The Aircraft Designers: A Grumman Historical Perspective (Library of Flight) - Hardcover

Michael V. Ciminera

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1624101771 ISBN 13: 9781624101779

Publisher: Amer Inst of Aeronautics &, 2013

Synopsis

The Aircraft Designers: A Grumman Historical Perspective tells the behind-the-scenes story of the designers and engineers who conceived and built Grumman aircraft from the founding of the company in 1929 until its 1994 acquisition by Northrop. While Grumman aircraft have been previously documented, The Aircraft Designers focuses instead on the people, disciplines, processes, and anecdotes behind the creation of such past icons as the F6F Wildcat and TBF Avenger and modern-day weapon systems like the F-14 Tomcat, E-2 Hawkeye, EA-6B Prowler, and Joint STARS. Michael Ciminera has identified key team members who contributed to the creation and development of each new design, creating an unparalleled historical record of the aeronautical achievements of the Grumman Corporation. He has also chronicled the evolution from the aircraft design of the past, which bore the earmark of the chief engineer/designer, to today's complex aircraft systems, which require a significant team effort involving such disciplines as aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, avionics, systems analysis, software, simulation, testing, and much more.

About this title

About the Author

Mike Ciminera's career with Grumman and Northrop Grumman spanned almost 51 years. He started working as an apprentice for Grumman when he was 17 years old and became a Vice President managing such areas as Advanced Programs, Systems Group, Electronic Systems, JPATS, F-18A/B/C/D Hornet program, and Joint STARS. In 2000, he became a Sector Consultant for Northrop Grumman where he provided technical and program management oversight of programs including Fire Scout, UCAS, and the X-47B. Mike continues to consult in aerospace, lecture, and write. He serves on several boards, including the Legacy Engineering Advisory Council; the Leadership Board of the School of Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (chair); The Western Museum of Flight in Torrance, CA (advisor); and Christian Outreach in Action (COA), (chair); a non-denominational center in Long Beach, CA that cares for those in need.

Review

Mike Ciminera's wonderful book is a deeply researched and deeply felt story of aircraft design at the Grumman Corporation. He is uniquely qualified to write this book both because of the research that he has undertaken and because of his fifty-year association with Grumman and Northrop Grumman. --Brian L Hunt, PhD, Northrop Grumman Engineering Vice President for Combat Systems (ret.)

Mike Ciminera has drawn back the curtain and provided a look at the designers and engineers of Grumman. He has done a great job in resurrecting the names and stories of the many designers who contributed to Grumman's 50+ years of innovative aircraft designs. --Irv Waaland

A delightful trip down memory lane covering so much of our design efforts at Grumman with accuracy and clarity. The emphasis on the results of many people contributing to a successful aircraft design is a refreshing change from the usual memoir which centers on all the wonderful actions of one individual. --Vincent Milano, VP Grumman International, Grumman Corporation (ret.)

About this edition

• Publisher: Amer Inst of Aeronautics &
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1624101771
• ISBN 13: 9781624101779
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 251