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{{redirect|SETP|the [[Textron Aviation]] in-development '''S'''ingle '''E'''ngine '''T'''urbo'''P'''rop|Textron Aviation SETP}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox Organization
| name = Society of Experimental Test Pilots
| image = Society of Experimental Test Pilots logo.jpg
| image_border = 
| size = 128px
| alt = 
| caption = Society of Experimental Test Pilots insigne
| abbreviation = SETP
| motto = 
| formation = {{Start date and years ago|1955|09|14}}
| extinction = <!-- date of extinction, optional -->
| type = <!-- GO, NGO, IGO, INGO, etc -->
| status = <!-- ad hoc, treaty, foundation, etc -->
| purpose = Flight test safety and education
| headquarters = 
| location = [[Lancaster, California]], United States
| coords = <!-- Coordinates of location using a coordinates template -->
| region_served = Worldwide
| membership = 
| language = <!-- official languages -->
| leader_title = President
| leader_name = John Tougas
| main_organ = <!-- gral. assembly, board of directors, etc -->
| parent_organization = <!-- if one -->
| affiliations = <!-- if any -->
| num_staff = 
| num_volunteers = 
| budget = 
| website = [http://www.setp.org/ SETP]
| remarks = 
}}
The '''Society of Experimental Test Pilots''' is an international organization that seeks to promote air safety and contributes to aeronautical advancement by promoting sound aeronautical design and development; interchanging ideas, thoughts and suggestions of the members, assisting in the professional development of experimental pilots, and providing scholarships and aid to members and the families of deceased members.<ref name=SETP_Welcome>{{cite web |title=Welcome to SETP |url=http://www.setp.org/ |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=September 5, 2009}}</ref>

==History==
Seventeen pilots attended the first organized meeting of the "Testy Test Pilots Society" on September 29, 1955. This name was to be short-lived, however, as it was changed to The Society of Experimental Test Pilots at the second meeting on October 13, 1955.<ref name=SETP_History>{{cite web |title= SETP History |url=http://www.setp.org/about-setp/history.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=March 25, 2014}}</ref><ref name=NASA_2005>{{cite web |title=Astronaut Armstrong Recalls the Origins of Test Pilot Society |url=http://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/armstrong_speech.html |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration |access-date=May 26, 2014}}</ref>

The first officers of the society were instated on October 25, 1955, and consisted of Ray Tenhoff, President; [[Scott Crossfield]], Executive Adviser; Dick Johnson, Vice-President; Joe Ozier, Secretary; Lou Everett, Treasurer; and Al Blackburn, Legal Officer.<ref name=SETP_History/> Once the organization and bylaws were established, the society incorporated in the state of California on April 12, 1956.<ref name=Societies>{{cite book |title= Scientific, technical, and related societies of the United States |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_3C8rAAAAYAAJ |publisher=National Academy of Sciences |location=Washington D.C. |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_3C8rAAAAYAAJ/page/n173 165] |year=1971 |edition=9th |isbn=0-309-01860-9}}</ref> The [[insignia|insigne]] of the society was designed by C.&nbsp;A. "Al" McDaniel and officially adopted for use in 1956.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Society of Experimental Test Pilots, History of the First 20 Years |date= 1978 |publisher= Taylor Publishing Company |location= Covina, California |page=15 |lccn= 78-62089}}</ref>

The first Awards Banquet was held on October 4, 1957, at the [[Beverly Hilton Hotel]] in Beverly Hills, California. It was at the second such banquet, however, that the tradition of the [[Iven C. Kincheloe Award]] began. This annual award honors the member who has done the most proficient test work during the previous year. James Gannett of [[Boeing]] and [[Joseph John "Tym" Tymczyszyn]] of the [[United States government role in civil aviation#Civil Aeronautics Authority|Civil Aeronautics Administration]] won the first Kincheloe Award for their work toward certification of America's first turbojet airliner' the [[Boeing 707]]. They have been followed each year by the most notable contributors to aviation history.<ref name="SETP_History"/>

In 1969, [[Bob Hoover]] was president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), and he had been a personal friend of [[Charles Lindbergh]] since the early 1950s, when the reclusive Lindbergh was using the pseudonym "Mr Schwartz". Hoover persuaded Lindbergh to attend the SETP annual symposium and banquet at the Beverley Hilton, as his guest. At the top table, they were joined by [[Neil Armstrong]], who had just been released from quarantine after the [[Apollo 11]] mission. Hoover introduced  both Lindbergh and Armstrong, to the surprise of the press and other attendees, and many photos were published of Hoover's wife Colleen flanked by both 'heroes' of aviation. The story of the occasion was later narrated by Hoover in the 2014 documentary film ''[[Flying the Feathered Edge: The Bob Hoover Project]]''.<ref name="Novell">{{cite web |last1=Novell |first1=Robert |title=A Living Legend |url=https://www.robertnovell.com/a-living-legend-july-15-2016-2/ |website=robertnovell.com |publisher=Robert Novell |access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>

As of December 31, 2023, the Society had 2,479 members<ref name=SETP_Membership>{{cite web |title= SETP Membership |url= http://www.setp.org/about-setp/membership-statistics.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=June 8, 2022}}</ref> from various countries.<ref name=SETP_Vision>{{cite web |title=SETP Vision |url=http://www.setp.org/about-setp/our-vision.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>

==Publications==
The society publishes a quarterly known as ''Cockpit'' that contains technical articles on flight testing.<ref name=SETP_History/> In addition to ''Cockpit'', the society publishes the proceedings of the annual symposium in Los Angeles to provide a permanent record of flight test progress reports.<ref name=SETP_History/> A periodic newsletter is also provided to members.<ref name=SETP_Newsletters>{{cite web |title=SETP Newsletters |url=http://www.setp.org/newsletter/ |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>

==Conferences==
The Society holds a number of conferences annually:<ref name=SETP_Symposia>{{cite web|title=SETP Symposia |url=http://www.setp.org/table/symposium/ |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228083453/http://www.setp.org/table/symposium/ |archive-date=December 28, 2009 }}</ref>
*Los Angeles Symposium and Banquet
*San Diego Symposium
*East Coast Symposium
*Northwest Symposium
*European Symposium
*Southeast Symposium
*Central Symposium
*Great Lakes Symposium
*Southwest Symposium
*Flight Test Safety Workshop

==Awards==
The Society annually presents a number of awards to recognize notable members of the flight test community. These are: 
*[[Iven C. Kincheloe Award]]&mdash;Outstanding professional accomplishment in the conduct of flight testing<ref name=SETP_Kincheloe>{{cite web |title=Iven C. Kincheloe Award |url=http://www.setp.org/criteria/iven-c-kincheloe-award.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*[[James H. Doolittle Award]]&mdash;Outstanding accomplishment in technical management or engineering<ref name=SETP_Doolittle>{{cite web |title=James H. Doolittle Award |url=http://www.setp.org/criteria/james-h-doolittle-award.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*[[Tony LeVier Flight Test Safety Award]]&mdash;Significant achievement in flight test safety<ref name=SETP_LeVier>{{cite web |title=Tony LeVier Flight Test Safety Award |url=http://www.setp.org/criteria/tony-levier-flight-test-safety-award.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*[[Herman R. Salmon Award|Herman R. Salmon Technical Publications Award]]&mdash;Outstanding technical paper published in ''Cockpit'' magazine<ref name=SETP_Salmon>{{cite web |title=Herman R. Salmon Technical Publications Award  |url=http://www.setp.org/criteria/herman-r-salmon-technical-publications-award.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*[[Ray E. Tenhoff Award]]&mdash;Outstanding technical paper presented at the annual SETP symposium<ref name=SETP_Tenhoff>{{cite web |title=Ray E. Tenhoff Award |url=http://www.setp.org/criteria/ray-e-tenhoff-award.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*Jack Northrop Award&mdash;Outstanding technical paper presented at the annual SETP San Diego symposium<ref name=SETP_Northrop>{{cite web |title=Jack Northrop Award |url=http://www.setp.org/criteria/jack-northrop-award.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*Leroy Grumman Award&mdash;Outstanding technical paper presented at the annual SETP East Coast symposium<ref name=SETP_Grumman>{{cite web |title=Leroy Grumman Award |url=http://www.setp.org/criteria/leroy-grumman-award.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*[[Friend of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots Award|Friend of the Society]]&mdash;Exceptional and notable contribution to the operation and the objectives of the Society<ref name=SETP_Friend>{{cite web |title=Friend of the Society |url=http://www.setp.org/criteria/friend-of-the-society.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
*Spirit of Flight&mdash;Significant contribution to the spirit, technology, manufacture, safety and flight test of home-built/sport/classic aircraft<ref name=SETP_Spirit>{{cite web |title=Spirit of Flight Award |url=http://www.setp.org/criteria/spirit-of-flight-award.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>

==Scholarship foundation==
In 1967, the Society created a foundation to provide for scholarships and other forms of educational assistance to children of deceased or disabled Society members.<ref name=SETP_Foundation>{{cite web |title=Scholarship Foundation |url=http://www.setp.org/scholarships/scholarship.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref> As of 2020, the scholarship foundation has granted over US$3.5 million in educational assistance to more than 178 students.<ref name=SETP_Foundation/> Approximately 12 students per year attend school with Society assistance.<ref name=SETP_Foundation/>

==Membership and member grades==
Membership in the Society is divided into six grades:
#Honorary Fellow (HF)—Distinction in the aerospace field and an experimental test pilot at some time during their career<ref name=Societies/>
#Fellow (F)—Distinction in experimental flight testing and an Associate Fellow for at least one year<ref name=Societies/>
#Associate Fellow (AF)—Association with experimental flight testing for ten years, experimental test pilot for five years, Member for at least two years<ref name=SETP_Grades>{{cite web |title=Join SETP |url=http://www.setp.org/about-setp/join-setp.html |publisher=Society of Experimental Test Pilots |access-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>
#Member (M)—Experimental test pilot not less than one year or crewed space vehicle pilot<ref name=SETP_Grades/>
#Associate Member (AM)—Experimental test pilot or co-pilot from between six months to two years depending on the type of testing<ref name=SETP_Grades/>
#Corporate Member—Organization that has a common interest with the Society in the advancement of crewed aerospace<ref name=SETP_Grades/>

===Notable members===
The following is an [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Lists#Incomplete lists|incomplete list]] of [[Wikipedia:Notability|notable]] individuals who are or were members of the society:

{{Main|List of SETP Members}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.setp.org/ SETP Homepage]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Aviation-related professional associations]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1955]]
[[Category:Test pilots]]
[[Category:1955 establishments in California]]