Paul Bikle

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Director Paul F. Bikle, at NASA's Flight Research Center (FRC) in 1959 (from NASA Photo E-4875)

Paul F. Bikle (b. June 5, 1916 Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, d. January 19, 1991 Salinas, California) 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, has been associated with major aeronautical research programs including the supersonic X-15 rocket plane, and also was a world record setting glider pilot.

1 Civilian career
2 Air Force career
3 NASA career
4 Soaring
- 4.1 Other soaring accomplishments

[edit] Civilian career

Before graduating from the University of Detroit in 1939 with a B.S. 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 club, 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. Bilke worked for Taylorcraft Aircraft in Ohio before beginning his government service career.

[edit] Air Force career

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 Aerodynamies 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 WWII 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 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.

[edit] 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 May 31, 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.

[edit] Soaring

Bikle 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 February 25, 1961 during a flight near Lancaster, California, achieving an altitude of 46,269 feet and a total-altitude-gained mark of 42,305 feet. Both marks were certified by the National Aeronautic Association, and the Fédération Aeronautique Internationale. Bikle still holds the record for gain in height^[1]. He became a member of the Soaring Hall of Fame in 1960 and was awarded the FAI Lilienthal Medal, the highest award in international soaring, in 1963.