Alexander Martin Lippisch (1894-1976) was a pioneer in the science of aerodynamics and is recognized as the "father" of the delta wing. He born in Munich, Germany and planned a career in art but was diverted by WWI and an assignment as an aerial mapper and photographer. Banned from developing a powered aircraft-industry after the Armistice, German flying enthusiasts pursued gliding and in Lippisch's case developing advanced glider designs, including tailless and delta wing prototypes. In 1938 he was transferred to the Messerschmitt factory and was assigned to retrofit his aircraft with a rocket engine. The result was the Me163 Komet, the world's only rocket-powered fighter plane. It flew at speeds approaching 700 mph, but was never developed into an effective fighter. Lippisch came to the U.S. after WWII as the result of Operation Paperclip, which sought to capture leading German scientists to help the U.S.in the Cold War. After a brief period with the U.S. Navy, working on carrier landing systems, he came to the Collins Radio Co., Cedar Rapids, were he worked 1950-1963 on integrated flight control systems and advanced designs for VTOL aircraft, ground effect vehicles, boat hulls, and the revolutionary aerodyne. He also applied his airflow expertise to cooling systems for computers and military equipment. Today his delta wing is recognized as a key component making supersonic flight possible for vehicles like the Space Shuttle and his pioneering ground effect designs have been applied to aircraft like the Harrier and the Widgetworks Airfish-8.
Alexander Martin Lippisch (1894-1976) was a pioneer in the science of aerodynamics and is recognized as the "father" of the delta wing. He born in Munich, Germany and planned a career in art but was diverted by WWI and an assignment as an aerial mapper and photographer. Banned from developing a powered aircraft-industry after the Armistice, German flying enthusiasts pursued gliding and in Lippisch's case developing advanced glider designs, including tailless and delta wing prototypes. In 1938 he was transferred to the Messerschmitt factory and was assigned to retrofit his aircraft with a rocket engine. The result was the Me163 Komet, the world's only rocket-powered fighter plane. It flew at speeds approaching 700 mph, but was never developed into an effective fighter. Lippisch came to the U.S. after WWII as the result of Operation Paperclip, which sought to capture leading German scientists to help the U.S.in the Cold War. After a brief period with the U.S. Navy, working on carrier landing systems, he came to the Collins Radio Co., Cedar Rapids, were he worked 1950-1963 on integrated flight control systems and advanced designs for VTOL aircraft, ground effect vehicles, boat hulls, and the revolutionary aerodyne. He also applied his airflow expertise to cooling systems for computers and military equipment. Today his delta wing is recognized as a key component making supersonic flight possible for vehicles like the Space Shuttle and his pioneering ground effect designs have been applied to aircraft like the Harrier and the Widgetworks Airfish-8.
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