Wolfgang Klemperer

Wolfgang Benjamin Klemperer ( born January 18, 1893 in Dresden, † March 25, 1965 in Los Angeles, California ) was an aerospace scientist and engineer, one of the pioneers of early aviation.

Life

Wolfgang was born the son of Austrian nationals Leon and Charlotte Klemperer in Dresden. After his primary school, he built his first aircraft in 1912, with motor drive. In World War I he worked for the Austrian Air Force as an observer and pilot. He was honored as an officer three times. After his military service, studied at the Technical University of Dresden and graduated as an engineer and became an assistant to Theodore von Kármán in the field of aviation and missile research at RWTH Aachen. In 1920 he won the first Rhön- flight competition and received the following year, the glider pilot certificate with the No. 1 for the longest flight. He flew nine minutes longer than Orville Wright and longer than Hans Gutermuth before. Klemperer was also involved in the founding of the Flight Research Association Aachen.

Klemperer in 1922 was head of research and development at Zeppelin in Friedrichshafen, he was instrumental in the planning and flight tests of the airship LZ 126 ( "USS Los Angeles"), involved both in Germany and in the United States.

In 1958 he became director at McDonnell Aircraft Corporation and directed the missile research department. He became a famous rocket scientist Through his numerous publications and presentations in the field.

Klemperer has received numerous honors and awards such as Honorary Doctor of the Vienna University of Technology, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Astronomical Society and the British Interplanetary Society.

Throughout his career he has published regularly with his nickname " WB Klemperer " in journals of aerodynamics, aerospace and navigation, as well as gliders. Klemperer is also the holder of numerous U.S. patents.