| Edward Henry Heinemann | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 14, 1908 Saginaw, Michigan |
| Died | November 26, 1991 (aged 83) |
| Occupation | Aeronautical engineer |
Edward Henry Heinemann, (March 14, 1908 – November 26, 1991) was a noted military aircraft designer for Douglas Aircraft Company.
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Heinemann was born in Saginaw, Michigan, but moved to California as a boy and was raised in Los Angeles. A self-taught engineer, he joined Douglas Aircraft as a draftsman in 1926, but was laid off within a year. After stints at International Aircraft, Moreland Aircraft, and Northrop, Heinemann re-joined Douglas when it acquired Northrop. Heinemann became Douglas's Chief Engineer in 1936. He remained with the company through 1960, when he left to join Guidance Technology. In 1962 he joined General Dynamics as Corporate Vice President of Engineering. In this position he oversaw the development of the F-16. He retired in 1973.
His approach to aircraft design was simplistic, once saying that he simply took the most powerful engine available, and designed the aircraft around it.
During his long career at Douglas, Heinemann designed more than 20 combat aircraft, primarily for the U.S. Navy, including many that became legends in aviation history. His designs included:
One of the first aircraft to be designed by Heinemann was the Moreland M-1 Trainer of 1929, a braced-wing parasol wing monoplane. Due to the 1929 recession only a small number were sold before the company ceased trading in 1933.[1]
The Naval Air Systems Command awards the "Edward H. Heinemann Award" annually to the individual or group that makes a significant contribution to aircraft design.