Ole Fahlin
Ole Fahlin | |
---|---|
Born | Olaf Fahlin May 8, 1901 Sweden |
Died | January 26, 1992 | (aged 90)
Known for | Propeller design and manufacturing, design and production of experimental airplanes |
Ole (Olaf)[1] Fahlin (May 8, 1901 – January 26, 1992)[2][3] was a Swedish aviator who made his career manufacturing propellers and aviation products in the United States. He also developed prototype airplanes and worked in projects with Chrysler and Lockheed Corporation. His propellers were famous for their performance. During World War II he manufactured propellers for the U.S. government.[4]
Life and career
Fahlin was born in
United States
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/FahlinPropellers20150328KRAL.jpeg/220px-FahlinPropellers20150328KRAL.jpeg)
In 1923 Fahlin decided to leave Sweden to go to the United States to visit a relative,
He was so successful in that endeavor that he started getting customers for his propeller designs who could not understand how Fahlin was able to create propellers which performed substantially better than what they thought were state-of-the-art designs.
SF-1
As Fahlin's fame increased, Russell B. Nicholas, co-owner of the Nicholas-Beazley Airplane Company, invited him to use his manufacturing facilities in Marshall, Missouri, for free. Fahlin accepted and together with Swen Swanson designed and built their first airplane, the SF-1, which stood for Swanson-Fahlin Model 1. The design and performance of the SF-1 was very successful.[4]
Plymocoupe
In 1935,
Missouri to California
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/FahlinPropellers20150328KRAL-closeup.jpeg/220px-FahlinPropellers20150328KRAL-closeup.jpeg)
After the dissolution of the Nicholas-Beazley Airplane Company, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce offered Fahlin factory space in
Death
Ole Fahlin died on January 26, 1992, in a hospital at Gilroy, California, from pneumonia. On January 31, 1992, a memorial service was held at Morgan Hill, California, during which a "missing man flyby" was performed by 10 vintage airplanes flown by his friends.[2]
Memorial workshop
Fahlin's propeller workshop survives as a working exhibit at the Wings of History museum in San Martin, California.[15]
References
- ^ a b AAHS Journal. Vol. 51. American Aviation Historical Society. 2006. p. 14.
- ^ a b Sport Aviation. Vol. 41. 1992. p. 62.
Ole Fahlin, 90, died of pneumonia on January 26 at a convalescent hospital in Gilroy, CA. A memorial service was held on January 31 at Morgan Hill, CA during which a "missing man" fly-by of 10 antique airplanes was made by Ole's friends.
- ^ a b c d Who's who in Aviation. Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. 1942. p. 133.
FAHLIN, OLE, President Fahlin Mfg. Co., Columbia, Mo. lies. Columbia. B. Sweden, May 8, 1901; entered U.S. 1923, naturalized 1928. P. Andrew and Margareta (Larson) Fahlin.
- ^ a b c d e f Anita Wright (December 13, 2006). "Building the Vision: Paper prints history of N-B accomplishments". The Marshall Democrat-News.
On April 21, 1921, the Federation Aeronautics International awarded him International Pilot License No. 208, written in six languages.
- ^ a b "The Ole Fahlin page". Wings of History Museum through Internet Archive. Archived from the original on July 30, 2007.
- ^ a b c d The Stanford Engineer. Vol. 8. Stanford University School of Engineering. 1978. p. 51.
While there he purchased a war-weary Curtis JN-4 Jenny for $300 and sold rides for $5.00 a passenger. He paid ... His customers were frequently surprised to find that their new Fahlin propeller could outperform their old one by sometimes a considerable margin. The old props were designed using the best technology of the day. How was it possible to ...
- ISSN 0161-7370.
- ^ Frederick Thomas Jane (1935). Jane's All the World's Aircraft. S. Low, Marston Limited. p. 261.
- ^ a b AAHS Journal. American Aviation Historical Society. 1999. pp. 120–122.
The Fahlin SF-2 Plymocoupe was also built and tested by the Bureau in the program but was apparently rejected as unsuitable.[...] Fahlin SF-2 Plymocoupe (1935)
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7864-4556-1.
Now, turning to that strange phenomenon, an airplane that thinks it's a car, we run into the Plymocoupe Airplane which sported the portholes and side trim of the 1935 Plymouth. It was labeled a flying automobile because it was powered by an engine manufactured for use in a 1935 Plymouth.
- ^ Sport Aviation. Vol. 42. 1993. pp. 172–173.
Damage to Owen's plane of many names - variously known as the SF- 2, Plymocoupe (also Plymacoupe) and ... Ole Fahlin, known for hispropeller designs, and airplane designer Swen Swanson teamed up in planning the airplane for Fahlin ...
- ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
Ole Fahlin and Swen Swanson built an experimental airplane powered by a 1 935 Plymouth engine converted for aviation use to ... When the Fahlm- Swanson design (called the Plymocoupe or SF-2) failed to win the government contest and ...
- ISSN 0015-4806.
Here is a Plymouth Sedan and its offspring, the flying Plymo-Coupe. Many Plymouth auto parts are used in the plane. Right side of the Plymo-Coupe power plant showing that all.
- ISSN 0015-4806.
- ^ "About the Propeller Shop". Wings of History Museum.