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| Roadable Aircraft: Those Who Gave Us Wings |
| Head of Federal Laboratories / Pentagon Director of R&D / US NAVY Technology Transfer / Who’s Who / RAI |
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DR. MICHAEL E. SULLIVAN (Now Retired) "Roadable Aircraft has the most elegant solution we have seen for a VTOL flying car of all the configurations that are currently being considered", Dr. Mike Sullivan 2004
Dr. Sullivan was at the time, head of the Far West Federal Laboratories and part of the nationwide network of federal laboratories that provides a forum to develop strategies and opportunities for linking the laboratory mission technologies and expertise with the marketplace. The FLC Far West is one of six regions covering the United States. The Far West Region is comprised of 8 western states, Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. There are more than 100 federal laboratories and facilities in the Far West Region."Roadable Aircraft is one of the only companies ever to have a facility at the US Naval Base at Pt Mugu." |
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| Dr. Michael E. Sullivan |
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(Mike) was the US NAVY visionary who created the CRADA contract (Creative Research and Development Agreement) between Roadable Aircraft Int.and the US NAVY. Dr. Sullivan has been an important partner of Roadable Aircraft’s military and anti-terrorism technology development team and was influential in RAI’s becoming the first civilian company ever to have a presence at the Navy’s prestigious and secretive Air Warfare Weapons R&D site. Currently retired in 2004, he was Director of Technology Transfer for the US NAVY (ORTA) which develops cutting edge technology for American military interests, Dr. Sullivan is working at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWPNS) Point Mugu (PM), California. He is Head of Technology Development (TD) and the Office of Research and Technology Applications (ORTA) at PM. He was also the Head of the Far West Region (Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii) for the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC).
Previously he was Head of TD and the Head of the Capability Development Branch in the Sea Range Office at the Weapons Division. His responsibilities included: the Technology Development Program, Modeling & Simulation Program, Independent Research & Development Program, Advanced Technology Demonstration (6.2 and 6.3a) Programs (ATDs), Central Test & Evaluation Programs (CTEIP) and Internal Discretionary Funds – Bids & Proposals and Management Support Items at PM. In 1993, Dr. Sullivan completed a three-year assignment working in the Pentagon for the Chief of Naval Operations N091, Director of Test & Evaluation and Technology Requirements on the RDT&E infrastructure Division. Previously he was Head of the Operational Systems Integration Office (OSIO) in the Range Operations Department at PM. Dr. Sullivan completed a two-year assignment in 1988 working in the Pentagon for the Chief of Naval Operations in OPNAV – 098, Director of Research, Development Test and Evaluation in the Test and Evaluation Division.
Prior to his selection as Head, OSIO, Dr. Sullivan was Head of the Special Programs Branch in the Range Operations Department at PM. He was responsible for: TRIDENT, TOMAHAWK, HARPOON, SDI, GPS, AND FMS YSSM-1 (Japanese Missile) programs. Before becoming Head of Special Programs, He was Division Head of the Offshore Islands. Prior to joining Range Operations in 1982, Dr. Sullivan was Head of the Engineering Division at the NAVY ASTRONAUTICS GROUP at PM, Staff Program Administrator with NORTHROP CORPORATION, and Supervisory Member of the Technical Staff at HUGHES AIRCRAFT COMPANY. In 1974, he left HOUSTON LIGHTING AND POWER (HL&P) where he was Senior Engineering Analyst to accept a Electronics Engineering position at PM in the Software Management Branch, Tactical Software Division. Prior to HL&P he was a Scientist at BRADDOCK, DUNN AND McDonald, Inc., and a Junior Engineer for the PHYSICAL SCIENCE LABORATORY at New Mexico University (NMSU). He served in the UNITED STATES ARMY before attending NMSU.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and earned a Doctorate in Systems and Administration, a Masters in Public Administration, and a Masters in Systems Management all from the University of Southern California. He also holds a MBA from the University of Houston, BS in Mathematics and MA in Psychology from NMSU, BS in Engineering form the University of Texas, BS in accounting from the University of La Verne, and graduated with honors from La Salle College High School. He has been elected to various honor societies.
Dr. Sullivan is listed in: WHO’S WHO IN THE WORLD, WHO’S WHO IN FINANCE AND INDUSTRY, WHO’S WHO IN THE WEST, WHO’S WHO IN CALIFORNIA, WHO’S WHO OF INTELLECTUALS, MEN OF ACHIEVEMENT, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS OF AMERICA Dr. Sullivan is the author of: "Management of Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Organizations", "The Management of RDT&E Organizations", and "Self-Actualization in a Health Care Agency".
Roadable Aircraft International is privileged and honored to have been taken under Dr. Sullivan’s wing. We will always be grateful for his vision. And there were many other great men and women who have been our "Angels" over the last 18 years. A few are remembered below in our Team Roadable - Hall of Fame. |
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| RAI conducts regular bi-monthly corporate meetings between 2001-2004 at its CALSTART facility California State University, Camarillo, California. |
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| At Right & Below: Ms. Aggie Maza RAI CEO / President 2001-2004 In discussion with Robert McBride, Chief RAI Aviation mechanic / Test pilot / project development supervisor since 1990 and EmilitaManalong Chief Administrator. |
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| Bottom Right: Aggie Maza with Roadable Aircraft administration coordinator EmilitaManalong at Edwards Air Force Base 2003 |
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| Michael Boehm, Chief Design Engineer 2001- present |
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Roadable Aircraft’s Michael Boehm first brought his world-class design engineering skill to the cutting edge in 2001, ever since he took over the design-engineering department at RAI.
"We are using the same Computer Assisted Design technology as Boeing and Lockheed use to engineer and build the most advanced Aircraft in the world. RAI’s engineers have designed and "built" the entire VTOL vehicles digitally within the computer! Every nut and bolt, every thread and tolerance is represented for hundreds of parts which are coded and sent electronically to CNC machines that transfer our data into real world machined parts from raw stock of high grade aircraft aluminum and titanium". RAI & DARPA Proposed TERMINATOR Designed by Michael Boehm. |
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| Robert Mc Bride, RAI Project Development 1990-2004 |
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Mr. Mc Bride was a significant part of our development as Project Development Mgr./ test pilot / aircraft builder / mechanic with RAI from 1990 until he retired in 2004. "Our Rolls Royce jet turbine delivers 425 Horsepower………and is more than sufficient" Robert K. Mc Bride
"Mac" as he is called, brings a lifetime of building, testing & flying experimental & research craft, and has many feathers under his wing including the cooperative rebuilding of Cary Grant’s private Convair 240 and restoration of one of the last B-25s to commemorate Jimmy Dolittles’ historical take off from a carrier and crash landing in China after the bombing of Tokyo, in response to Pearl Harbor. Mac breathes life into RAI with real world experience and leadership skills. |
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| Robert McBride answers questions at a press interview at CALSTART an advanced transportation consortium at California State University 2003 |
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| Alan Christ, RAI Auto/Aerospace Engineer 2001-2003 |
| Alan Christbrought his aerospace and automotive engineering experience to Roadable Aircraft to become our chief engineer from 2001-2003. He was our "Hybrid" engineer with many years in aerospace at Raytheon, engineering everything from electronic missile deterrent systems to aircraft surveillance enhancements. Mr. Christ’s automobile engineering experience is of equal caliber with 15 years in the automotive R&D department at Ford Motors Company. Roadable Aircraft’s VTOL Cruiser took shape in Solid Works (Below Left) Designed by Al Christ 2002 |
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| Alan Christ was an engineering consultant for RAI working with Mike Boehm. His vast automotive experience started with the Ford Motor Company’s Scientific Research lab, conducting research on advanced piston and turbine engines. Advanced vehicle development continued at MCR Technology, designing and testing Research Safety Vehicles and battery/electric driven buses. At Raytheon, Mr. Christ was the Lead Mechanical Engineer on the Navy’s primary electronic ship protection system and was assigned to an emergency team to develop a protection system for destroyers in the Persian Gulf. |
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| Mr. Christ continued his career in the engine R&D at Southwest Research Institute, developing engines for the Navy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. He was the program manager at BMI and was responsible for a DOE subcontract to design, integrate and manufacture three fuel cell hybrid buses, which he personally delivered to the Secretary of Energy. Other experience includes work for Air Pollution Control district and certification of gasoline and diesel engines to meet California Air Resource Board (CARB) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exhaust emission standards. Mr. Christ has a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering and holds a Professional Engineering license in Mechanical Engineering. |
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| DARPA & Military Acquisition Convention Bellingham, Washington 2002 |
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| Dr. Mike Sullivan ® and RAI Project Coordinator, Keith Field at the Bellingham, Washington Military Acquisition Exhibition in October 2002. RAI was the guest of the US NAVY as the VTOL ORCA technology was co-developed under the Co-operative Research and Development Agreement 2001 and completed 2004 at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Point Mugu California. |
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| Homeland Security Gave Roadable Aircraft New Purpose |
RAI was one of only 200 companies invited to the Anti Terrorist Conference "Scientists Helping America" and has worked with NAVY and government agencies on specific proposals still pending development.
Roadable Aircraft Int. completed Co-Developing VTOL UAV Technology at America’s secret test facility, the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) at Point Mugu, California, under US NAVY CRADA Agreement. |
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| RAI Design Engineer & Illustrator |
| Brad Sorensen, RAI Design Illustrator 2001-2004 is famous for his "Skunk works" illustrations that would be the physical impression for the US congressional House Means and Ways committee to persuade the senate and procured over $1 billion dollars in government funding. Mr. Sorenson has been the artist behind many of the early renderings and illustrations for Roadable Aircrafts military and civilian applications and has achieved notoriety for his work for Lockheed’s secret Skunk Works experimental aircraft division as well as Boeing, Grumman and Volvo. All illustrations below are Brad Sorensen work. |
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| RAI Senior VTOL Aerospace Engineer: VTOL Guru |
| Tom Hansen, was RAI’s Executive VTOL Aerospace Engineer "Guru" 2001 -2004 (now retired). Mr. Hansen’s innovations turned the heads of the scientific community and graced the news stands on the covers of two (2) Popular Science Magazines over the years covering separate and equally profound inventions and "propeller technology" applications |
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| Thomas Hanson, RAI Senior VTOL Aerospace Engineer 2001-2004 (Now Retired) |
Mr. Hansen joined RAI as an engineering Consultant in July 2001. He has extensive experience in aeronautical engineering. He worked on airplane and helicopter design at Boeing, Piasecki, Aeronca, and Republic. In 1945 at age 16 he soloed in a Piper Club. Mr. Hanson was involved in the successful development of a four - rotor helicopter that converted to wings in 1954 to 1959. He was the only engineer with previous helicopter experience among the half dozen who designed the first Lockheed test – bed helicopter in 1960. He wrote the Lockheed handbook on the Design of Rigid Rotors and Control Systems. He designed the models and conducted the first two dynamic helicopter model test programs run in the NASA Langley Freon wind tunnel. He was the group engineer of the Advanced Rotor Development Group.
In 1967, he became a consulting engineer with Lockheed, Hughes, Grumman, MRI, Air Logistics, and others as clients. He designed, built, and flew a 2nd generation Rigid Rotor autogyro in 1970. His consulting branched out into commercial projects such as arctic ice cutting, semi-submersible tankers, ocean wave energy, Flettner rotor sails, etc. He taught at USC in Engineering Creativity, wrote and published books on engineering creativity, the history and design of rotorcraft hubs and a designer friendly handbook for machinery. Mr. Hanson has a degree in Aero Engineering from Purdue University. |
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