The Wit Wisdom 0 Alexander Lippisch Imagine yourself building research models creative aerodynamic de signers world has ever produced account gives some insight what man experience like U Paul Mcllrath AVIATION HISTORY recognizes Dr Al exander Lippisch designer worlds first operational rocket-powered air plane father delta wing con cept Dr Lippisch also did important pio neering fields gliding soaring tailless aircraft ground effect vehicles duct ed fans wind tunnel design modelers remember him fellow builder designer writer researcher continued recognize value model building research others abandoning scaled-down aircraft reels computer tape Curiously modelers among count myself worked doctor Collins Aeronautical Research Laboratoiy get together reminisce seldom discuss technical side job likely recall personal things dont interest historians espe cially laughs humorous moments shared days lot funny things did happen worked Dr Lippisch groups recollections ten take form humorous anecdotes Whether talking distinguished aviation group workshop gang coffee break doctors conversation spar kled humor Mrs Lippisch tells occasion scheduled speak meeting aviation industry series frustrating airline delays caused him ar rive late program shuffled doctor spoke later originally scheduled finally came speakers stand Dr Lippisch apologized de lay offered liffle poem hed com posed airport waiting room went like Time spare Go air time yet Take jet Although technical thinking fo cused future Dr Lippisch never out touch present keeping up American slang half-cen tury aeronautical pioneering provided him whole library amusing anec dotes about early days aviation Sometimes might recount simple little stories like about pet ferret 70 Model Aviation Dr Lippisch adjusts trim wheel controlling early VTOL aerodyne hovering overhead slack cable contains control power wires Commands pilots console went electrically operated flaps belly air outlets control lift roll turning ward speed On-board gyros provided additional assistance Response amazingly precise No wings required Both lift forward thrust provided shrouded propel lers rubber-powered Free Flight model Its natural stability excellent glide though steep controlled probably shortest exciting test flight career point should make clear Dr Lippisch teller tall tales stories colorful werent Bunyanesque Any exaggerations ar tide product writers enthusi asm subject coupled some what shaky memory events occurred 30 years back Others knew doctor will no doubt find errors distortions account think theyll agree anecdotes succeed reflecting rich sense humor characteristic unusual man first glimpse Dr Lippischs quick wit came day reported work Collins Aero Lab doctor himself troduced talented people would working took tour amazing shop rapid succes sion saw full-scale aerodyne half dozen wind tunnels test rigs sort lifting body shrouded propeller researchand course fascinating flying models models workbenches models stored shelves cor ner shop models built shapes purposes poor amateur builder couldnt imagine time tour over completely over whelmed As walked back front office passed workman trimming patch grass near entrance hand mower Still shock confessed doctor jobs observed tour pushing mower knew kept hangar early days Mice annoying habit nesting ner corners wings fuselages hangar ferrets job keep under control Another time might wilder tale like friend just finished doping new sailplane wing middle night Eager feel lift builder hoisted wing center sec tion struggled outside patch light between hangar doors Suddenly Docs amazement friend wing van ished darkness An unexpected gust wind snatched wings surprised passenger straight up air what 20191815 8 14---- 17 19 13 Oh dont worry reassured dont think will have doing voice dropping pensive mum ble just loud enough overheard doctor added ceptmaybe sometimes 367 11l--.j 254211 10 7K U~70 Li 51211 Wright brothers first demon strated flying machine Europe no observer thrilled 14-yearold German schoolboy named Alexander Lippisch Although Lippisch received no formal training engineering early career shaped deep fascination science flying never left him gliding soaring movement flow ered Germany early 1920s Lippisch quickly became leader technology genius lay advanced re search application learn ing design practical gliders airplanes Although conventional de signs very successful scientific curiosity led him away proven ac cepted designs sweptwing tailless flapping-wing study Lippisch model building became both hobby research tool As early 1930s Dr Lippisch developing highly swept triangular wing shape basis todays high-speed aircraft earned him title Father delta wing During World War II called upon design revolutionary Me-163 tailless interceptor far fastest air plane its day worlds first pro duction rocket-powered plane United States after war Dr Lippisch developed ground effect vehi cles Aerodyne wingless aircraft time death age 81 still active consultant sur face-skimming vertical-takeoff aircraft country Europe 13 Al Always exploring unknown Dr Lippisch built successful rubber-powered wing flap per days models built bamboo hardwood An enlarged version basic design still winning contests decades later Plans courtesy George Taylor Dr Lippisch fascinating lecturer humor speeches made entertaimng nontechnical people sci entists engineers favorite themes talks flying does require complicated machinery January 1989 71 Dr M Lippisch would sometimes demonstrate concept little flying wing appeared nothing sheet A6 x 3 x 18m balsa right off hobby shop shelf Doc would pick up give casual toss sent gliding across stage effi ciently contest-winning Sailplane Actually sheet carefully shaped balanced beforehand audience thing distinguished other piece sheet balsa warning TOP SECRET rubber stamped across side bold red letters course always curious listener whod ask ordinary sheet balsa labeled TOP SECRET admitted doctor obvi ous enjoyment launch can tell its top side its bottom side another Dr Lippischs favorite illus trations explained basic difference between subsonic supersonic aerody namics terms layman could easily understand enjoy way Dr Lippisch told air mol ecules airplanes path became main characters story air plane flying along subsonic speed would explain air has time get out way Before plane arrives air molecule its path gives little nudge ahead little air molecule might say neighbor Wed better get out way Hans Theres airplane wing over headed right toward us second molecule would answer OK Fritz Ill go up go down molecules would spread apart orderly manner allowing wing slide easily between airplane flying super sonic speed story would quite differ ent Fritz would probably yell Look out Hans comes SPLAn! simple bit levity hit mark listeners supersonic flight would always visualized terms two unfortunate little air molecules first jobs lab build test new device deflect airstream tailpipe similar modem jet thrust reverser crude test unit built preliminary thrust measurements complete took re sults Dr Lippisch evaluation goodvery effective said looked figures As studied data further nodded approvingly mumbled himself thinldng out loud longer looked talked himself enthusiastic became will work. work have run tests have proved it. know will work scientific caution caught up natural enthusiasm remem bered standing added sheepish grin almost case wondering Dr Lippischs caution justified de flecting device didnt work Although Continued page 181 72 Model Aviation Lippischs surface skimming aerofoil boat designed high-efficiency flying just few feet off water early test flight over-enthusiastic test pilot horrified doctor happily flying boat over surrounding hills timber Photo courtesy Leo Miner une remaining Me-163s sits Smithsonian restoration facility Silver Hill MD awaiting time artisans can revamp futuristic rocket plane World War II probably Dr Lippisch remembered Photo Don Berliner full-size aerodyne wingless VTOL designed built tested small crew shown Dr Lippisch far right distrusted large organizations preferred small teams instead knew man name could monitor details himself thrust measurements promising fur- supply todays powerful Radio Control ther testing showed opening cbs- servos available concept might ing little doors required far force have worked Thirty years ago just crude solenoids model could Continued r 181 FF Old-Timers/Baker Continued page 176 big fin makes high power very tricky wants spiral dive flown hands-off same September column talked about importance having small fin area going fly Free Flight high power pleased get letter Bill McCombs senior engineer Vought Corporation agrees great book published Air Age Inc Model Airplane News some years ago entitled Flying Improving Scale Model Airplanes Find copy can Does anyone still have bunch sale includes much data FF performance stabil ity trim limited Scale models Bill later published Making Scale Models Fly mostly limited Scale principles apply flying thing think can buy later book directly him 2106 Siesta Dr Dallas TX 75224 last time saw Peck-Polymers catalog listed too can find copy earlier larger book think will agree worth hunt Bill says power climbing angle crease fin size can tolerated spiral flight developing smaller very large dihedral spiral flight can climb old enemy spiral dive lurks nearby very old antique Cabin models nce allowed cut off fin area increase dihedral d better fly Long Cabins Musketeers power levels designed handle next time Please keep letters photos coming Hansa No-CaI/Lidberg Continued page 69 Lay body down its left covered side glue motor stick making sure place stick wing must fit Add stabilizer wing havent already done make up tip tanks add jet engine Make lightening holes sheet balsa parts using piece sharpened brass tub ing eraser holder old wooden pencil cover parts glue place Attach ioop rubber check balance Add clay front body necessary obtain balance point shown plan Check plane over warps us ing dry heat electric stove burner space heater straighten out Try test glide making sure prop freewheels air Some adjustment add ing removing clay may necessary optimal glide Try some power flights Use about 100 turns making sure wind correct direction Power adjustments made largely using bendable thrust bear ing model stalls bend bit downthrust wont climb take out some downthrust add turns and/or take off some clay airplane seems happiest wide climb turn youre ready turn few heads flying field Hansa surefire way have some fun doing Lippisch/Mcllrath Continued page 72 another idea didnt pan out course such failures frustrations common research work some times disappointments can provide laughalthough humor situa tion might obvious time Such incident occurred building new tail duct replace dam aged flying model should light flies off workbench itself favorite Lippisch expression Saving weight always pri mary building goals particular morning doctor stopped workbench inspect nearly completed duct section picked up part weighed hand tossed down bench obvious dissatisfaction Too heavy announced Much too heavy its lots lighter old argued Twenty-three grams instead 31 Dr Lippisch sputtered moment stmggling find way explain such obvious principle poor slow-witted fellow Finally controlling himself ef fort quoted what might called Lip pischs First Law Aerodynamics feels too heavy too heavy marched out shop probably silently lamenting problem finding good model builders anymore As several stories have shown Dr Lippischs wit often mixed wisdom Sometimes after care ful reflection listener could tease out much playfulness much penetration words contained example friend once told discussion Dr Lippisch building pedal-powered plane jokingly called pedalfiugel un der consideration plane built like giant Indoor model using balsa much stmcture doctor describing amazing strength balsa tail boom section just tested Fifteen hundred pounds supported compression reported enthusiastically can keep compression interrupted another listener What some unexpected loads buckles tail collapses asked lis tener thinking course fate unfortunate individual manning ped als handlebars breaks fix answered doctorhis standard response whenever questioned strength unmanned models immediately resumed earlier dis cussion surprised hear doctor seemingly brush aside issue pilots safety safety people flying airplanes always Dr Lippischs pri mary concern proud fact never fatal accident during testing of civil designs wartime development fu turistic rocket-powered Me-163 ad hered cautious methods doctor followed earlier work Testing gan unpowered flights glider tiny interceptor towed aloft plane released high altitude Engineering measurements pilot familiarization exciting aerobatics safely per formed during long glides back earth Obviously pilots safety line breaks fix just wasnt like doctor ignoring danger accident pedalfiugel Looking back dont think Dr Lippisch years experi ence areas related man-powered air craft low-speed flight lightweight struc tures ground effect phenomena testing unorthodox machines Long before conversation understandably con cerned listener must have visualized actually calculated floating shoulderhigh flight giant Indoor model clearly sure serious injury highiy unlikely considered prob lem decided would problem erased mind Years later history Gossamer Condor Albatross projects confirmed principles extreme lightuess easy repairability two keys success human-powered flight As breaks fix dozens crashes Condor Albatross sur vived serious injury proved underneath its apparent casualness Dr Lip pischs maxim expressed sound engineer ing principle Dr Alexander Lippisch man ahead time ideas advanced spent whole adult life dragging much aeronautical world along behind him Trying convince doubting experts hed snort used term pleading businessmen research funds trying make rest us see future through eyes Sustaining kind effort year after year demands combination qualities few men possess Probably vivid sense humor traits made possible Doctor Lippischs brilliant leadership aeronautical science nearly 60 years CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 74 response rate somewhat Nonetheless found ship could flown fairly comfort ably supplied Dacron lines handle later fly ship bellcrank itself mounted top wing control lines exit fuselage along top inboard wing similar cur rent Combat models clever two-piece lead out guide provided locate lead-outs January 1989 181
Edition: Model Aviation - 1989/01
Page Numbers: 70, 71, 72, 181
Edition: Model Aviation - 1989/01
Page Numbers: 70, 71, 72, 181
The Wit Wisdom 0 Alexander Lippisch Imagine yourself building research models creative aerodynamic de signers world has ever produced account gives some insight what man experience like U Paul Mcllrath AVIATION HISTORY recognizes Dr Al exander Lippisch designer worlds first operational rocket-powered air plane father delta wing con cept Dr Lippisch also did important pio neering fields gliding soaring tailless aircraft ground effect vehicles duct ed fans wind tunnel design modelers remember him fellow builder designer writer researcher continued recognize value model building research others abandoning scaled-down aircraft reels computer tape Curiously modelers among count myself worked doctor Collins Aeronautical Research Laboratoiy get together reminisce seldom discuss technical side job likely recall personal things dont interest historians espe cially laughs humorous moments shared days lot funny things did happen worked Dr Lippisch groups recollections ten take form humorous anecdotes Whether talking distinguished aviation group workshop gang coffee break doctors conversation spar kled humor Mrs Lippisch tells occasion scheduled speak meeting aviation industry series frustrating airline delays caused him ar rive late program shuffled doctor spoke later originally scheduled finally came speakers stand Dr Lippisch apologized de lay offered liffle poem hed com posed airport waiting room went like Time spare Go air time yet Take jet Although technical thinking fo cused future Dr Lippisch never out touch present keeping up American slang half-cen tury aeronautical pioneering provided him whole library amusing anec dotes about early days aviation Sometimes might recount simple little stories like about pet ferret 70 Model Aviation Dr Lippisch adjusts trim wheel controlling early VTOL aerodyne hovering overhead slack cable contains control power wires Commands pilots console went electrically operated flaps belly air outlets control lift roll turning ward speed On-board gyros provided additional assistance Response amazingly precise No wings required Both lift forward thrust provided shrouded propel lers rubber-powered Free Flight model Its natural stability excellent glide though steep controlled probably shortest exciting test flight career point should make clear Dr Lippisch teller tall tales stories colorful werent Bunyanesque Any exaggerations ar tide product writers enthusi asm subject coupled some what shaky memory events occurred 30 years back Others knew doctor will no doubt find errors distortions account think theyll agree anecdotes succeed reflecting rich sense humor characteristic unusual man first glimpse Dr Lippischs quick wit came day reported work Collins Aero Lab doctor himself troduced talented people would working took tour amazing shop rapid succes sion saw full-scale aerodyne half dozen wind tunnels test rigs sort lifting body shrouded propeller researchand course fascinating flying models models workbenches models stored shelves cor ner shop models built shapes purposes poor amateur builder couldnt imagine time tour over completely over whelmed As walked back front office passed workman trimming patch grass near entrance hand mower Still shock confessed doctor jobs observed tour pushing mower knew kept hangar early days Mice annoying habit nesting ner corners wings fuselages hangar ferrets job keep under control Another time might wilder tale like friend just finished doping new sailplane wing middle night Eager feel lift builder hoisted wing center sec tion struggled outside patch light between hangar doors Suddenly Docs amazement friend wing van ished darkness An unexpected gust wind snatched wings surprised passenger straight up air what 20191815 8 14---- 17 19 13 Oh dont worry reassured dont think will have doing voice dropping pensive mum ble just loud enough overheard doctor added ceptmaybe sometimes 367 11l--.j 254211 10 7K U~70 Li 51211 Wright brothers first demon strated flying machine Europe no observer thrilled 14-yearold German schoolboy named Alexander Lippisch Although Lippisch received no formal training engineering early career shaped deep fascination science flying never left him gliding soaring movement flow ered Germany early 1920s Lippisch quickly became leader technology genius lay advanced re search application learn ing design practical gliders airplanes Although conventional de signs very successful scientific curiosity led him away proven ac cepted designs sweptwing tailless flapping-wing study Lippisch model building became both hobby research tool As early 1930s Dr Lippisch developing highly swept triangular wing shape basis todays high-speed aircraft earned him title Father delta wing During World War II called upon design revolutionary Me-163 tailless interceptor far fastest air plane its day worlds first pro duction rocket-powered plane United States after war Dr Lippisch developed ground effect vehi cles Aerodyne wingless aircraft time death age 81 still active consultant sur face-skimming vertical-takeoff aircraft country Europe 13 Al Always exploring unknown Dr Lippisch built successful rubber-powered wing flap per days models built bamboo hardwood An enlarged version basic design still winning contests decades later Plans courtesy George Taylor Dr Lippisch fascinating lecturer humor speeches made entertaimng nontechnical people sci entists engineers favorite themes talks flying does require complicated machinery January 1989 71 Dr M Lippisch would sometimes demonstrate concept little flying wing appeared nothing sheet A6 x 3 x 18m balsa right off hobby shop shelf Doc would pick up give casual toss sent gliding across stage effi ciently contest-winning Sailplane Actually sheet carefully shaped balanced beforehand audience thing distinguished other piece sheet balsa warning TOP SECRET rubber stamped across side bold red letters course always curious listener whod ask ordinary sheet balsa labeled TOP SECRET admitted doctor obvi ous enjoyment launch can tell its top side its bottom side another Dr Lippischs favorite illus trations explained basic difference between subsonic supersonic aerody namics terms layman could easily understand enjoy way Dr Lippisch told air mol ecules airplanes path became main characters story air plane flying along subsonic speed would explain air has time get out way Before plane arrives air molecule its path gives little nudge ahead little air molecule might say neighbor Wed better get out way Hans Theres airplane wing over headed right toward us second molecule would answer OK Fritz Ill go up go down molecules would spread apart orderly manner allowing wing slide easily between airplane flying super sonic speed story would quite differ ent Fritz would probably yell Look out Hans comes SPLAn! simple bit levity hit mark listeners supersonic flight would always visualized terms two unfortunate little air molecules first jobs lab build test new device deflect airstream tailpipe similar modem jet thrust reverser crude test unit built preliminary thrust measurements complete took re sults Dr Lippisch evaluation goodvery effective said looked figures As studied data further nodded approvingly mumbled himself thinldng out loud longer looked talked himself enthusiastic became will work. work have run tests have proved it. know will work scientific caution caught up natural enthusiasm remem bered standing added sheepish grin almost case wondering Dr Lippischs caution justified de flecting device didnt work Although Continued page 181 72 Model Aviation Lippischs surface skimming aerofoil boat designed high-efficiency flying just few feet off water early test flight over-enthusiastic test pilot horrified doctor happily flying boat over surrounding hills timber Photo courtesy Leo Miner une remaining Me-163s sits Smithsonian restoration facility Silver Hill MD awaiting time artisans can revamp futuristic rocket plane World War II probably Dr Lippisch remembered Photo Don Berliner full-size aerodyne wingless VTOL designed built tested small crew shown Dr Lippisch far right distrusted large organizations preferred small teams instead knew man name could monitor details himself thrust measurements promising fur- supply todays powerful Radio Control ther testing showed opening cbs- servos available concept might ing little doors required far force have worked Thirty years ago just crude solenoids model could Continued r 181 FF Old-Timers/Baker Continued page 176 big fin makes high power very tricky wants spiral dive flown hands-off same September column talked about importance having small fin area going fly Free Flight high power pleased get letter Bill McCombs senior engineer Vought Corporation agrees great book published Air Age Inc Model Airplane News some years ago entitled Flying Improving Scale Model Airplanes Find copy can Does anyone still have bunch sale includes much data FF performance stabil ity trim limited Scale models Bill later published Making Scale Models Fly mostly limited Scale principles apply flying thing think can buy later book directly him 2106 Siesta Dr Dallas TX 75224 last time saw Peck-Polymers catalog listed too can find copy earlier larger book think will agree worth hunt Bill says power climbing angle crease fin size can tolerated spiral flight developing smaller very large dihedral spiral flight can climb old enemy spiral dive lurks nearby very old antique Cabin models nce allowed cut off fin area increase dihedral d better fly Long Cabins Musketeers power levels designed handle next time Please keep letters photos coming Hansa No-CaI/Lidberg Continued page 69 Lay body down its left covered side glue motor stick making sure place stick wing must fit Add stabilizer wing havent already done make up tip tanks add jet engine Make lightening holes sheet balsa parts using piece sharpened brass tub ing eraser holder old wooden pencil cover parts glue place Attach ioop rubber check balance Add clay front body necessary obtain balance point shown plan Check plane over warps us ing dry heat electric stove burner space heater straighten out Try test glide making sure prop freewheels air Some adjustment add ing removing clay may necessary optimal glide Try some power flights Use about 100 turns making sure wind correct direction Power adjustments made largely using bendable thrust bear ing model stalls bend bit downthrust wont climb take out some downthrust add turns and/or take off some clay airplane seems happiest wide climb turn youre ready turn few heads flying field Hansa surefire way have some fun doing Lippisch/Mcllrath Continued page 72 another idea didnt pan out course such failures frustrations common research work some times disappointments can provide laughalthough humor situa tion might obvious time Such incident occurred building new tail duct replace dam aged flying model should light flies off workbench itself favorite Lippisch expression Saving weight always pri mary building goals particular morning doctor stopped workbench inspect nearly completed duct section picked up part weighed hand tossed down bench obvious dissatisfaction Too heavy announced Much too heavy its lots lighter old argued Twenty-three grams instead 31 Dr Lippisch sputtered moment stmggling find way explain such obvious principle poor slow-witted fellow Finally controlling himself ef fort quoted what might called Lip pischs First Law Aerodynamics feels too heavy too heavy marched out shop probably silently lamenting problem finding good model builders anymore As several stories have shown Dr Lippischs wit often mixed wisdom Sometimes after care ful reflection listener could tease out much playfulness much penetration words contained example friend once told discussion Dr Lippisch building pedal-powered plane jokingly called pedalfiugel un der consideration plane built like giant Indoor model using balsa much stmcture doctor describing amazing strength balsa tail boom section just tested Fifteen hundred pounds supported compression reported enthusiastically can keep compression interrupted another listener What some unexpected loads buckles tail collapses asked lis tener thinking course fate unfortunate individual manning ped als handlebars breaks fix answered doctorhis standard response whenever questioned strength unmanned models immediately resumed earlier dis cussion surprised hear doctor seemingly brush aside issue pilots safety safety people flying airplanes always Dr Lippischs pri mary concern proud fact never fatal accident during testing of civil designs wartime development fu turistic rocket-powered Me-163 ad hered cautious methods doctor followed earlier work Testing gan unpowered flights glider tiny interceptor towed aloft plane released high altitude Engineering measurements pilot familiarization exciting aerobatics safely per formed during long glides back earth Obviously pilots safety line breaks fix just wasnt like doctor ignoring danger accident pedalfiugel Looking back dont think Dr Lippisch years experi ence areas related man-powered air craft low-speed flight lightweight struc tures ground effect phenomena testing unorthodox machines Long before conversation understandably con cerned listener must have visualized actually calculated floating shoulderhigh flight giant Indoor model clearly sure serious injury highiy unlikely considered prob lem decided would problem erased mind Years later history Gossamer Condor Albatross projects confirmed principles extreme lightuess easy repairability two keys success human-powered flight As breaks fix dozens crashes Condor Albatross sur vived serious injury proved underneath its apparent casualness Dr Lip pischs maxim expressed sound engineer ing principle Dr Alexander Lippisch man ahead time ideas advanced spent whole adult life dragging much aeronautical world along behind him Trying convince doubting experts hed snort used term pleading businessmen research funds trying make rest us see future through eyes Sustaining kind effort year after year demands combination qualities few men possess Probably vivid sense humor traits made possible Doctor Lippischs brilliant leadership aeronautical science nearly 60 years CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 74 response rate somewhat Nonetheless found ship could flown fairly comfort ably supplied Dacron lines handle later fly ship bellcrank itself mounted top wing control lines exit fuselage along top inboard wing similar cur rent Combat models clever two-piece lead out guide provided locate lead-outs January 1989 181
Edition: Model Aviation - 1989/01
Page Numbers: 70, 71, 72, 181
The Wit Wisdom 0 Alexander Lippisch Imagine yourself building research models creative aerodynamic de signers world has ever produced account gives some insight what man experience like U Paul Mcllrath AVIATION HISTORY recognizes Dr Al exander Lippisch designer worlds first operational rocket-powered air plane father delta wing con cept Dr Lippisch also did important pio neering fields gliding soaring tailless aircraft ground effect vehicles duct ed fans wind tunnel design modelers remember him fellow builder designer writer researcher continued recognize value model building research others abandoning scaled-down aircraft reels computer tape Curiously modelers among count myself worked doctor Collins Aeronautical Research Laboratoiy get together reminisce seldom discuss technical side job likely recall personal things dont interest historians espe cially laughs humorous moments shared days lot funny things did happen worked Dr Lippisch groups recollections ten take form humorous anecdotes Whether talking distinguished aviation group workshop gang coffee break doctors conversation spar kled humor Mrs Lippisch tells occasion scheduled speak meeting aviation industry series frustrating airline delays caused him ar rive late program shuffled doctor spoke later originally scheduled finally came speakers stand Dr Lippisch apologized de lay offered liffle poem hed com posed airport waiting room went like Time spare Go air time yet Take jet Although technical thinking fo cused future Dr Lippisch never out touch present keeping up American slang half-cen tury aeronautical pioneering provided him whole library amusing anec dotes about early days aviation Sometimes might recount simple little stories like about pet ferret 70 Model Aviation Dr Lippisch adjusts trim wheel controlling early VTOL aerodyne hovering overhead slack cable contains control power wires Commands pilots console went electrically operated flaps belly air outlets control lift roll turning ward speed On-board gyros provided additional assistance Response amazingly precise No wings required Both lift forward thrust provided shrouded propel lers rubber-powered Free Flight model Its natural stability excellent glide though steep controlled probably shortest exciting test flight career point should make clear Dr Lippisch teller tall tales stories colorful werent Bunyanesque Any exaggerations ar tide product writers enthusi asm subject coupled some what shaky memory events occurred 30 years back Others knew doctor will no doubt find errors distortions account think theyll agree anecdotes succeed reflecting rich sense humor characteristic unusual man first glimpse Dr Lippischs quick wit came day reported work Collins Aero Lab doctor himself troduced talented people would working took tour amazing shop rapid succes sion saw full-scale aerodyne half dozen wind tunnels test rigs sort lifting body shrouded propeller researchand course fascinating flying models models workbenches models stored shelves cor ner shop models built shapes purposes poor amateur builder couldnt imagine time tour over completely over whelmed As walked back front office passed workman trimming patch grass near entrance hand mower Still shock confessed doctor jobs observed tour pushing mower knew kept hangar early days Mice annoying habit nesting ner corners wings fuselages hangar ferrets job keep under control Another time might wilder tale like friend just finished doping new sailplane wing middle night Eager feel lift builder hoisted wing center sec tion struggled outside patch light between hangar doors Suddenly Docs amazement friend wing van ished darkness An unexpected gust wind snatched wings surprised passenger straight up air what 20191815 8 14---- 17 19 13 Oh dont worry reassured dont think will have doing voice dropping pensive mum ble just loud enough overheard doctor added ceptmaybe sometimes 367 11l--.j 254211 10 7K U~70 Li 51211 Wright brothers first demon strated flying machine Europe no observer thrilled 14-yearold German schoolboy named Alexander Lippisch Although Lippisch received no formal training engineering early career shaped deep fascination science flying never left him gliding soaring movement flow ered Germany early 1920s Lippisch quickly became leader technology genius lay advanced re search application learn ing design practical gliders airplanes Although conventional de signs very successful scientific curiosity led him away proven ac cepted designs sweptwing tailless flapping-wing study Lippisch model building became both hobby research tool As early 1930s Dr Lippisch developing highly swept triangular wing shape basis todays high-speed aircraft earned him title Father delta wing During World War II called upon design revolutionary Me-163 tailless interceptor far fastest air plane its day worlds first pro duction rocket-powered plane United States after war Dr Lippisch developed ground effect vehi cles Aerodyne wingless aircraft time death age 81 still active consultant sur face-skimming vertical-takeoff aircraft country Europe 13 Al Always exploring unknown Dr Lippisch built successful rubber-powered wing flap per days models built bamboo hardwood An enlarged version basic design still winning contests decades later Plans courtesy George Taylor Dr Lippisch fascinating lecturer humor speeches made entertaimng nontechnical people sci entists engineers favorite themes talks flying does require complicated machinery January 1989 71 Dr M Lippisch would sometimes demonstrate concept little flying wing appeared nothing sheet A6 x 3 x 18m balsa right off hobby shop shelf Doc would pick up give casual toss sent gliding across stage effi ciently contest-winning Sailplane Actually sheet carefully shaped balanced beforehand audience thing distinguished other piece sheet balsa warning TOP SECRET rubber stamped across side bold red letters course always curious listener whod ask ordinary sheet balsa labeled TOP SECRET admitted doctor obvi ous enjoyment launch can tell its top side its bottom side another Dr Lippischs favorite illus trations explained basic difference between subsonic supersonic aerody namics terms layman could easily understand enjoy way Dr Lippisch told air mol ecules airplanes path became main characters story air plane flying along subsonic speed would explain air has time get out way Before plane arrives air molecule its path gives little nudge ahead little air molecule might say neighbor Wed better get out way Hans Theres airplane wing over headed right toward us second molecule would answer OK Fritz Ill go up go down molecules would spread apart orderly manner allowing wing slide easily between airplane flying super sonic speed story would quite differ ent Fritz would probably yell Look out Hans comes SPLAn! simple bit levity hit mark listeners supersonic flight would always visualized terms two unfortunate little air molecules first jobs lab build test new device deflect airstream tailpipe similar modem jet thrust reverser crude test unit built preliminary thrust measurements complete took re sults Dr Lippisch evaluation goodvery effective said looked figures As studied data further nodded approvingly mumbled himself thinldng out loud longer looked talked himself enthusiastic became will work. work have run tests have proved it. know will work scientific caution caught up natural enthusiasm remem bered standing added sheepish grin almost case wondering Dr Lippischs caution justified de flecting device didnt work Although Continued page 181 72 Model Aviation Lippischs surface skimming aerofoil boat designed high-efficiency flying just few feet off water early test flight over-enthusiastic test pilot horrified doctor happily flying boat over surrounding hills timber Photo courtesy Leo Miner une remaining Me-163s sits Smithsonian restoration facility Silver Hill MD awaiting time artisans can revamp futuristic rocket plane World War II probably Dr Lippisch remembered Photo Don Berliner full-size aerodyne wingless VTOL designed built tested small crew shown Dr Lippisch far right distrusted large organizations preferred small teams instead knew man name could monitor details himself thrust measurements promising fur- supply todays powerful Radio Control ther testing showed opening cbs- servos available concept might ing little doors required far force have worked Thirty years ago just crude solenoids model could Continued r 181 FF Old-Timers/Baker Continued page 176 big fin makes high power very tricky wants spiral dive flown hands-off same September column talked about importance having small fin area going fly Free Flight high power pleased get letter Bill McCombs senior engineer Vought Corporation agrees great book published Air Age Inc Model Airplane News some years ago entitled Flying Improving Scale Model Airplanes Find copy can Does anyone still have bunch sale includes much data FF performance stabil ity trim limited Scale models Bill later published Making Scale Models Fly mostly limited Scale principles apply flying thing think can buy later book directly him 2106 Siesta Dr Dallas TX 75224 last time saw Peck-Polymers catalog listed too can find copy earlier larger book think will agree worth hunt Bill says power climbing angle crease fin size can tolerated spiral flight developing smaller very large dihedral spiral flight can climb old enemy spiral dive lurks nearby very old antique Cabin models nce allowed cut off fin area increase dihedral d better fly Long Cabins Musketeers power levels designed handle next time Please keep letters photos coming Hansa No-CaI/Lidberg Continued page 69 Lay body down its left covered side glue motor stick making sure place stick wing must fit Add stabilizer wing havent already done make up tip tanks add jet engine Make lightening holes sheet balsa parts using piece sharpened brass tub ing eraser holder old wooden pencil cover parts glue place Attach ioop rubber check balance Add clay front body necessary obtain balance point shown plan Check plane over warps us ing dry heat electric stove burner space heater straighten out Try test glide making sure prop freewheels air Some adjustment add ing removing clay may necessary optimal glide Try some power flights Use about 100 turns making sure wind correct direction Power adjustments made largely using bendable thrust bear ing model stalls bend bit downthrust wont climb take out some downthrust add turns and/or take off some clay airplane seems happiest wide climb turn youre ready turn few heads flying field Hansa surefire way have some fun doing Lippisch/Mcllrath Continued page 72 another idea didnt pan out course such failures frustrations common research work some times disappointments can provide laughalthough humor situa tion might obvious time Such incident occurred building new tail duct replace dam aged flying model should light flies off workbench itself favorite Lippisch expression Saving weight always pri mary building goals particular morning doctor stopped workbench inspect nearly completed duct section picked up part weighed hand tossed down bench obvious dissatisfaction Too heavy announced Much too heavy its lots lighter old argued Twenty-three grams instead 31 Dr Lippisch sputtered moment stmggling find way explain such obvious principle poor slow-witted fellow Finally controlling himself ef fort quoted what might called Lip pischs First Law Aerodynamics feels too heavy too heavy marched out shop probably silently lamenting problem finding good model builders anymore As several stories have shown Dr Lippischs wit often mixed wisdom Sometimes after care ful reflection listener could tease out much playfulness much penetration words contained example friend once told discussion Dr Lippisch building pedal-powered plane jokingly called pedalfiugel un der consideration plane built like giant Indoor model using balsa much stmcture doctor describing amazing strength balsa tail boom section just tested Fifteen hundred pounds supported compression reported enthusiastically can keep compression interrupted another listener What some unexpected loads buckles tail collapses asked lis tener thinking course fate unfortunate individual manning ped als handlebars breaks fix answered doctorhis standard response whenever questioned strength unmanned models immediately resumed earlier dis cussion surprised hear doctor seemingly brush aside issue pilots safety safety people flying airplanes always Dr Lippischs pri mary concern proud fact never fatal accident during testing of civil designs wartime development fu turistic rocket-powered Me-163 ad hered cautious methods doctor followed earlier work Testing gan unpowered flights glider tiny interceptor towed aloft plane released high altitude Engineering measurements pilot familiarization exciting aerobatics safely per formed during long glides back earth Obviously pilots safety line breaks fix just wasnt like doctor ignoring danger accident pedalfiugel Looking back dont think Dr Lippisch years experi ence areas related man-powered air craft low-speed flight lightweight struc tures ground effect phenomena testing unorthodox machines Long before conversation understandably con cerned listener must have visualized actually calculated floating shoulderhigh flight giant Indoor model clearly sure serious injury highiy unlikely considered prob lem decided would problem erased mind Years later history Gossamer Condor Albatross projects confirmed principles extreme lightuess easy repairability two keys success human-powered flight As breaks fix dozens crashes Condor Albatross sur vived serious injury proved underneath its apparent casualness Dr Lip pischs maxim expressed sound engineer ing principle Dr Alexander Lippisch man ahead time ideas advanced spent whole adult life dragging much aeronautical world along behind him Trying convince doubting experts hed snort used term pleading businessmen research funds trying make rest us see future through eyes Sustaining kind effort year after year demands combination qualities few men possess Probably vivid sense humor traits made possible Doctor Lippischs brilliant leadership aeronautical science nearly 60 years CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 74 response rate somewhat Nonetheless found ship could flown fairly comfort ably supplied Dacron lines handle later fly ship bellcrank itself mounted top wing control lines exit fuselage along top inboard wing similar cur rent Combat models clever two-piece lead out guide provided locate lead-outs January 1989 181
Edition: Model Aviation - 1989/01
Page Numbers: 70, 71, 72, 181
The Wit Wisdom 0 Alexander Lippisch Imagine yourself building research models creative aerodynamic de signers world has ever produced account gives some insight what man experience like U Paul Mcllrath AVIATION HISTORY recognizes Dr Al exander Lippisch designer worlds first operational rocket-powered air plane father delta wing con cept Dr Lippisch also did important pio neering fields gliding soaring tailless aircraft ground effect vehicles duct ed fans wind tunnel design modelers remember him fellow builder designer writer researcher continued recognize value model building research others abandoning scaled-down aircraft reels computer tape Curiously modelers among count myself worked doctor Collins Aeronautical Research Laboratoiy get together reminisce seldom discuss technical side job likely recall personal things dont interest historians espe cially laughs humorous moments shared days lot funny things did happen worked Dr Lippisch groups recollections ten take form humorous anecdotes Whether talking distinguished aviation group workshop gang coffee break doctors conversation spar kled humor Mrs Lippisch tells occasion scheduled speak meeting aviation industry series frustrating airline delays caused him ar rive late program shuffled doctor spoke later originally scheduled finally came speakers stand Dr Lippisch apologized de lay offered liffle poem hed com posed airport waiting room went like Time spare Go air time yet Take jet Although technical thinking fo cused future Dr Lippisch never out touch present keeping up American slang half-cen tury aeronautical pioneering provided him whole library amusing anec dotes about early days aviation Sometimes might recount simple little stories like about pet ferret 70 Model Aviation Dr Lippisch adjusts trim wheel controlling early VTOL aerodyne hovering overhead slack cable contains control power wires Commands pilots console went electrically operated flaps belly air outlets control lift roll turning ward speed On-board gyros provided additional assistance Response amazingly precise No wings required Both lift forward thrust provided shrouded propel lers rubber-powered Free Flight model Its natural stability excellent glide though steep controlled probably shortest exciting test flight career point should make clear Dr Lippisch teller tall tales stories colorful werent Bunyanesque Any exaggerations ar tide product writers enthusi asm subject coupled some what shaky memory events occurred 30 years back Others knew doctor will no doubt find errors distortions account think theyll agree anecdotes succeed reflecting rich sense humor characteristic unusual man first glimpse Dr Lippischs quick wit came day reported work Collins Aero Lab doctor himself troduced talented people would working took tour amazing shop rapid succes sion saw full-scale aerodyne half dozen wind tunnels test rigs sort lifting body shrouded propeller researchand course fascinating flying models models workbenches models stored shelves cor ner shop models built shapes purposes poor amateur builder couldnt imagine time tour over completely over whelmed As walked back front office passed workman trimming patch grass near entrance hand mower Still shock confessed doctor jobs observed tour pushing mower knew kept hangar early days Mice annoying habit nesting ner corners wings fuselages hangar ferrets job keep under control Another time might wilder tale like friend just finished doping new sailplane wing middle night Eager feel lift builder hoisted wing center sec tion struggled outside patch light between hangar doors Suddenly Docs amazement friend wing van ished darkness An unexpected gust wind snatched wings surprised passenger straight up air what 20191815 8 14---- 17 19 13 Oh dont worry reassured dont think will have doing voice dropping pensive mum ble just loud enough overheard doctor added ceptmaybe sometimes 367 11l--.j 254211 10 7K U~70 Li 51211 Wright brothers first demon strated flying machine Europe no observer thrilled 14-yearold German schoolboy named Alexander Lippisch Although Lippisch received no formal training engineering early career shaped deep fascination science flying never left him gliding soaring movement flow ered Germany early 1920s Lippisch quickly became leader technology genius lay advanced re search application learn ing design practical gliders airplanes Although conventional de signs very successful scientific curiosity led him away proven ac cepted designs sweptwing tailless flapping-wing study Lippisch model building became both hobby research tool As early 1930s Dr Lippisch developing highly swept triangular wing shape basis todays high-speed aircraft earned him title Father delta wing During World War II called upon design revolutionary Me-163 tailless interceptor far fastest air plane its day worlds first pro duction rocket-powered plane United States after war Dr Lippisch developed ground effect vehi cles Aerodyne wingless aircraft time death age 81 still active consultant sur face-skimming vertical-takeoff aircraft country Europe 13 Al Always exploring unknown Dr Lippisch built successful rubber-powered wing flap per days models built bamboo hardwood An enlarged version basic design still winning contests decades later Plans courtesy George Taylor Dr Lippisch fascinating lecturer humor speeches made entertaimng nontechnical people sci entists engineers favorite themes talks flying does require complicated machinery January 1989 71 Dr M Lippisch would sometimes demonstrate concept little flying wing appeared nothing sheet A6 x 3 x 18m balsa right off hobby shop shelf Doc would pick up give casual toss sent gliding across stage effi ciently contest-winning Sailplane Actually sheet carefully shaped balanced beforehand audience thing distinguished other piece sheet balsa warning TOP SECRET rubber stamped across side bold red letters course always curious listener whod ask ordinary sheet balsa labeled TOP SECRET admitted doctor obvi ous enjoyment launch can tell its top side its bottom side another Dr Lippischs favorite illus trations explained basic difference between subsonic supersonic aerody namics terms layman could easily understand enjoy way Dr Lippisch told air mol ecules airplanes path became main characters story air plane flying along subsonic speed would explain air has time get out way Before plane arrives air molecule its path gives little nudge ahead little air molecule might say neighbor Wed better get out way Hans Theres airplane wing over headed right toward us second molecule would answer OK Fritz Ill go up go down molecules would spread apart orderly manner allowing wing slide easily between airplane flying super sonic speed story would quite differ ent Fritz would probably yell Look out Hans comes SPLAn! simple bit levity hit mark listeners supersonic flight would always visualized terms two unfortunate little air molecules first jobs lab build test new device deflect airstream tailpipe similar modem jet thrust reverser crude test unit built preliminary thrust measurements complete took re sults Dr Lippisch evaluation goodvery effective said looked figures As studied data further nodded approvingly mumbled himself thinldng out loud longer looked talked himself enthusiastic became will work. work have run tests have proved it. know will work scientific caution caught up natural enthusiasm remem bered standing added sheepish grin almost case wondering Dr Lippischs caution justified de flecting device didnt work Although Continued page 181 72 Model Aviation Lippischs surface skimming aerofoil boat designed high-efficiency flying just few feet off water early test flight over-enthusiastic test pilot horrified doctor happily flying boat over surrounding hills timber Photo courtesy Leo Miner une remaining Me-163s sits Smithsonian restoration facility Silver Hill MD awaiting time artisans can revamp futuristic rocket plane World War II probably Dr Lippisch remembered Photo Don Berliner full-size aerodyne wingless VTOL designed built tested small crew shown Dr Lippisch far right distrusted large organizations preferred small teams instead knew man name could monitor details himself thrust measurements promising fur- supply todays powerful Radio Control ther testing showed opening cbs- servos available concept might ing little doors required far force have worked Thirty years ago just crude solenoids model could Continued r 181 FF Old-Timers/Baker Continued page 176 big fin makes high power very tricky wants spiral dive flown hands-off same September column talked about importance having small fin area going fly Free Flight high power pleased get letter Bill McCombs senior engineer Vought Corporation agrees great book published Air Age Inc Model Airplane News some years ago entitled Flying Improving Scale Model Airplanes Find copy can Does anyone still have bunch sale includes much data FF performance stabil ity trim limited Scale models Bill later published Making Scale Models Fly mostly limited Scale principles apply flying thing think can buy later book directly him 2106 Siesta Dr Dallas TX 75224 last time saw Peck-Polymers catalog listed too can find copy earlier larger book think will agree worth hunt Bill says power climbing angle crease fin size can tolerated spiral flight developing smaller very large dihedral spiral flight can climb old enemy spiral dive lurks nearby very old antique Cabin models nce allowed cut off fin area increase dihedral d better fly Long Cabins Musketeers power levels designed handle next time Please keep letters photos coming Hansa No-CaI/Lidberg Continued page 69 Lay body down its left covered side glue motor stick making sure place stick wing must fit Add stabilizer wing havent already done make up tip tanks add jet engine Make lightening holes sheet balsa parts using piece sharpened brass tub ing eraser holder old wooden pencil cover parts glue place Attach ioop rubber check balance Add clay front body necessary obtain balance point shown plan Check plane over warps us ing dry heat electric stove burner space heater straighten out Try test glide making sure prop freewheels air Some adjustment add ing removing clay may necessary optimal glide Try some power flights Use about 100 turns making sure wind correct direction Power adjustments made largely using bendable thrust bear ing model stalls bend bit downthrust wont climb take out some downthrust add turns and/or take off some clay airplane seems happiest wide climb turn youre ready turn few heads flying field Hansa surefire way have some fun doing Lippisch/Mcllrath Continued page 72 another idea didnt pan out course such failures frustrations common research work some times disappointments can provide laughalthough humor situa tion might obvious time Such incident occurred building new tail duct replace dam aged flying model should light flies off workbench itself favorite Lippisch expression Saving weight always pri mary building goals particular morning doctor stopped workbench inspect nearly completed duct section picked up part weighed hand tossed down bench obvious dissatisfaction Too heavy announced Much too heavy its lots lighter old argued Twenty-three grams instead 31 Dr Lippisch sputtered moment stmggling find way explain such obvious principle poor slow-witted fellow Finally controlling himself ef fort quoted what might called Lip pischs First Law Aerodynamics feels too heavy too heavy marched out shop probably silently lamenting problem finding good model builders anymore As several stories have shown Dr Lippischs wit often mixed wisdom Sometimes after care ful reflection listener could tease out much playfulness much penetration words contained example friend once told discussion Dr Lippisch building pedal-powered plane jokingly called pedalfiugel un der consideration plane built like giant Indoor model using balsa much stmcture doctor describing amazing strength balsa tail boom section just tested Fifteen hundred pounds supported compression reported enthusiastically can keep compression interrupted another listener What some unexpected loads buckles tail collapses asked lis tener thinking course fate unfortunate individual manning ped als handlebars breaks fix answered doctorhis standard response whenever questioned strength unmanned models immediately resumed earlier dis cussion surprised hear doctor seemingly brush aside issue pilots safety safety people flying airplanes always Dr Lippischs pri mary concern proud fact never fatal accident during testing of civil designs wartime development fu turistic rocket-powered Me-163 ad hered cautious methods doctor followed earlier work Testing gan unpowered flights glider tiny interceptor towed aloft plane released high altitude Engineering measurements pilot familiarization exciting aerobatics safely per formed during long glides back earth Obviously pilots safety line breaks fix just wasnt like doctor ignoring danger accident pedalfiugel Looking back dont think Dr Lippisch years experi ence areas related man-powered air craft low-speed flight lightweight struc tures ground effect phenomena testing unorthodox machines Long before conversation understandably con cerned listener must have visualized actually calculated floating shoulderhigh flight giant Indoor model clearly sure serious injury highiy unlikely considered prob lem decided would problem erased mind Years later history Gossamer Condor Albatross projects confirmed principles extreme lightuess easy repairability two keys success human-powered flight As breaks fix dozens crashes Condor Albatross sur vived serious injury proved underneath its apparent casualness Dr Lip pischs maxim expressed sound engineer ing principle Dr Alexander Lippisch man ahead time ideas advanced spent whole adult life dragging much aeronautical world along behind him Trying convince doubting experts hed snort used term pleading businessmen research funds trying make rest us see future through eyes Sustaining kind effort year after year demands combination qualities few men possess Probably vivid sense humor traits made possible Doctor Lippischs brilliant leadership aeronautical science nearly 60 years CL Aerobatics/Fancher Continued page 74 response rate somewhat Nonetheless found ship could flown fairly comfort ably supplied Dacron lines handle later fly ship bellcrank itself mounted top wing control lines exit fuselage along top inboard wing similar cur rent Combat models clever two-piece lead out guide provided locate lead-outs January 1989 181
