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Tribute to a Pioneer

Tribute to a Pioneer Aircraft Engineering THE MONTHLY SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ORGAN OF THE AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING PROFESSION VOL XX No 234 AUGUST 1948 An Intriguing Project O those who have grown up with aeronautics the name of Now that Americans have successfully survived flight at a speed GENERAL CROCCO is almost a legendary one, and he is in beyond that of sound, though in what precise circumstances and in Thistorical fact contemporary with the WRIGHT BROTHERS since what attitude has not yet been divulged, the theories and suggestions in regard to control and economics in supersonic flight are becoming his investigations into the subject date from the very beginnings of of more than purely academic interest. For this reason the glimpse the century, as is evidenced by the fact that he took out his first patent on the control of aeroplanes in 1903. He followed this in the ensuing into the future, which here appears as Part III of the consolidated year with a famous paper on the stability of airships read before the article, of the intriguing possibility of flight without, as the author Academie des Sciences, and one on the theory of aeroplane flight; delightfully puts it, 'the assistance' of wings is of considerable im­ portance. The present writer may be pardoned for taking a special while the catholicity of his early interests is further shown by his interest in this discussion on account of the fact that some years ago association with RICALDONI in a series of experiments with airscrews mounted on a hydroplane, for the construction of which he was he was severely taken to task, in the course of the discussion following partially responsible, on Lake.Bracciano in 1907. When it is recalled a lecture on the subject of speed, for venturing the opinion that in that in 1906 he was concerning himself with the phenomena of the ultimate development it was a little difficult to be sure where the aeroplane ceased to exist as such and became merely a projectile. auto-rotation in connexion with helicopters, the breadth of his out­ Leaving aside that debatable question, we do not remember having look on aeronautical problems, and his astonishing prevision, is manifest. For many years he was, of course, chiefly known for his previously read a serious examination of the problems of controlling association with a series of ingeniously designed semi-rigid airships and economically utilizing an aircraft which depends for its lift as produced by the Italian Government, but his interest in heavier- well as its power on a turbo-jet engine. than-air flight throughout his career found outlet in innumerable While yielding place to others more competent than ourselves to articles. In recent years he has been particularly associated with examine the fundamental soundness or otherwise of GENERAL the allied phenomena of stratospheric and supersonic flight; as CROCCO'S reasonings, we are content to point out that in all his long witness his paper entitled 'Flying in the Stratosphere', which we career, though notable for his foresight and advanced ideas, he has had the privilege of publishing in AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING in July never shown himself purely a visionary, and many of his early theories, which received little acceptance at the time when he origin­ ally propounded them, have since become the commonplaces of knowledge. A Pleasant Memory In view of his eminence, judge then of our gratification (as our A Splendid Idea French friends might say) when we were a few months ago honoured by his calling on us with the suggestion that we should publish a The possibilities are at least, it will be admitted, fascinating to translation of three papers he had read before the Accademia contemplate. As GENERAL CROCCO himself well puts it, the fact that Nazionale dei Lincei. The somewhat delayed outcome of this visit it does not appear possible at the present stage to adopt completely (which we recall with vivid pleasure of a conversation carried on with the theoretical project outlined of the reduction of the aircraft to a an exceptionally courteous gentleman in a strange admixture of, if simple fuselage containing the jet engine, this difference between the we may say so, faulty French on both sides, a little English and still practical and the theoretical does not make less interesting the possi­ less Italian) is the article on 'Passing Through the Sonic Barrier' bilities outlined. One consummation at any rate that we feel is de­ which appears in this issue. It is written in the delightful literary voutly to be wished—as our readers will have gathered from what we style which seems to have been almost the monopoly of Italian wrote last month—is envisaged in the author's pregnant phrase scientists from the time of LEONARDO DA VINCI onwards, a very large summing up one aspect of his simplified aircraft: 'There is, there­ measure of the charm of which has been retained in the admirable fore, no need for aerodromes either for take-off or landing.' translation by MR LIONEL MOTE, who has an unusual flair for repro­ We feel that those of our readers who are not aware of the fact will ducing the style of a foreign original in idiomatic English; more be glad to know that in LUIGI CROCCO there is a successor ready to particularly perhaps when he is dealing with Italian. follow in his father's footsteps who has already started to make his name, since he was before the war author of several reports in the We do not think the article has lost any of its interest through the well-known series of 'Atti di Guidonia', and there appeared in these elapse of two years since the first of the original papers was written, columns only last month a summary of a report from his pen on because, as with all his work, GENERAL CROCCO is dealing with the the characteristics of gas turbines. stuff of which fundamentals are made. THE S.B.A.C. DISPLAY SEPTEMBER 7—12 The Editor and staff of AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING will be pleased to welcome readers at STAND NO. 117 in the WEST EXHIBITION HALL at Farnborough, where we hope to renew old acquaintances and to make new ones among the members of the Aircraft Industry at home and abroad. As it is always difficult on these occasions to make contact with one's friends, we shall be happy to place ourselves at the service of those who may require a rendezvous and wish to leave messages. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology Emerald Publishing

Tribute to a Pioneer

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology , Volume 20 (8): 1 – Aug 1, 1948

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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
0002-2667
DOI
10.1108/eb031657
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Aircraft Engineering THE MONTHLY SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ORGAN OF THE AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING PROFESSION VOL XX No 234 AUGUST 1948 An Intriguing Project O those who have grown up with aeronautics the name of Now that Americans have successfully survived flight at a speed GENERAL CROCCO is almost a legendary one, and he is in beyond that of sound, though in what precise circumstances and in Thistorical fact contemporary with the WRIGHT BROTHERS since what attitude has not yet been divulged, the theories and suggestions in regard to control and economics in supersonic flight are becoming his investigations into the subject date from the very beginnings of of more than purely academic interest. For this reason the glimpse the century, as is evidenced by the fact that he took out his first patent on the control of aeroplanes in 1903. He followed this in the ensuing into the future, which here appears as Part III of the consolidated year with a famous paper on the stability of airships read before the article, of the intriguing possibility of flight without, as the author Academie des Sciences, and one on the theory of aeroplane flight; delightfully puts it, 'the assistance' of wings is of considerable im­ portance. The present writer may be pardoned for taking a special while the catholicity of his early interests is further shown by his interest in this discussion on account of the fact that some years ago association with RICALDONI in a series of experiments with airscrews mounted on a hydroplane, for the construction of which he was he was severely taken to task, in the course of the discussion following partially responsible, on Lake.Bracciano in 1907. When it is recalled a lecture on the subject of speed, for venturing the opinion that in that in 1906 he was concerning himself with the phenomena of the ultimate development it was a little difficult to be sure where the aeroplane ceased to exist as such and became merely a projectile. auto-rotation in connexion with helicopters, the breadth of his out­ Leaving aside that debatable question, we do not remember having look on aeronautical problems, and his astonishing prevision, is manifest. For many years he was, of course, chiefly known for his previously read a serious examination of the problems of controlling association with a series of ingeniously designed semi-rigid airships and economically utilizing an aircraft which depends for its lift as produced by the Italian Government, but his interest in heavier- well as its power on a turbo-jet engine. than-air flight throughout his career found outlet in innumerable While yielding place to others more competent than ourselves to articles. In recent years he has been particularly associated with examine the fundamental soundness or otherwise of GENERAL the allied phenomena of stratospheric and supersonic flight; as CROCCO'S reasonings, we are content to point out that in all his long witness his paper entitled 'Flying in the Stratosphere', which we career, though notable for his foresight and advanced ideas, he has had the privilege of publishing in AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING in July never shown himself purely a visionary, and many of his early theories, which received little acceptance at the time when he origin­ ally propounded them, have since become the commonplaces of knowledge. A Pleasant Memory In view of his eminence, judge then of our gratification (as our A Splendid Idea French friends might say) when we were a few months ago honoured by his calling on us with the suggestion that we should publish a The possibilities are at least, it will be admitted, fascinating to translation of three papers he had read before the Accademia contemplate. As GENERAL CROCCO himself well puts it, the fact that Nazionale dei Lincei. The somewhat delayed outcome of this visit it does not appear possible at the present stage to adopt completely (which we recall with vivid pleasure of a conversation carried on with the theoretical project outlined of the reduction of the aircraft to a an exceptionally courteous gentleman in a strange admixture of, if simple fuselage containing the jet engine, this difference between the we may say so, faulty French on both sides, a little English and still practical and the theoretical does not make less interesting the possi­ less Italian) is the article on 'Passing Through the Sonic Barrier' bilities outlined. One consummation at any rate that we feel is de­ which appears in this issue. It is written in the delightful literary voutly to be wished—as our readers will have gathered from what we style which seems to have been almost the monopoly of Italian wrote last month—is envisaged in the author's pregnant phrase scientists from the time of LEONARDO DA VINCI onwards, a very large summing up one aspect of his simplified aircraft: 'There is, there­ measure of the charm of which has been retained in the admirable fore, no need for aerodromes either for take-off or landing.' translation by MR LIONEL MOTE, who has an unusual flair for repro­ We feel that those of our readers who are not aware of the fact will ducing the style of a foreign original in idiomatic English; more be glad to know that in LUIGI CROCCO there is a successor ready to particularly perhaps when he is dealing with Italian. follow in his father's footsteps who has already started to make his name, since he was before the war author of several reports in the We do not think the article has lost any of its interest through the well-known series of 'Atti di Guidonia', and there appeared in these elapse of two years since the first of the original papers was written, columns only last month a summary of a report from his pen on because, as with all his work, GENERAL CROCCO is dealing with the the characteristics of gas turbines. stuff of which fundamentals are made. THE S.B.A.C. DISPLAY SEPTEMBER 7—12 The Editor and staff of AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING will be pleased to welcome readers at STAND NO. 117 in the WEST EXHIBITION HALL at Farnborough, where we hope to renew old acquaintances and to make new ones among the members of the Aircraft Industry at home and abroad. As it is always difficult on these occasions to make contact with one's friends, we shall be happy to place ourselves at the service of those who may require a rendezvous and wish to leave messages.

Journal

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace TechnologyEmerald Publishing

Published: Aug 1, 1948

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