Memoirs of an aeronautical engineer : flight testing at Ames Research Center, 1940-1970 PDF
Preview Memoirs of an aeronautical engineer : flight testing at Ames Research Center, 1940-1970
NASA/SP-2002-4526 AN MEMOIRS OF AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER Flight Tests at Ames Research Center: 1940-1970 Seth B. Anderson National Aeronautics and Space Administration Monograph in Aerospace History Series #26 Cover: Pilotandflight-test engineer compare notes on wing ofa Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, famous World War II fighter (more than 15,000 were built). NASA/SP-2002-4526 MEMOIRS OF AN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER Flight Testing at Ames Research Center: 1940-1970 by Seth B. Anderson A Joint Publication of NASA History Office Office of External Relations NASA Headquarters Washington, DC and Ames Research Center Moffett Field, California Monographs in Aerospace History Series #26 lune 2002 Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Anderson, Seth B. Memoirs ofan aeronautical engineer flight testing at Ames Research Center, : 1940-197—0 / by Seth B. Anderson p. cm. (NASA history series) (Monographs in aerospace history ; tt'lb) (NASA SP; 2002-4526) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-9645537-4-0 — — 1. Anderson, Se—th B. 2. Ae—ronautical engi—neers United States Biography. 3. Aeronautics Research United States History. 4. Ames Research — Center History. I.Title. II. Series. III. Monographs in aerospace history ; no. 26. IV. NASA SP ; 4526. TL540.A495 A3 2002 629.13'9902—dc21 2002029509 [Bl To my wife, Libby, tor sharing memories LibbyAnderson on wing ofa Vultee BT-1.3 basic trainer that was used in an Ames Research Center test pilot school (April 1944). Ill These memoirs take the reader back to the time when flight research was the principalactivity atAmes Research Center That period was made unique andexciting by the many unknowns that accompanied the early and rapid expansion ofaircraft development. Flight research playedan important role in finding essentialanswers to crucialaircraft flightproblems. What has happened to explain the endofan era in which aircraft flight research, which once had toppriority at Ames, no longer even exists^ People have not lost interest in airplanes, judging from the very large turnout at the annual convention ofthe ExperimentalAircraftAssociation in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, hiave all the important flight research areas been examined in sufficient depth to provide useful and lasting benefits? Only time will tell. — Seth Anderson October, 2000 Ames Research Center . Foreword The words of the prologue are those ot our friend and mentor, Seth Anderson, who dedicated his professional life to flight research. Seth wanted to preserve his personal flight research experiences for the benefit of future — generations of aeronautical engineers and pilots experiences he accumulated over several decades as a practi- tioner ofthe art and as a first-line supervisor of a like-minded and dedicated group. He believed that his recol- — lections of important and exciting aspects ofthe programs in which he participated the reasons for undertaking them, the personalities and conflicting opinions involved in them, the obstacles overcome, the problems solved, — and the key results they produced would be of interest not only to the aviation community but to the multi- tudes ofaviation enthusiasts who remain fascinated by the extraordinary history of the adventure of flight. — Seth worked over a period ofseveral years to prepare this monograph collecting information, drafting the text, and finding and selecting the historic photographs. He describes the beginnings offlight research as he knew it at Ames Research Center, recalls numerous World War II programs, relates his experiences with powered-lift aircraft, and concludes with his impressions of two international flight research efforts. His comprehensive collection of large-format photographs ofthe airplanes and people involved in the various flight activities related in the text constitutes a compelling part of his work. These memoirs were completed as Seth's 60-year career at the NACA and NASA ended with his death in 2001 As individuals who worked with and for Seth and shared his enthusiasm for airplanes and flight, we commend his memoirs for their excellence ofcontent and style. Reading them leaves you with the feeling that you have just left Seth's office after hearing his recounting of the important activities ofthe day and that, primed by his enthusi- asm, you are ready for the adventures to come. Ames Research Center jack Franklin Moffett Field, California Dallas Denery VII
The list of books you might like
