Kenneth Wernicke
Born(1932-10-12)October 12, 1932
Missouri, U.S.
DiedSeptember 1, 2022(2022-09-01) (aged 89)
Bedford, Texas, U.S.
OccupationAerospace Engineer
Childrenone

Fonda Fox

Natalie Aldridge

Kenneth Gene Wernicke (October 12, 1932 – September 1, 2022) was an American aerospace engineer. He had a leading role in the development of the tilt rotor aircraft Bell XV-3, Bell XV-15 and V-22 Osprey.

Life and career

Ken Wernicke had a BS and MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas.[1]

From 1955 to 1990 he was an engineer at Bell Helicopter,[1] and worked as a leading engineer with Bob Lichten from 1964 on the tilt rotor technology.[2][3][4]

Along with his twin brother Rod, (who was also a Bell engineer) his son Keith and Rod's sons Tim and Kent, he was developing a rubber tracked amphibious vehicle after the US Navy requested concepts for a scout vehicle that could travel on water at high speed and proceed with all terrain capability for reconnaissance on land.[5][6] He holds patents related to flying and tracks.[7]

Wernicke was an advisory board member of rotorcraft company Carter Aviation Technologies.

Wernicke died in Bedford, Texas, on September 1, 2022, at the age of 89.[8]

Awards

Wernicke has received the Paul E. Haueter Memorial Award (American Helicopter Society) in 1978,[9] and the Aircraft Design Award (AIAA) in 1983.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Hydrofoil Presentations" International Hydrofoil Society, 16 May 2011. Accessed: 17 March 2012.
  2. ↑ Miller, Jay. "Origin of the Species" Air & Space/Smithsonian, July 2004. Accessed: 17 March 2012.
  3. 1 2 Maisel, Martin D., Demo J. Giulianetti and Daniel C. Dugan. NASA SP-2000-4517, "The History of the XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft: From Concept to Flight" (PDF) NASA, 2000. Accessed: 17 March 2012.
  4. ↑ Whittle, Richard. "The Dream Machine: The Untold History of the Notorious V-22 Osprey" pp41+48. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010. ISBN 1-4165-6295-8. Retrieved: 11 August 2012.
  5. ↑ Hanlon, Mike. "Killer amphibious vehicle - 39 mph on water and 55 mph on land" GizMag, 27 February 2007. Accessed: 17 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Wernicke, Ken "Tracks Provide Amphibians the Sole Means of Propulsion at High Speeds on the Water" International Hydrofoil Society, 10 December 2009. Accessed: 17 March 2012.
  7. ↑ "List of patents by Kenneth Wernicke" United States Patent and Trademark Office. Accessed: 17 March 2012.
  8. ↑ "Kenneth Wernicke Obituary (1932 - 2022) Star-Telegram". Legacy.com.
  9. ↑ "Paul E. Haueter Award", American Helicopter Society
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