RIP Robert Widmer .... who??

[MOD]

I admit that this was a name that meant nothing to me , until recently. He died on June 20th aged 95.

However you might just have heard of an aircraft manufacturer called Convair, (later to become General Dynamics). Everyone seems to have heard of Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson at Lockheed, and quite rightly so, but this aeronautical engineer and designer was responsible for some pretty Iconic Aircraft himself. viz :

The B-36 'Peacemaker' - The largest mass produced piston-engined aircraft ever built. It had the longest wingspan of any combat aircraft ever built - 230 feet.

The B-58 'Hustler' - The world's first long range bomber capable of sustained supersonic flight and at twice the speed of sound.

The F-111 'Aardvark' - recently retired by the Australian Airforce. It entered service in 1967.

The F-16 'Fighting Falcon' - made its first flight in 1974 and still going strong around the world.

The 'Tomahawk' cruise missile...


RIP Robert Widmer.



ibw

[Lucas1860]

RIP that man, thanks for the info MOD.

Jim

[Mayfly]

Wow that's some achievement

RIP

[Jigsaw]

RIP to an obviously great man. Thanks for that Ian