Engineers Australia, a professional association for engineers of all disciplines, last night recognised Jabiru Aircraft founder Rod Stiff OAM in their annual awards.
Stiff was made Engineering Associate of the Year for a career of engineering in the sugar cane and aviation fields in Queensland.
"Since beginning his career in the 1950s, Rodney has exemplified resourcefulness, innovation and elegance in engineering, pioneering the use of new materials and methods," the award citation reads.
"Spanning more than 70 years, Rodney’s extensive career encompasses both mechanised sugar cane harvesting and aircraft design, development and manufacturing, demonstrating exceptional contributions across all four evaluation criteria.
"His remarkable achievements and dedication to the profession make him truly deserving of this award."
Stiff started Jabiru Aircraft with Phil Ainsworth in 1988, with the aim of building affordable kit aircraft. The company expanded into building their own engines, then produced recreational and light-sport aircraft such as the J170 and J230.
"When people ask me about Rod’s achievements, I tell them that he designed the aircraft that has sold more than any other in Australia’s history, that he designed the aero engine that launched 7000 recreational aircraft and that he built a successful business that has survived in the aviation world for 35 years and exported to over 50 countries," Jabiru Executive Director Michael Halloran told Australian Flying.
"Any one of those achievements would have been enough to win this award. All three, to my mind, puts Rod in the pantheon of Australia’s aviation greats.”
Although Stiff has now retired from Jabiru Aircraft and sold the company, his daughter Sue Woods continues with Jabiru as General Manager, maintaining a connection to the founding family.