Masters Theses

Date of Award

5-1989

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Aviation Systems

Major Professor

Fred Watts

Committee Members

Uwe Peter Solies, Ralph D. Kimberlin, James Wu

Abstract

The Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) is the largest complex of aerospace flight simulation test facilities in the free world today. Although considered critical to national security at the close of World War II, AEDC was not authorized until 1949. What were the reasons for the creation of AEDC? How did it come to be located at Camp Forrest, near Tullahoma? What lessons were learned in creating the Center?

These issues were investigated at AEDC during a five month period from Fall 1988 through Winter 1989. The investigation was conducted using the extensive collection of historical materials and documentation contained in the AEDC archives, and with reference to supporting documentation maintained by the AEDC technical library. Hundreds of letters, memoranda, and reports were reviewed and evaluated in order to derive an accurate answer to these questions.

The results of this research establishes that America ignored the importance of aviation research from the time of the Wright Brothers until just before World War II. This neglect nearly caused America to lose World War II to a more advanced Germany. After the war, the creation of a center for advanced aviation research became an issue of national security. However, a multitude of political considerations prevented the prompt authorization of the Center. It took nearly four years to develop an acceptable plan for the advanced research facility known as AEDC. The findings support the conclusion that, although expensive and controversial, the creation of AEDC was necessary.

The lesson which must be learned for the future is that America cannot ignore the importance of aviation research as it relates to the national security of this country, and the necessary research cannot be performed on tommorrow's systems, unless new and advanced test facilities are built today. This is the lesson of AEDC.

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