Mark D. Maughmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark D. Maughmer
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| Alma mater | University of Illinois, 1983 |
| Known for | Aerodynamics, Winglet Design |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Pennsylvania State University |
Mark D. Maughmer, born on January 18, 1950, is a smart professor at The Pennsylvania State University. He teaches Aerospace Engineering, which is all about designing and building aircraft. Professor Maughmer is famous around the world for his work in aerodynamics. This is the science of how air moves around objects, especially planes. He's an expert in designing parts of wings, like airfoils and special tips called winglets. He also studies how to make wings work best and how air flows smoothly over them (this is called laminar flow).
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What Are Winglets?
Have you ever noticed the small, upward-pointing tips on the ends of airplane wings? Those are called winglets! They help planes fly better. In 1987, a glider pilot named Peter Masak asked Professor Maughmer for help. Peter wanted to design winglets for his sailplane (a type of glider) to make it fly faster and more efficiently.
Other people had tried to use winglets on gliders before. While these winglets helped gliders climb higher, they also created extra drag. This drag slowed the gliders down when they were trying to fly fast. Peter Masak believed it was possible to make winglets that would work well at high speeds too. Professor Maughmer agreed to join him on this challenge.
Designing Better Winglets
Professor Maughmer and Peter Masak worked together, trying different designs. They kept testing and improving their ideas. Finally, they created successful winglet designs for gliding competitions. Their hard work paid off in a big way!
At the 1991 World Gliding Championships in Uvalde, Texas, something amazing happened. A glider with their winglets won the trophy for the highest speed. This glider had a limited wingspan, but it flew faster than gliders in the "Open Class," which had unlimited wingspans. This was a truly outstanding result!
Winglets Today
At first, these special winglets were added to gliders that were already built. But now, most new high-performance gliders come from the factory with winglets already attached. Sometimes, they have other special wingtip devices instead. Professor Maughmer has also worked with German glider designers. He helped them add winglets and other improvements to many gliders that are made today.
Professor Maughmer's Education and Awards
Professor Maughmer is not just a great designer; he's also a dedicated teacher. He earned his highest degree, a Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1983. Before that, he received his Master's degree from Princeton University in 1975 and his Bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1972.
He has won many awards for his excellent teaching. These include the PSES Outstanding Teaching Award in 1993 and the PSES Premier Teaching Award in 2001. In 2012, he received the Alumni Faculty Teaching Fellow Award. In 2009, he won a national award called the ASEE Fred Merryfield Design Award. This award recognizes great teaching in engineering design.
Professor Maughmer is also active in several important aviation groups. He has received awards from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Soaring Society of America. He even serves on the board of the International Organization for the Science and Technology of Soaring (OSTIV). He is also a glider pilot himself and teaches others how to fly gliders with the Penn State Soaring Club.
