Dietrich Küchemann facts for kids

Dietrich Küchemann was a brilliant German scientist. He was an expert in aerodynamics, which is the study of how air moves around objects, especially planes. He made many important discoveries that helped planes fly faster and better. He spent most of his career in the United Kingdom. He is best known for his work on the famous Concorde supersonic jet.

About Dietrich Küchemann

Dietrich Küchemann was born in Göttingen, Germany, in 1911. He studied at the University of Göttingen, which had a large research center for aerodynamics. He wanted to study physics with a famous professor named Max Born. However, this wasn't possible because of the Nazi government at the time. Many Jewish professors, including Max Born, were forced to leave the country. So, Küchemann joined another famous scientist, Ludwig Prandtl, to study aerodynamics. He finished his studies in 1936.

Working During Wartime

In 1938, as World War II was starting, Küchemann joined the military. He worked in a non-fighting role, focusing on research. During this time, he studied how planes fly very fast. He looked at problems like wave drag, which is the resistance a plane faces when it flies near the speed of sound. He also worked on swept wing theory, which is about designing wings that are angled backward. This helps planes fly faster. He even designed a special shape for a plane's body, which was later called the "Küchemann Coke Bottle."

Moving to England and Supersonic Flight

One year after the war, in 1946, Küchemann moved to England. He started working at the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) in Farnborough. In 1953, he and his colleague, Johanna Weber, published an important book about how engines work with aerodynamics. This book was based on their earlier research in Germany.

Küchemann continued his work on high-speed flight. He was part of the team that developed the delta wing in England. A delta wing is shaped like a triangle. He thought this design could be good for supersonic transport, like the Concorde. However, he worried about how easy it would be to control at slow speeds. Many test planes, like the Handley Page HP.115, were built in the 1950s to study these issues. This research eventually led to the special ogive shape used on Concorde's wings.

He also strongly supported the idea of lifting body aircraft. These planes get most of their lift from their body shape, not just their wings. While no such passenger plane has been built yet, the idea is still studied. He also researched the waverider concept, which is a plane designed to ride on its own shockwaves at very high speeds.

Later Career and Achievements

In 1953, Küchemann and Johanna Weber became British citizens. The next year, he was promoted to a senior scientific position at the RAE. He became the head of the Supersonics Division in 1957. Finally, in 1966, he became the head of the entire Aerodynamics Department. He retired from his management duties in 1971. After retiring, he worked on building a very large supersonic wind tunnel for research in Europe, but it was not finished before he passed away.

Two years after his death, his book The Aerodynamic Design of Aircraft was published. Many people consider it a classic book on modern aerodynamics.

Dietrich Küchemann received many awards for his work:

• In 1962, he received the Silver Medal from the Royal Aeronautical Society.
• In 1963, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very high honor for scientists.
• In 1964, he was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).
• In 1970, he received the Ludwig-Prandtl-Ring for his "outstanding contribution in the field of aerospace engineering."

His name is also remembered in aviation because of the "Küchemann carrots." These are special shapes added to the back of the wings on planes like the Handley Page Victor bomber. They help reduce drag at high speeds.

Outside of his scientific work, Dietrich Küchemann was also an amateur cellist. He joined the Farnborough Symphony Orchestra in 1946 and played as the principal cello until 1971.

See also

• Concorde
• Supersonic flight
• Wave drag
• Area rule