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Gebhardt Distinguished Lecture Series

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https://hdl.handle.net/1853/70884
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    Inventing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2012-12-06) Bevilaqua, Paul ; Georgia Institute of Technology. School of Aerospace Engineering ; University of Miami
    During the first century of flight, the focus of aerospace education has been on the methods of predicting lift and drag, with cost and schedule as dependent variables. Consequently, our engineers are very good at predicting performance, and aviation is one of the few areas where America sill has a favorable balance of trade. But America is facing new challenges as it works to adapt to the changing economy, energy, environmental and security demands of our nation. The mechanism for addressing these challenges during the next century of flight will be to focus education on achieving technical innovation with cost and schedule as independent variables and real constraints. This presentation will describe the development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which illustrates how technical innovation and a Lean approach to aircraft design can assure continued aviation leadership in this next century of flight. The technical innovation involves designing three highly common, but identical, variants of the same aircraft, incorporating a novel turboshaft cycle for vertical takeoff and landing. The principles of Lean Manufacturing were applied to the design process in order to control cost and schedule. The Collier Trophy, which each year recognizes “the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America” was awarded to the development team for these accomplishments.
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    What does the future bring? A look at Technologies for Commercial Aircraft in the years 2035 to 2050
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2014-01-23) Benzakein, Meyer ; Georgia Institute of Technology. School of Aerospace Engineering ; Ohio State University
    Demographics and economics in the next 20 years are being examined. They reflect a significant GDP growth and with this a strong demand for commercial aircraft not only in the US and Europe but across Asia and the Middle East. The demand will focus on more fuel efficient and more environmentally friendly vehicles. Significant progress is being made with the new regionals, narrow-body, and wide-body aircraft between now and the year 2020. Looking beyond, the world will examine new airplane architectures, new changes in propulsion systems, and higher thermal and propulsion efficiencies. Distributed propulsion options will come into play. With them, higher operating pressure gas generators will be developed and great attention will have to be given to highly integrated propulsion/airplane systems. Energy transfer requirements will lead to bigger gear systems as well as new hybrid systems. The new machines are forecasted to offer improvements in fuel efficiencies of over 40%. A terrific achievement. There are many technical challenges to make all these things happen. The aerospace engineers and scientists of today and tomorrow face unlimited opportunities to make a difference for what looks like a very exciting future.
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    The Space Shuttle and I
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2014-02-06) Crippen, Robert L. ; Georgia Institute of Technology. School of Aerospace Engineering
    The Space Shuttle consumed a major portion of my life, nearly thirty years. I was there at the beginning when we were defining crew requirements. That included the computer requirements, cockpit controls and displays, and procedure development Flying the Shuttle was a rewarding experience after years of being involved in the development. STS-1, 7, 41C, & 41G had me involved in most of the early test flights. The Challenger accident was a terrible tragedy which provided major lessons learned. It led me to move into management to return the Shuttle to flight. Eventually I left NASA and ended up running the company that was the direct cause of the accident, Thiokol. The Space Shuttle was a great program with 135 flights, but with two terrible accidents. I am proud to have played a role in its development and operation
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    Why Do We Want to Have a Space Program?
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2012-09-06) Griffin, Michael ; Georgia Institute of Technology. School of Aerospace Engineering ; University of Alabama in Huntsville. Center for Systems Studies ; University of Alabama in Huntsville. Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
    For more than fifty years, the exploration and development of space by the United States could have been characterized, without much exaggeration, as “all government, all the time”. There were exceptions, notably with regard to the commercial communications satellite industry, but they were just that – exceptions. Despite the entreaties of many who argued for a more balanced policy environment designed to encourage the development of commercial space enterprises, space development remained essentially a government preserve. Now, at least where human spaceflight – always the most visible symbol of the American space program – is concerned, we are confronted with a policy environment that is almost diametrically opposed to this decades-old paradigm, and commercial space enterprises are in vigorous pursuit of defense and intelligence community markets as well. This lecture will explore the ramifications of such policy shifts, together with the rationale for maintaining a robust national space effort, even as much new space activity shifts toward commercial development.