programs. In 1996, Col Trick was awarded the National Frank G. Brewer Award for contributions to Aerospace Education for young people. He presently serves as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Training for the Middle East Region.