Ed Heinemann
Edward Henry Heinemann | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 14, 1908 |
| Died | November 26, 1991(aged 83) |
| Occupation | Aeronautical engineer |
Edward Henry Heinemann(March 14, 1908 – November 26, 1991) was amilitary aircraftdesigner for theDouglas Aircraft Company.
Biography
[edit]Heinemann was born inSaginaw, Michigan.He moved toCaliforniaas a boy and was raised inLos Angeles.A self-taughtengineer,he joinedDouglas Aircraftas adraftsmanin 1926, but was laid off within a year. After stints atInternational Aircraft,Moreland Aircraft,and the firstNorthrop Corporation,Heinemann rejoined Douglas after it acquired Northrop. Heinemann became Douglas' Chief Engineer in 1936. He remained with the company through 1960, when he left to joinGuidance Technology.In 1962 he joinedGeneral Dynamicsas Corporate Vice President of Engineering. In this position he oversaw the development of theF-16.He retired in 1973.
The airplane designerBurt Rutanlisted Heinemann as among the leading pioneers in aviation who had inspired him to become an aerospace engineer.[1][2]
His approach to aircraft design was uncomplicated, once saying that he simply took the most powerful engine available and designed theaircraftaround it.[citation needed]
Designs
[edit]During his long career at Douglas, Heinemann designed more than 20 combat aircraft, primarily for theU.S. Navy,including many that became legends in aviation history. His designs included the following aircraft:
- SBD Dauntlessdive bomber
- A-20 Havoclight bomber/attack aircraft
- A-26 Invaderlight bomber/attack aircraft
- A-1 Skyraiderattack aircraft
- A-3 Skywarriorbomber[3]
- A-4 Skyhawklight bomber
- F3D Skyknightnight fighter
- F4D Skyraycarrier-basedfighter aircraft
- Douglas SkystreakandDouglas Skyrocketresearch aircraft
One of the first aircraft to be designed by Heinemann was theMoreland M-1 Trainerof 1929, abraced-wingparasol wingmonoplane.Due to the 1929recessiononly a small number were sold before the company ceased trading in 1933.[4]
Awards and medals
[edit]- 1953:Collier Trophy(for theF4D Skyray)
- 1978:Guggenheim Medal
- 1981:National Aviation Hall of Fame
- 1982:International Air & Space Hall of Fame[5]
- 1983:National Medal of Science
The Naval Air Systems Command awards theEdward H. Heinemann Awardannually to an individual or group that makes a significant contribution to aircraft design.
References
[edit]- ^Confidence in Nonsense,Aviation Week and Space Technology.Penton Media. March 24, 2003. pp. 50–52.
- ^Golan, John (January 1, 2016).Lavi: The United States, Israel, and a Controversial Fighter Jet(First ed.). Potomac Books. p. 397.ISBN978-1612347226.RetrievedAugust 28,2017.
- ^Richard K Schrader (January 1988). "Skywarrior!".Air Classics:15.
- ^Orbis 1985, page 2560
- ^Sprekelmeyer, Linda, editor.These We Honor: The International Aerospace Hall of Fame.Donning Co. Publishers, 2006.ISBN978-1-57864-397-4.
Further reading
[edit]- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985).Orbis Publishing. 1985.
- Edward H. Heinemann and Rosario Rausa, "Ed Heinemann – Combat Aircraft Designer",ISBN0-87021-797-6
External links
[edit]- Heinemann biographyat Skyhawk Association site
- Edward Henry Heinemann Personal Papers,San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
- Edward Henry Heinemann(Photo Collection), Flickr, San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives
