Paul Bikle
Paul F. Bikle | |
|---|---|
Schweizer SGS 1-23E near Lancaster, California , achieving an altitude of 46,267 ft (14,102 m) feet and a total-altitude-gained mark of 42,300 ft (12,900 m). |
Paul F. Bikle (5 June 1916 – 19 January 1991) was director of the U.S.
Dryden Flight Research Facility from 1959 until 1971, and author of more than 40 technical publications. He was associated with major aeronautical research programs including the hypersonic X-15 rocket plane, and was a world record-setting glider
pilot.
Civilian career
Before graduating from the
FAA. He later became a fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the successor to the IAS. Mr. Bikle worked for Taylorcraft Aircraft in Ohio
before beginning his government service career.
Air Force career
His career with the
Flight Test Division there. While working closely with other government agencies in establishing the first flying qualities specifications for aircraft, he also wrote AAF Technical Report 50693 Flight Test Methods, which was used as a standard manual for conducting flight tests for more than five years. During the World War II
years he was involved in more than 30 test projects and flew over 1,200 hours as an engineering observer.
In 1947 Bikle was appointed Chief of the Performance Engineering Branch, and directed tests of the
Edwards AFB
, he advanced to Assistant Chief of the Flight Test Engineering Laboratory in 1951.
NASA career
Paul Bikle was technical director of the Air Force Flight Test Center at
Dryden Flight Research Center
in 1976.
During his nearly 12 years with NASA he was responsible for several major aeronautical research programs, including those involving the X-15, the supersonic
Project Apollo
astronauts.
Just before Christmas 1961 Paul Bikle gave a directive to
Paresev
(paraglider research vehicle), many prospective hang glider pilots made their own hang gliders with various fuselage solutions; including the use of the triangle control bar, parallel-bar, full-cockpit, tri-cycle undercarriage and powered hang-gliders. Paul Bikle's directive synergistically birthed a wing that would dramatically change personal aviation in powered and un-powered forms.
Soaring
Bikle was a veteran of 23 years of
Schweizer SGS 1-23E[1] near Lancaster, California, achieving an altitude of 46,267 ft (14,102 m) feet and a total-altitude-gained mark of 42,300 ft (12,900 m).[1] Both marks were certified by the National Aeronautic Association, and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Bikle still holds the record for height gain.[2] He flew a Prue Standard to a world record distance of 557 mi (896 km) in 1963, the longest ever made by a sailplane up to that date.[3] He became a member of the Soaring Hall of Fame in 1960 and was awarded the FAI Lilienthal Gliding Medal, the highest award in international soaring, in 1962.[4]
While director of the Dryden Flight Research Facility, Bikle designed and completed his own sailplane, the Bikle T-6, flying it to fifth place in the 1970 US Nationals.[5][6]
Other soaring accomplishments
- Barringer Trophy 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956
- U.S. Diamond badge #3 (International #7) 1953;
- Symons Three Lennie award #11
- Eaton Trophy 1964
- Paul Tissandier Diploma 1968
- Tuntland Award 1970, 1971
- OSTIVPlaque/Klemperer Award 1972
- World/National Competition
- Smirnoff Derby
- Sailplane Performance Studies/Tests
References
- ^ ISBN 0-87474-828-3
- ^ FAI web site on the gain in height record Archived 2015-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rogers, Bennett: 1974 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine, page 34. Soaring Society of America, August 1974. USPS 499-920
- ^ "The Lilienthal Gliding Medal". Archived from the original on 2006-09-04.
- ^ Activate Media (2006). "HP-13 and HP-14 HP Aircraft, LLC". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- Soaring Magazine, page 37. Soaring Society of AmericaNovember 1983. USPS 499-920