Inspiring the Rogallo wing used in many modern hang-gliders
Aviation career
Famous flights
He established two world soaring records on 25 February 1961 while flying his 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).
His career with the U.S. Air Force began in 1940 when he was appointed an aeronautical engineer at Wright Field. In 1944 he was named Chief of the Aerodynamics Branch in 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 XB-43 Jetmaster, the first U.S. jet bomber; the Convair XC-99, and the North American F-86A Sabre. With the transfer of this part of the flight test mission to the newly formed Air Force Flight Test Center at 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 Edwards Air Force Base in September 1959, when he was named Director of the NASA Flight Research Center (FRC) at Edwards, California. In July 1962 he was awarded the NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership for his part in directing flight operations and research activities on the highly successful rocket-powered X-15 program. After Paul's retirement on 31 May 1971, The FRC became the 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 XB-70, the fleet of wingless lifting bodies that contributed to development of the Space Shuttles, and the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle that paved the way for successful Moon landings by Project Apollo astronauts.
Just before Christmas 1961 Paul Bikle gave a directive to Charles Richard to quickly and cheaply design and build what would become the template for the Rogallo wing used for a high percentage of modern hang gliders. Following successful test flying of the 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.
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]
NASA Dryden Home > Collections > Photo Home > Directors > Photo # E-4875
May 19, 2023
paul, bikle, paul, bikle, june, 1916, january, 1991, director, national, aeronautics, space, administration, nasa, dryden, flight, research, facility, from, 1959, until, 1971, author, more, than, technical, publications, associated, with, major, aeronautical, . Paul F Bikle 5 June 1916 19 January 1991 was director of the U S National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA 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 Paul BikleDirector Paul F Bikle at NASA s Flight Research Center FRC in 1959 from NASA Photo E 4875 Born 1916 06 05 5 June 1916Wilkinsburg Pennsylvania U S Died19 January 1991 1991 01 19 aged 74 Salinas California U S NationalityAmericanEducationUniversity of Detroit B S 1939Known forInspiring the Rogallo wing used in many modern hang glidersAviation careerFamous flightsHe established two world soaring records on 25 February 1961 while flying his 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 Contents 1 Civilian career 2 Air Force career 3 NASA career 4 Soaring 4 1 Other soaring accomplishments 5 References 6 External linksCivilian career EditBefore graduating from the University of Detroit in 1939 with a BSc degree in aeronautical engineering Bikle s activity in the student chapter of the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences IAS and the school gliding and flying clubs led to flight instruction and a pilot s license from the C A A the predecessor to 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 EditHis career with the U S Air Force began in 1940 when he was appointed an aeronautical engineer at Wright Field In 1944 he was named Chief of the Aerodynamics Branch in 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 XB 43 Jetmaster the first U S jet bomber the Convair XC 99 and the North American F 86A Sabre With the transfer of this part of the flight test mission to the newly formed Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB he advanced to Assistant Chief of the Flight Test Engineering Laboratory in 1951 NASA career EditPaul Bikle was technical director of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base in September 1959 when he was named Director of the NASA Flight Research Center FRC at Edwards California In July 1962 he was awarded the NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership for his part in directing flight operations and research activities on the highly successful rocket powered X 15 program After Paul s retirement on 31 May 1971 The FRC became the 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 XB 70 the fleet of wingless lifting bodies that contributed to development of the Space Shuttles and the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle that paved the way for successful Moon landings by Project Apollo astronauts Just before Christmas 1961 Paul Bikle gave a directive to Charles Richard to quickly and cheaply design and build what would become the template for the Rogallo wing used for a high percentage of modern hang gliders Following successful test flying of the 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 EditBikle was a veteran of 23 years of soaring and was president of the Soaring Society of America SSA He established two world soaring records on 25 February 1961 while flying his 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 Federation Aeronautique 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 Edit Barringer Trophy 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 U S Diamond badge 3 International 7 1953 Symons Three Lennie award 11 Eaton Trophy 1964 Tissandier Diploma 1968 Tuntland Award 1970 1971 OSTIV Plaque Klemperer Award 1972 World National Competition Smirnoff Derby Sailplane Performance Studies TestsReferences Edit a b Schweizer Paul A Wings Like Eagles The Story of Soaring in the United States page 183 Smithsonian Institution Press 1988 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 Said Bob 1983 Sailplane Directory Soaring Magazine page 37 Soaring Society of America November 1983 USPS 499 920External links EditNASA X 15 Biography NASA Dryden Home gt Collections gt Photo Home gt Directors gt Photo E 4875 Soaring Hall of Fame Biographies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Bikle amp oldid 1136315354, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
