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Ed Heinemann
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edward Henry Heinemann, (born 14 March 1908, died 26 November 1991) was a noted military aircraft designer for Douglas Aircraft.
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Heinemann was born in Saginaw, Michigan, but moved to California as a boy and was raised in Los Angeles. A self-taught engineer, he joined Douglas Aircraft as a draftsman in 1926, but was laid off within a year. After stints at International Aircraft, Moreland Aircraft, and Northrop, Heinemann re-joined Douglas when it acquired Northrop. Heinemann became Douglas's Chief Engineer in 1936. He remained with the company through 1960, when he left to join Guidance Technology. In 1962 he joined General Dynamics as Corporate Vice President of Engineering. In this position he oversaw the development of the F-16. He retired in 1973.
His approach to aircraft design was often simple, once saying that he just took the most powerful engine available, and designed the aircraft around that.
During his long career at Douglas, Heinemann designed more than 20 combat aircraft for the US Navy, including many that became legends in their field. His designs included:
- SBD Dauntless dive bomber
- A-20 Havoc attack aircraft
- A-26 Invader attack aircraft
- A-1 Skyraider attack aircraft
- A-3 Skywarrior bomber
- A-4 Skyhawk light bomber
- F3D Skyknight night fighter
- F4D Skyray carrier-based fighter aircraft
- Douglas Skyrocket and Douglas Skystreak research aircraft
- 1953: Collier Trophy (for the F4D Skyray)
- 1978: Guggenheim Medal
- 1981: National Aviation Hall of Fame
- 1983: National Medal of Science
The Naval Air Systems Command awards the "Edward H. Heinemann Award" annually to the individual or group that makes a significant contribution to aircraft design.
- Edward H. Heinemann and Rosario Rausa, "Ed Heinemann - Combat Aircraft Designer", ISBN 0-87021-797-6