Amos Lapidot
{{Short description|Israeli fighter pilot and commander (1934–2019)}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Amos Lapidot
| birth_date = 1934
| death_date = {{Death date and given age|2019|11|20|85}}
| native_name = עמוס לפידות
| native_name_lang = he
| image = File:Major general amos lapidot.jpg
| caption =
| birth_place = Kfar Saba, Mandatory Palestine (now Israel)
| allegiance = {{Flagicon|Israel}} Israel Defense Forces
| serviceyears = 1952–1987
| rank = Aluf
| commands = 113 Squadron, Hatzor Airbase, Air Intelligence Directorate, Commander of the Israeli Air Force
| battles = Suez Crisis
Six-Day War
War of Attrition
Yom Kippur War
1982 Lebanon War
South Lebanon conflict
Operation Wooden Leg
| laterwork = President of Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Chair of the academic committee of the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies
}}
Aluf Amos Lapidot ({{langx|he|עמוס לפידות}}; 1934 – November 20, 2019) was an Israeli fighter pilot who served as the tenth Commander of the Israeli Air Force, a position he held from 1982 to 1987. From 1998 to 2001 he was the President of Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.
Biography
Lapidot was born in Kfar Saba, Israel, in 1934, and grew up in Havatzelet HaSharon. He initially enlisted in the IDF Artillery Corps, before eventually joining the nascent Israeli Air Force, and completed the IAF pilots' course in 1954. He flew the P-51 Mustang, Gloster Meteor, and Dassault Ouragan.
Lapidot held a BA in mathematics from Tel Aviv University, and a master's degree in financial systems engineering from Stanford University.{{cite web|url=https://www.iaf.org.il/2564-30161-en/IAF.aspx |title=The Israeli Air Force |publisher=Iaf.org.il |date= |accessdate=2020-02-16}}{{cite web|url=https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2019/11/technion-mourns/ |title=Mourns | Technion - Israel Institute of Technology |publisher=Technion |date=2019-11-21 |accessdate=2020-02-16}}
During the Suez Crisis, he flew the Ouragan and the Dassault Mystère. In 1961 he switched to the Dassault Mirage III and became the deputy commander of 101 Squadron, the IAF's first Mirage squadron. In 1962, he was assigned command of 113 Squadron, flying Ouragans, and in 1965 became commander of 101 Squadron, which he was to lead during the Six-Day War. In 1970, he was put in charge of the weapons department in the Israeli Air Force and in 1973 became commander of Hatzor Airbase, which he led during the Yom Kippur War.
In 1975, Lapidot was put in charge of the Air Intelligence Directorate and in 1981 he became the director of the IAI Lavi project. A year later, in 1982, he was promoted to the rank of Aluf and became the Commander of the Israeli Air Force.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1964&dat=19851230&id=JSYuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Fc8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3885,7217295 |title=Israel Vows Punishment for Attacks |newspaper=The Palm Beach Sun |agency=Associated Press |date=December 30, 1985 |accessdate=2010-05-01}}
During his tenure, the Israeli Air Force received more F-16 fighter jets and upgraded its missile inventory with the Israeli AGM-142 Have Nap. It was under his aegis that the IAF carried out Operation Wooden Leg, a raid on the headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) at Hammam al-Shatt, Tunisia (1,500 miles away from Israel). In 1987, Lapidot completed his term as Commander of the Israeli Air Force and handed command over to Avihu Ben-Nun.{{cite news |author=Zohar Blumenkrantz |url=http://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1434785 |script-title=he:עכשיו זה גם רשמי: מצב בטיחות הטיסה בישראל קשה |language=he |trans-title=Now It's Official: Air Safety Situation in Israel Difficult |newspaper=Haaretz |date=August 16, 2007 |accessdate=August 18, 2014}}
In 1988, Lapidot created a think-tank organization. From 1998 to 2001 he was the President of Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, following Zehev Tadmor and followed by Yitzhak Apeloig.{{cite web|url=https://www.technion.ac.il/en/former-presidents/ |title=President | Technion - Israel Institute of Technology |publisher=Technion |date= 9 August 2015|accessdate=2020-02-16}} In 2007, he headed a public committee appointed by Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz to examine aviation safety. He resigned in May 2008 after its recommendations were not implemented.{{cite news |author=Zohar Blumenkrantz |url=http://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1553472 |script-title=he:עמוס לפידות: המצב בשמי המדינה - מסוכן |language=he |trans-title=Amos Lapidot: The situation in the country - dangerous |newspaper=Haaretz |date=August 16, 2007 |accessdate=August 18, 2014}} He was the chair of the academic committee of the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.
Gallery
Amos Lapidot (997009932943305171).jpg|Amos Lapidot in his younger years
Amos Lapidot, 1956 (122673ב1).jpg|Amos Lapidot 1956 as pilot of a Dassault Ouragan at Hatzor Airbase
Amos Lapidot, 1956 (122675ב1).jpg|Amos Lapidot (right) 1956 after getting out of his Dassault Ouragan jet at Hatzor Airbase
Meitar Collection (997009327155705171.jpg|Amos Lapidot as commander of 101 Squadron "First Fighter" in 1967, the year of the Six-Day War
Amos Lapidot (A424725דצ).jpg|Amos Lapidot (right) beside Yitzhak Rabin 1984 at Tel Nof Airbase
עמוס_לפידות.jpg|Amos Lapidot in 2012
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{IAF Commanders}}
{{Technion Presidents |state=}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lapidot, Amos}}
Category:Israeli Air Force generals
Category:Technion – Israel Institute of Technology presidents
Category:Tel Aviv University alumni