Professor Guenter Kappler wins Royal Aeronautical Society Gold Medal

January 2005

The Royal Aeronautical Society has awarded its 2004 Royal Aeronautical Society Gold Medal to Professor Guenter Kappler, managing director of Europrop International. This medal recognizes strategic contributions to design and engineering many aeronautics programmes he has conducted.

Professor Guenter Kappler holds degrees in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Darmstadt and the University of Pittsburg. He started his career as a research engineer in the nuclear power plants of AEG in Frankfurt and did research on supersonic combustion in the University of Karlsruhe. In 1970, he earned his Doctor Ing. with honours.

After a career of 11 years at MTU Aero Engines, heading the component design and test department, he joined in 1982 the management board of AVL (a manufacturer of internal combustion engines), as responsible for research and development of combustion engines. A year later, he was professor and director of the Aero Engine Propulsion and Aerospace Institute of the Technical Institute of Munich.

In 1995, he became the consultant of the Chairman of BMW AG. He defined a new aero engine family for the next generation of business jets and regional aircraft, which eventually became the BR700 engine. He was also responsible of the design, the development, certification and market penetration of the BR710 engine. In 1999, this engine was powering the Gulfstream V, the Global Express, the Boeing 717 and the upgraded Nimrod. Then, he was appointed head of the design organisation and vice president engineering at Fairchild Dornier.

In September 2002, Professor Guenter Kappler became managing director of Europrop International, with full responsibility to manage the programme. He has been awarded with the order of the Federal Republic of Germany and the distinguished Beckurts Award for technology transfer and innovations.

Notes for Editors

EPI Europrop International GmbH was created by four leading European aero-engine companies - Industria de Turbo Propulsores, MTU Aero Engines, Rolls-Royce and Snecma (SAFRAN Group) - to manage the TP400 engine programme.

Designed to power the Airbus Military A400M military transport, the TP400 will be the most powerful turboshaft engine to enter service in the West. It features a three-shaft configuration and will deliver a maximum power output of 11,000 shaft horsepower. More than 800 engines will be required for the 192 A400M aircraft ordered to date by nine countries.

For further information, please contact:
Nick Britton, Rolls-Royce
Tel: +44 117 979 59 43
Email: nick.britton@rolls-royce.com

Vincent Chappard, Snecma
Tel: +33 (0)1 69 87 09 29
Email: vincent.chappard@snecma.fr