HOERNER

GERMANY (see also List of Individuals)

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18.4.1906 Münster/D - 22.6.1971 Brick Town/USA

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Sighard Hoerner graduated from Munich Technical University as a mechanical engineer in 1930. He then moved to Braunschweig University where he submitted a PhD thesis on observations in a wind tunnel. Following his interest in aviation problems he collaborated with Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt DVL in Berlin-Adlershorst. In parallel he became in 1937 a Lecturer in aerodynamics at Berlin Technical University. Until the end of World War II, Hoerner worked for the German aviation industry, first with Fieseler works in Kassel, where he was responsible for the aerodynamics of the Fieseler Storch airplane, then with Junkers works in Dessau, where he collaborated for the Ju288 bomber and finally with Messerschmitt works in Augsburg. During war, Hoerner prepared a number of experiments in specially designed wind tunnels and added to an aerodynamic optimization of wings and rudders.

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Hoerner followed a call from the USA in 1946 where he first collaborated with the Air Force in Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. In 1951 he moved to Gibbs&Cox aviation works to investigate hydrofoils for the US Navy. Based on Hoerner's knowledge the result was the Sea Leg boat, which was stabilized with a supersonic elevation probe and which had 29 knots maximum speed. Later, the hydrofoil Victoria was designed for 37 knots and a capacity of 75 persons. Hoerner's main work was his 1958 book on fluid-dynamic drag. It was considered in the USA the "bible in its field", given the systematic and thorough treatment of the subject matter. Later, Hoerner also presented a similar book on the fluiddynamic lift. He was a Member of AIAA and was decorated as an American Man of Science. He was awarded already in 1938 the Lilienthal-Prize for aviation.

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_{Blenk, H. (1971). Sighard Hoerner 65 Jahre. Zeitschrift für Flugwissenschaft 19(6): 250. P}

_{Blenk, H. (1971). Sighard F. Hoerner. Jahrbuch DGLR: 344-345.}

_{Hoerner, S. (1934). Aerodynamische Formgebung des schnellfahrenden Kraftwagens. Zeitschrift des Vereines Deutscher Ingenieure 78(43): 1261-1265.}

_{Hoerner, S. (1935). Bestimmung des Luftwiderstandes von Kraftfahrzeugen im Auslaufverfahren. Zeitschrift des Vereines Deutscher Ingenieure 79(34): 1028-1033.}

_{Hoerner, S. (1937). Untersuchung eines Windkanals. Luftfahrtforschung 14(1): 36-43. Hoerner, S.F. (1950). Base drag and thick trailing edges. Journal Aeronautical Sciences 17(10): 622-628.}

_{Hoerner, S.F. (1958). Fluid-dynamic drag. Practical information on aerodynamic drag and aerodynamic resistance. Midland Park: New York.}