{"id":73444,"date":"2015-08-10T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-10T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-368147"},"modified":"2023-07-25T14:17:05","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T18:17:05","slug":"richard-t-whitcomb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/langley\/richard-t-whitcomb\/","title":{"rendered":"Richard T. Whitcomb"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"padding-top-5 padding-bottom-3 width-full maxw-full hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-intro\"><div class=\"width-full maxw-full article-header\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2 width-full maxw-full\"><p class=\"label carbon-60 margin-0 margin-bottom-3 padding-0\">7 min read<\/p><h1 class=\"display-48 margin-bottom-2\">Richard T. Whitcomb<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1612\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg?w=1612\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Richard T. Whitcomb\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg 2094w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg?resize=236,300 236w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg?resize=768,976 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg?resize=806,1024 806w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg?resize=1209,1536 1209w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg?resize=1612,2048 1612w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg?resize=315,400 315w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg?resize=472,600 472w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg?resize=708,900 708w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg?resize=944,1200 944w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/richard-t-whitcomb.jpg?resize=1574,2000 1574w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1612px) 100vw, 1612px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Richard T. Whitcomb<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Richard T. \u201cDick\u201d Whitcomb (1921 \u2013 2009) conceived and developed three revolutionary aerodynamic concepts that forever changed airplane design by enabling military and civil aircraft to fly faster, farther, and with less fuel. By some estimates, his personal contributions represent fully one-third of the most important technological accomplishments of the Langley Research Center, since its inception in 1917.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whitcomb was born in Evanston, Illinois, and grew up in Worchester, Massachusetts, where he developed an enthusiastic interest in flying rubber-band balsa model airplanes. He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute and, in 1943, graduated with high honors and a bachelor\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering, with a concentration in aeronautics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He had read about the NACA Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in a magazine article and was suitably impressed, to the point that he was prepared to join the laboratory long before a job was offered. He quickly accepted an offer from an NACA recruiter as a Junior Engineer working for Eugene Draley at the Langley 8-Foot High-Speed Tunnel. His first efforts were in support of tunnel testing of high-priority military aircraft for the war effort, especially the XB-29 bomber. In interviews after his retirement, he joked that he remained in that building for his entire Langley career, and his desk never moved more than 50 feet \u2014 but his responsibilities changed, as he proceeded to later become the famous head of the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tunnel had been put into operation in 1936, and although it could attain speeds as high as 575 mph, it could not reach transonic conditions. The tunnel was upgraded with increased power in 1945 and, following a breakthrough NACA contribution in which Whitcomb participated, its test section was slotted in 1950. It then became known as the 8-Foot Transonic Tunnel and became a workhorse for aerodynamicists. When the pressures of round-the-clock testing of specific military airplanes subsided after the war, Whitcomb was able to turn his attention to more basic research, specifically on how to reduce the tremendous increase in aerodynamic drag that was noted for aircraft configurations near the speed of sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In late 1951, he was inspired by a lecture on the basics of transonic flow by the premier Langley aerodynamicist of the day, Dr. Adolph Busemann. After vividly absorbing the information and visualizing the principles involved, he was sitting at his desk with his feet propped up one day when he had a flash of inspiration that resulted in one of the most important discoveries in the field of aeronautics. Whitcomb theorized that, to minimize transonic drag, the cross-sectional area distribution along the length of an airplane should be similar to that of a smooth body. This concept, known as the \u201carea rule,\u201d was a milestone discovery. A few days later, he briefed Busemann and others on his theory, to which Busemann commented: \u201cSome people come up with half-baked ideas and call them theories. Whitcomb comes up with a brilliant idea and calls it a rule of thumb.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time Whitcomb conceived the area rule, tests of a model of the Air Force F-102 fighter were under way in the tunnel; but that model was briefly removed to quickly verify Whitcomb\u2019s findings, with a simple wing-body model that was built with top priority in the Langley shops. With positive results of the tunnel test of Whitcomb\u2019s concept in-hand, the group returned to testing the F-102, adding modifications to the fuselage that complied with the criterion of the area rule. Drag measurements of the basic F-102 in the tunnel had shown enormous levels of drag \u2014 to the point that the airplane would not be able to fly at supersonic speeds in level flight. After actual flight test results verified the unacceptability of the design, the F-102 was modified according to Whitcomb\u2019s guidelines, and easily flew supersonically \u2014 not only in level flight, but also in its initial climb. The modification had improved the speed of the F-102 by an estimated 25-percent. The area rule concept has been incorporated in virtually every high-performance military aircraft to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1953, Langley began operations of a new transonic tunnel known as the 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel having increased capabilities to study transonic phenomena. It became known as \u201cWhitcomb\u2019s Tunnel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After his magnificent contribution of the area rule, during the 1960s Whitcomb became involved in the design challenges of the U. S. Supersonic Transport (SST) program. He applied all of his skills to design a NASA research configuration called SCAT IV. When evaluated by industry, his design fared well in its predicted aerodynamic performance, but the projected operating costs \u2014 as well as those of other NASA configurations \u2014 were unacceptably high compared to subsonic transports. Whitcomb withdrew from the SST program, convinced that a supersonic civil airplane would not be an economically-viable concept. He maintained that philosophy for the remainder of his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the disappointment of the SST program, he turned his attention back to drag-reduction techniques for subsonic transports. In 1969, Whitcomb designed a new wing and airfoil shape that dramatically delayed the onset of drag of subsonic transports at high subsonic speeds. Incorporating a thick, blunt leading edge, a flat top, a bulging underside and a tail edge that hooked downward with a lip that looked like an extended flap, his \u201csupercritical wing\u201d concept was quickly verified by flight-tests of full-scale aircraft. Already known to be a workaholic, during the development of the supercritical wing he became even more so. He often would work a double shift, take a short nap on a cot he had next to the wind tunnel, and then go right back to the on-going test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the principles of the area rule and the supercritical wing in hand, he derived designs for transport configurations that could fly at 99-percent of the speed of sound, calling them \u201csonic transports.\u201d After industry became interested in his concept and began studies of applications, the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973-1974 arose. That event had a large impact on airline operating procedures. Airlines were willing to trade the increased speed enabled by the supercritical wing for thicker wings with longer wingspans that could cruise more efficiently \u2014 but at speeds lower than sonic conditions. Today, wings based on the principles of Whitcomb\u2019s concepts are used in almost every commercial airliner flying today, saving the industry billions in dollars in fuel costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The third breakthrough by Whitcomb was inspired by his analytical consideration of the airflow at the wing tips of soaring birds. Wing-tip vertical end-plates had been used in efforts to reduce drag many years before Whitcomb\u2019s design efforts, but his ingenious and detailed analysis led to special tailoring of such devices, which proved to significantly reduce drag at cruising speeds. He called his invention \u201cwinglets,\u201d which were quickly implemented on domestic and foreign subsonic transports and business jets. The devices are now commonly seen on aircraft at major airports throughout the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the 1970s, he also initiated and directed a successful NASA program that developed advanced airfoils, including medium-speed airfoils to improve the performance of business jets, low-speed airfoils for general aviation aircraft, and rotorcraft airfoils for the helicopter industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whitcomb retired from NASA in 1980; but continued to work as a consultant for NASA and aerospace companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His many prestigious awards include the Collier Trophy of 1954 for the area rule, the Air Force Exceptional Service Medal of 1955, one of the Top Ten Outstanding Men of the Year for 1956 by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Sylvanus A. Reed Award in 1970, the NACA Distinguished Service Medal in 1956, the National Medal of Science in 1973, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy in 1974, the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award of the National Business Aircraft Association in 1978, the Howard N. Potts Medal of the Franklin Institute in 1979, the National Academy of Science Award in Aeronautical Engineering in 2000, membership into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2003, and membership in the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1956 (youngest recipient at age 35 years), and Old Dominion University in 1985.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dick Whitcomb passed away in Newport News, Virginia, on October 13, 2009 at the age of 88. He never married and was survived by a sister, Marian; a brother, Charles; and a step-brother, Kenneth.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-social-media grid-container grid-container-block nasa-gb-align- width-full maxw-full margin-y-0 padding-y-5 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-0 font-weight-bold hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-social-media-links\">\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center padding-y-1\" id=\"social-facebook\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"circle-4 minw-4 display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-center\" style=\"background-color: #4267B2;\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-labelledby=\"facebookIconTitle\"><title id=\"facebookIconTitle\">Facebook logo<\/title><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-social-media-items padding-left-2\">\n\t\t\t\t<a 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rel=\"noopener\">@NASA<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/natural-disasters\/nasa-announces-new-system-to-aid-disaster-response\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/prturkiyeeq-020624a.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">4 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA Announces New System to Aid Disaster Response<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md color-carbon-60\">In early May, widespread flooding and landslides occurred in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/langley\/nasas-rasc-al-competition-selects-2024-winners\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"228\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg 3608w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=300,228 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=768,583 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=1024,778 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=1536,1166 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=2048,1555 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=400,304 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=600,456 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=900,683 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=1200,911 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2024-rasc-al-first-place-overall-virginia-tech-2.jpg?resize=2000,1519 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA\u2019s RASC-AL Competition Selects 2024 Winners\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/winners-announced-in-gateways-to-blue-skies-aeronautics-competition-2\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"245\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg 3547w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg?resize=300,245 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg?resize=768,627 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg?resize=1024,837 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg?resize=1536,1255 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg?resize=2048,1673 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg?resize=400,327 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg?resize=600,490 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg?resize=900,735 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg?resize=1200,980 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/img-1864.jpg?resize=2000,1634 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">4 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Winners Announced in Gateways to Blue Skies Aeronautics Competition<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 weeks ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Missions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/topic-cards\/topic-card-sample-1.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Humans in Space<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/topic-cards\/topic-card-sample-2.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Climate Change<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/topic-cards\/topic-card-sample-3.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Solar System<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/topic-cards\/topic-card-sample-4.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&text=Richard%20T.%20Whitcomb&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fcenters-and-facilities%2Flangley%2Frichard-t-whitcomb%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on X.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fcenters-and-facilities%2Flangley%2Frichard-t-whitcomb%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 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652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Jul 25, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/langley-research-center\/\">Langley Research Center<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Richard T. \u201cDick\u201d Whitcomb (1921 \u2013 2009) conceived and developed three revolutionary aerodynamic concepts that forever changed airplane design by enabling military and civil aircraft to fly faster, farther, and with less fuel. By some estimates, his personal contributions represent fully one-third of the most important technological accomplishments of the Langley Research Center, since its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":82314,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2863],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10435,10513],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Richard T. 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