The Aircraft Designers

The story of the aircraft designers and teammates who created, designed, developed, and tested many manned and unmanned aircraft over the course of more than one hundred years, starting from the days when Jack Northrop was a draftsman engineer in 1916 are told in these two comprehensive volumes. A valuable resource for the aerospace community.

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The Aircraft Designers, A Northrop Grumman Historical Perspective, Volumes 1 and 2 tell the story of the aircraft designers and teammates who created, designed, developed, and tested many manned and unmanned aircraft over the course of more than one hundred years, starting from the days when Jack Northrop was a draftsman engineer in 1916. These innovators, who devoted their time, intellect, and passion to the most demanding of technological industries, are remembered and brought to life in these books through stories and photos. Eagerly awaited follow-ups to Ciminera's 2013 book The Aircraft Designers: A Grumman Historical Perspective, these volumes are more comprehensive than their predecessor as they cover a longer historical period (nominally 100 years versus 65 years); provide a deeper look at the design evolution and characteristics; allow the reader to graphically see design trends with the addition of special charts as opposed to just verbal descriptions; and include a large chapter devoted to targets and unmanned autonomous systems.

In this first volume, Chapter 1 is devoted to Jack Northrop's 'formative' years from 1916 until 1938, during which time he worked for aircraft companies as an engineer and later as president of divisions, as well as owning a small research aircraft company. This is followed by World War II and post-war years from 1939 through 1952 that consume two more chapters. Since so many conventional and fl ying wing aircraft were designed with many variants, along with developing an advanced guidance system for the SNARK missile and a new turbojet engine, Chapter 2 addresses conventional aircraft, followed by the fl ying wing story in Chapter 3. Northrop retired during 1952 with a 'changing of the guard' involving company and engineering leadership that ushered in a dynamic time from 1952 to present day that led to the ascendancy of Northrop Grumman as one of the leading aerospace manufactures in the world. There are informative chapters with excellent photos, graphics, and tables to enable the reader to grasp technical advances in aircraft design, stealth, and advanced avionic systems brought about by a skilled workforce and key acquisitions led by Kent Kresa, Northrop Grumman CEO. Chapter 4 is devoted to the lineage of trainer and fighter aircraft.

Presenting research and photographs from over 150 sources including interviews, private collections, museums, libraries, universities, letters, company periodicals, past stockholder reports, and more, The Aircraft Designers: A Northrop Grumman Historical Perspective, Volume 1 is a valuable resource for engineering students, faculty, historians, pilots, military personnel, government agency personnel, collectors, hobbyists, model aircraft builders, and the aerospace community at large.