Robert G. "Bob" Ferry distinguished himself in helicopters after beginning his career as a fighter pilot, becoming an expert in rotary-wing aircraft during 24 years of flight testing. He flew 10,800 hours in 125 different aircraft, including nearly 8,000 hours in helicopters. As the Air Force Project Pilot on the Bell XV-3, he proved the tilt rotor concept that led to development of the XV-15 and V-22 Osprey, and he was the only pilot to fly three XV types: XV-1, XV-3, and XV-9. He flew the first flight and most of the envelope expansion on the Apache AH-64, set still-unchallenged world records for helicopter distance flying by piloting a Hughes OH-6A solo, non-stop, and non-refueled from Los Angeles to Daytona Beach in 1966, and flew all flights of the XV-9A "Hot Cycle" helicopter to investigate new propulsion concepts for high-speed and heavy-lift rotary-wing development. Ferry received honors including the Society of Experimental Test Pilots Iven C. Kincheloe Award, the American Helicopter Society’s Frederick L. Feinberg Award, the Sikorsky International Trophy, and specially designed awards from the Italian Air Force, the Hamburg Senate, and S. Harry Robertson for his flight achievements.