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August Raspet Award 2018 Recipient Announced
July 19, 2018 - Greg Cole, EAA 1012774, has been announced as the 2018 recipient of the Dr. August Raspet Memorial Award for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of light-aircraft design. Among the litany of aircraft Greg has designed are the Perlan glider and the Lancair Evolution, Legacy, and Columbia.
Greg did not anticipate winning the award, and said he appreciates the honor, especially in light of his connection to Raspet.
“It’s one of those things — it’s not some target you have, but when you get it you feel honored,” Greg said. “There’s a lot of really great people who have gotten it before. I’ve even had the opportunity to do some work at Mississippi State, and I’ve met August’s son Dave, and had wonderful conversations with him.”
Greg has designed a number of interesting airplanes, but said his favorite is the next one he’ll be working on.
“I like to have the progress,” Greg said. “I very much feel like my next project is the most exciting. I have worked hard to position myself to do some of those things, and design my own planes, and to have opportunities to design and build planes.”
Finding and surpassing the cutting edge of aviation advancements is what Greg said drives him to continue his work. Since his passions help further aviation, he said the receiving the Raspet Award was especially meaningful to him.
“I’m very interested in the physics of flight, and the advancements, and I believe there are advancements to be had,” Greg said. “I think maybe rather than being a homebuilt award, it’s an experimenter award in my mind, and that makes it even more special.”
Greg said he cannot remember a time when he didn’t love aviation, so he has plenty in common with many of the EAA members and attendees at AirVenture Oshkosh 2018.
“I’m just one of those people, I’ve always been interested in airplanes,” he said. “I would make them under my bed. It’s been really a long time for me. I don’t see a beginning and I don’t see an end.”
Greg will be presented with the Raspet Award at the Homebuilders Dinner on Thursday evening, July 26, during AirVenture at 6 p.m. in the Nature Center.
Greg did not anticipate winning the award, and said he appreciates the honor, especially in light of his connection to Raspet.
“It’s one of those things — it’s not some target you have, but when you get it you feel honored,” Greg said. “There’s a lot of really great people who have gotten it before. I’ve even had the opportunity to do some work at Mississippi State, and I’ve met August’s son Dave, and had wonderful conversations with him.”
Greg has designed a number of interesting airplanes, but said his favorite is the next one he’ll be working on.
“I like to have the progress,” Greg said. “I very much feel like my next project is the most exciting. I have worked hard to position myself to do some of those things, and design my own planes, and to have opportunities to design and build planes.”
Finding and surpassing the cutting edge of aviation advancements is what Greg said drives him to continue his work. Since his passions help further aviation, he said the receiving the Raspet Award was especially meaningful to him.
“I’m very interested in the physics of flight, and the advancements, and I believe there are advancements to be had,” Greg said. “I think maybe rather than being a homebuilt award, it’s an experimenter award in my mind, and that makes it even more special.”
Greg said he cannot remember a time when he didn’t love aviation, so he has plenty in common with many of the EAA members and attendees at AirVenture Oshkosh 2018.
“I’m just one of those people, I’ve always been interested in airplanes,” he said. “I would make them under my bed. It’s been really a long time for me. I don’t see a beginning and I don’t see an end.”
Greg will be presented with the Raspet Award at the Homebuilders Dinner on Thursday evening, July 26, during AirVenture at 6 p.m. in the Nature Center.
