Sighard F. Hoerner facts for kids
Dr. Sighard F. Hoerner was a very important scientist. He was born in Münster, Germany, on April 18, 1906. He passed away on June 22, 1971, in Brick Town, USA.
Dr. Hoerner was an expert in aerodynamics. This is the study of how air moves around objects. It helps us understand how airplanes fly. He is famous for two big books. These books are called Fluid-Dynamic Drag and Fluid-Dynamic Lift. They explain a lot about how air affects moving things.
He also helped design a special airplane. It was called the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch. This plane was a pioneer in STOL aircraft. STOL means "Short Take-Off and Landing." This plane could take off and land in very short distances.
Education and Learning
Dr. Hoerner loved to learn about how things fly. He studied mechanical engineering. He earned a special degree called Dipl.Ing. from the Technical University of Munich.
Later, he earned another degree. This was a Dr.-Ing. in aerodynamics. He got this from the Institute of Technology at Braunschweig. He also earned a Dr.-Ing.-habil. degree from the TH Berlin. These degrees showed he was a top expert in his field.
His Career Journey
Dr. Hoerner started his career as a research assistant. He worked at the Deutsche Versuchsanstalt fur Luftfahrt (DVL). This was a research center near Berlin.
After that, he worked at the Fieseler Corporation. Here, he was an aerodynamicist. He helped design the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch airplane. This plane was known for its amazing ability to take off and land in small spaces.
Then, he moved to Junkers. He became the head of design aerodynamics there. Later, he worked at Messerschmitt. He was a research aerodynamicist during World War II.
After the war, Dr. Hoerner moved to the United States. He was part of something called Operation Paperclip. This was a program that brought German scientists to the US. He worked at Wright Field in Ohio. He continued his work in aerodynamics there.
Finally, he worked in New York City. He was a specialist in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. Hydrodynamics is the study of how water moves. He worked for Gibbs & Cox, Inc., which designed ships.
Important Books and Discoveries
In the mid-1940s, Dr. Hoerner wrote a book. It was first called Aerodynamic Drag. This book was very specialized. Publishers in New York City were not sure it would sell well. So, he decided to publish it himself in 1951. He sold copies by mail from his home.
The book got great reviews. Many engineers and scientists wanted it. In 1958, he reissued it as Fluid-Dynamic Drag. He updated the book in 1965 because aerodynamics was changing fast. He published this new version himself too.
This book gathered all the world's knowledge about aerodynamic drag. Drag is the force that slows an airplane down as it moves through the air. Even today, this book is a starting point for people who need to calculate drag.
In the 1960s, the US Navy asked Dr. Hoerner to write another book. This one was about aerodynamic lift. Lift is the force that pushes an airplane up into the air. He worked with Henry V. "Hank" Borst on this book. It was called Fluid-Dynamic Lift.
Sadly, Dr. Hoerner passed away in 1971. The book was published after his death in 1975. Like his first book, this one also collected worldwide knowledge. It explained how wings create lift. Both of his books are still used a lot by engineers and scientists today.
Personal Life
Dr. Hoerner was married to Liselotte A. Hoerner. After he passed away, she continued to sell his books. She sent copies to engineers all over the world.
