The Rattler/Firebird Jesus Nut Award
What is a Jesus Nut?
The so called "Jesus Nut" is the nut that holds the main rotor hub on the mast of a helicopter. The name is derived from the last word a helicopter crew member might utter if this nut were to depart the aircraft in flight. Without the Jesus Nut, the main rotor would leave the aircraft, giving the helicopter about the same flying characteristics as an anvil.
What is the Award?
The Jesus Nut Award was conceived before our first reunion in Memphis, Tennessee in 1993. A chrome plated Jesus Nut was awarded to the person who came the longest distance from their home to be at our reunion. That tradition, started in 1993, has been continued. You can only win the award one time. Repeat winners are not allowed.
Our previous winners
- 1993 - Will Hingston, from Jefferson, OR to Memphis, TN: 2,404 Miles
- 1995 - Jim Arnout, from Anchorage, AK to Dallas, TX: 4,162 Miles
- 1998 - Jerry Shirley, from Okinawa, Japan to Orlando, FL: 8,199 Miles
- 2000 - Randy Billings, from Eddington, ME to Las Vegas, NV: 2,966 Miles
- 2002 - Steve Lively, from Everett, WA to St. Louis, MO: 2,175 Miles
- 2004 - Kelly McHugh, from San Ramon, CA to Washington, D.C.: 2,410.7 miles
- 2006 - Brian Araki, from Kailua, HI to San Antonio, TX: 3,709 miles
