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Edgar Schmued, aircraft designer (1899 - 1985) was famed for his design of the iconic P-51 Mustang and, later, the F-86 Sabre.

Contents 1 Early Life 2 Aviation Engineer 3 Honors 4 References 5 External links

Edgar Schmued was born at Hornback, Germany, 30 December 1899. At age eight, he first saw an airplane in flight and decided that aviation was to be his life's work. Edgar embarked early on a rigorous program of self-study to become an engineer, and later served an apprenticeship in a small engine factory. He also designed several innovative engine components for which he received patents. In his spare time, he continued the self-study of aviation. His experience in Germany led to employment with the General Motors Corporation in Brazil, and later with a General Motors subsidiary in the United States, the Fokker Aeroplane Company, where he began his career as an airplane design engineer.

In 1935, North American Aviation (NAA) was formed in Los Angeles, California, from General Motors. The talented and inventive Schmued, by now, a citizen of the United States, was employed by North American in early 1936 as a preliminary design engineer and later became Chief of Preliminary Design. During his long tenure at NAA, he contributed greatly to the design of many airplanes.

By far his most famous design was the highly successful P-51 Mustang of World War II. The legend began with NAA's President, "Dutch" Kindelberger asking, "Ed, do we want to build P-40s here?" Schmued had been long awaiting a question like this. His answer would begin the design process, "Well, Dutch, don't let us build an obsolete airplane, let's build a new one. We can design and build a better one." ^[1] His adaptation of the then new laminar flow wing and other innovations made the P-51 performance outstanding in all respects and its flying qualifies superb. This aircraft was still winning races and setting speed records for piston engine-powered airplanes decades after its production had ended.

An urban legend has grown up about Edgar Schmued, possibly related to his German origins, claiming he had once worked for Willy Messerschmitt and that the Mustang was heavily influenced by the Bf 109. Just as familiar is the notion that the abortive Curtiss XP-46 was the basis of the P-51 design.

Schmued was employed by North American Aviation, later a division of the Rockwell International Corporation, for 22 years. During his tenure, Schmued also designed the F-82 and, the other iconic NAA designs, the F-86 Sabre and F-100 Super Sabre. After leaving North American, he spent five years as an aircraft designer for the Northrop Corporation, where he helped design the F-5 and the T-38.

Edgar Schmued died at Oceanside, California, on 1 June 1985.

“	Any damned fool can criticize, but it takes a genius to design it in the first place.	”
	— Edgar Schmued, Chief Designer North American Aviation, [2]

Edgar Schmued was invested 14 September 1991 in the International Aerospace Hall of Fame.

• Wagner, Raymond. Mustang Designer: Edgar Schmued and the P-51. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 2000. ISBN 1-56098-994-7.

• NA-73X ... The Beginning