Wolfgang B. Klemperer | |
|---|---|
 in Blaue Maus glider 1923 with Anthony Fokker | |
| Born | January 18, 1893 |
| Died | March 25, 1965 (aged 72) California, US |
| Nationality | Austrian, American |
| Occupation(s) | aerospace engineer and designer. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Dr. Wolfgang Benjamin Klemperer (January 18, 1893 – March 25, 1965) was born in Dresden, Germany, the son of the Austrian nationals Leon and Charlotte Klemperer. He was in his time a prominent aviation and aerospace scientist and engineer, who ranks among the pioneers of early aviation.[1][2]
He is probably best known for his work on Properties of Rosette Configurations of Gravitating Bodies in Homographic Equilibrium, which have been named after him as Klemperer rosettes.
Klemperer was engaged in the development of airships or zeppelins, both in Germany and the US, high altitude ballons, specialized optics, a high-speed wide-angle cine-camera, analogue computers, equipment for data processing, and flight simulators. He became the preeminent missile scientist of Douglas Aircraft Corporation and in 1958 the director of the guided missile research section, staff assistant to the vice-president, and director of product development.
Throughout his career he published regularly, often with his first and middle names abbreviated to W. B. Klemperer, in scientific magazines on aerodynamics, space flight and navigation, as well as sailplanes.
In 1962 he published his work on the Klemperer rosette.[3]
- ^ "An appreciation by Dr G. V. Lachman". Flight International April 6, 1965:
- ^ http://ahc.uwyo.edu/usearchives/inventories/html/wyu-ah10955.html#d0e855 Inventory of the Wolfgang B. Klemperer papers, 1909–1974, University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
- ^ Klemperer, W. B. (1962). "Some properties of rosette configurations of gravitating bodies in homographic equilibrium". The Astronomical Journal. 67: 162. Bibcode:1962AJ.....67..162K. doi:10.1086/108686.