Albert Francis Zahm
Albert Francis Zahm (5 June 1862 – 23 July 1954) -- inventor, theoretician, and commentator from New Lexington, Ohio. Secretary of the Aero Club of Washington in 1911.[1]
- Notre Dame, bachelor's degree in physics, 1883
- Sibley College (Cornell), master's degree in engineering, 1892
- Johns Hopkins University, PhD in physics, 1898
Zahm built airplanes, some model and some full-scale, while at Notre Dame. One hung from a 50-foot rope and was powered by bicycle pedals connected to a tractor propeller. However, he spent most of his career working on the theory of aerodynamics. He first met Octave Chanute when the latter spoke at Sibley College in 1890, and the two entered into regular correspondence. [5]
Initiated Aeronautical Navigation Conference at 1893 World's Fair and acted as secretary. Brought in Chanute as chairman.[2] Zahm was aware of previous key conferences, especially the First Exhibition of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain and the International Aeronautical Congress of 1889 in Paris. They wanted to follow these precedents and improve on them by using the occasion to compile useful technical information.[6]
The Washington Post in 1905 called Zahm "one of the highest authorities on aeronautics in the world" (apparently intending no pun) and quoted him as saying "the next six years or so will see a man keeping his flying machine as he now keeps his automobile" and that dirigible balloons "have reached nearly as high a stage of development as they could be expected to attain."[7]
In 1911 Zahm published Aerial Navigation: A Popular Treatise on the Growth of Air Craft and on Aëronautical Meteorology. The New York Times credited the book for connecting the rapid contemporary progress of airplanes with their antecedents going back to Da Vinci.[1]
In 1912 Zahm led the Aero Club of Washington in organizing a military air show at the College Park field.[8]
In 1915 he became chief engineer for Curtiss Aeroplane & Motor Corp, to which one of his patents (Patent US-1922-1406600) is assigned.[4] He learned to fly in 1914 at the Curtiss Flying School in Hammondsport.[4] He backed Curtiss in his patent dispute with the Wright Brothers[2] and in his theoretical writing (see Zahm, 1944) downplayed the significance of the Wrights' achievement.
In 1917 the United States Navy hired Zahm as director of its Aeronautical Laboratory.[9]
Taught mathematics and mechanics at Notre Dame from 1885–1892; taught at Catholic University from 1895–1908. "Among his inventions are the three-torque control for airplanes, the wire tensiometer, the vectorgraph prottractor, the three-component amenograph and aerodynamic balances."[4]
In 1925 received Laetare medal from Notre Dame University.[10] In 1930 received Mendel Medal from Villanova.[4]
Underwritten by the Guggenheim fund, Zahm chaired the Division of Aeronautics at the Library of Congress (a joint project with the Smithsonian?) and oversaw a vast collection of aeronautical materials, including the libraries of Langley and James Means.[2][11]
Patents whose inventor or applicant is Albert Francis Zahm
- Patent US-1914-1107231 (English title: Flying-Machine, Filing date: 1910-03-21)
- Patent US-1917-1223017 (English title: Aileron, Filing date: 1915-09-18)
- Patent US-1919-1326010 (English title: Aileron of Variable-Aspect Ratio, Supplementary to patent: Patent US-1917-1223017, Filing date: 1916-04-28)
- Patent US-1922-1406600 (English title: Propeller-hub construction, Filing date: 1916-10-13)
- Patent US-1920-1358603 (English title: Hovering aeroplane, Filing date: 1917-08-10)
Publications by or about Albert Francis Zahm
- Castagneris, 1905, L'Istituto speciale di aerodinamica di Koutchino (Simple title: The special institute for aerodynamics at Koutchino and the worldwide technical development of aerodynamics, Journal: Bollettino della Società Aeronautica Italiana)
- Dienstbach, 1906, Die erste aëronautische Ausstellung in Amerika (Simple title: The first aëronautic exhibition in America, Journal: Ill. Aër. Mitt.)
- Ludlow Hammer Post, 1907, Navigating the air; a scientific statement of the progress of aeronautical science (Simple title: Navigating the air; a scientific statement of the progress of aeronautical science up to the present time)
- Dienstbach, 1907, Practical air craft (Simple title: Practical air craft, Journal: Nav. the Air)
- Dienstbach, 1909, Die bisherigen Resultate der Bemühungen des amerikanischen 'Sig- nalkorps' um die Schaffung einer Luftwehr für die Vereinigten Staaten (Simple title: The results so far of the efforts of the American 'Signal Corps' to create an air force for the United States, Journal: Ill. Aër. Mitt.)
- Zahm, 1910, Atmospheric resistance of wires and rods (Simple title: Atmospheric resistance of wires and rods, Journal: Vestnik Vozdukhoplavaniya)
- Zahm, 1910, Humidity and flight (Simple title: Humidity and flight, Journal: Aeronautics)
- Zahm, 1911, Stress in aeroplanes in curvilinear and fancy flight. The mechanical significance of aerial antics (Simple title: Stress in aeroplanes in curvilinear and fancy flight. The mechanical significance of aerial antics, Journal: Scient. Amer.)
- Zahm, 1911, The undeveloped art of soaring. Its theory and practice (Simple title: The undeveloped art of soaring. Its theory and practice, Journal: Scient. Amer. Suppl.)
- Berriman, 1912, Aeroplane efficiency. A skeleton framework of theory as a guide for practical construction (Simple title: Aeroplane efficiency, Journal: Scient. Amer. Suppl.)
- Zahm, 1912, Eiffel's aerodynamic laboratory and studies (Simple title: Eiffel's aerodynamic laboratory and studies, Journal: Aero Club of America Bulletin)
- Zahm, 1912, On the need for an aeronautical laboratory in America (Simple title: On the need for an aeronautical laboratory in America, Journal: Aero Club of Am. Bull.)
- Zahm, 1912, Studying the flying machine in the laboratory. Recent progress in experimental aerodynamics (Simple title: Studying the flying machine in the laboratory. Recent progress in experimental aerodynamics, Journal: Scient. Amer.)
- Zahm, 1912, The resistance of the air and aviation. Eiffel's memoir on experimental aero-dynamics (Simple title: The resistance of the air and aviation. Eiffel's memoir on experimental aero-dynamics, Journal: Scient Amer.)
- Zahm, 1912, Torque in aeroplane propellers. Theory and practical determination (Simple title: Torque in aeroplane propellers. Theory and practical determination, Journal: Scient. Amer. Suppl.)
- Zahm, 1912, Uses of an aeronautical laboratory (Simple title: Uses of an aeronautical laboratory, Journal: Aero Club of Am. Bull.)
- Zahm, 1913, European aeronautical laboratories (Simple title: European aeronautical laboratories, Journal: Flying)
- Zahm, 1913, Stress considerations in aeroplane design (Simple title: Stress considerations in aeroplane design, Journal: Journ. Franklin Inst.)
- Zahm, 1913, The measurement of the true static pressure in a moving fluid. Application to an aeroplane barograph (Simple title: The measurement of static pressure in a moving fluid, an aeroplane barograph, Journal: Journ. Franklin Inst.)
- Zahm, 1914, Wing data and analysis for a staggered biplane (Simple title: Wing data and analysis for a staggered biplane, Journal: Journ. Franklin Inst.)
- Zahm, 1915, European aeronautical laboratories. Their organization, equipment, and methods of investigation (Simple title: European aeronautical laboratories. Their organization, equipment, and methods of investigation, Journal: Scient Amer.)
- Zahm, 1916, A note on propeller stress (Simple title: A note on propeller stress, Journal: Aerial Age)
- Klemin and Huff, 1916, Course in aerodynamics and aeroplane design (Simple title: Course in aerodynamics and aeroplane design, Journal: Aviation and Aeronautical Engineering)
- Zahm, 1916, Note on the dynamics of a gyroscopic particle with special reference to periodic stresses in a propeller (Simple title: Note on the dynamics of a gyroscopic particle with special reference to periodic stresses in a propeller, Journal: Aerial Age)
- Brewer, 1921, The Langley Machine and the Hammondsport Trials (Simple title: The Langley Machine and the Hammondsport Trials, Journal: Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society)
Albert Francis Zahm participated in these events:
- Aeronautical Navigation Conference at 1893 World's Fair (Start date: 1893-08-01, Locations: Chicago (World's Fair), Country: US, Tech focus: LTA • Balloon • Propeller • Propulsion • Airplane • Stability • Parachute • Glider)
- Jamestown Exposition (Start date: 1907-04-26, Locations: Jamestown, Country: US, Tech focus: LTA • Bird • Airplane • Kite • Competition • Parachute • Instrument • Communications • Photography)
Publications
- 1898. The resistance of the air determined at speeds below one thousand feet a second, with description of two new methods of measuring projectile velocities inside and outside the gun. Dissertation submitted at Johns Hopkins University. (Full-text PDF at Internet Archive.)
- 1904. "Atmospheric friction with special reference to aeronautics". Read before the Philosophical Society of Washington, 27 February 1904.
- 1911. Aerial Navigation: A Popular Treatise on the Growth of Air Craft and on Aëronautical Meteorology. New York and London: D. Appleton and Company. (Full-text scan at Internet Archive)
- 1914. Report on European aeronautical laboratories, with eleven plates. Smithsonian Institution. (Read online at HathiTrust.)
- 1915. The First Man-Carrying Airplane Capable of Sustained Free Flight: Langley's Success as a Pioneer in Aviation. Government Printing Office. From Smithsonian Report for 1914. (Full-text PDF at Internet Archive.)
- 1919. Development of an Aircraft Incidence Meter. J. B. Lippincott Company. Reprinted from Journal of the Franklin Institute, November 1919. (Full-text PDF at Internet Archive.)
- 1931. Origin and progress of the Division of Aeronautics. Government Printing Office. (HathiTrust; on WorldCat.)
- 1944/1945. "Conspectus of Early Powerplane Development". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington D.C., Vol. 46/46.
- 1950. Aeronautical papers, 1885-1945. University of Notre Dame.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Far Aloft With Two Winged Men", New York Times, 24 December 1911.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hallion, 2003, p. 171–172
- ↑ Crouch, 1981, p. 78.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Dr. Albert Zahm, Aviation Pioneer: Notre Dame Scientist Dead at 92—Built Wind Tunnel 20 Years Before First Flight", New York Times, 24 JUly 1954.
- ↑ Crouch, 1981, p. 79.
- ↑ Crouch, 1981, p. 81. "Albert Zahm had followed the growth of the congress idea in the Chicago papers. It seemed to him that such a conference on aeronautics might substantially increase interest in the subject. And there was precedent for such a gathering. The Aeronautical Society of Great Britain's Exhibition of 1868 had been the first attempt to attract an international audience of flying-machine experimenters. Chanute had attended the Second International Congress of Aeronautics and Aviators in Paris in 1889. Zahm envisioned a meeting that would surpass both of these, establishing a baseline of solid, trustworthy technical data from which all flying-machine work could proceed. In addition, such a gathering of reputable technologists and scientists would draw favorable public attention to aeronautics."
- ↑ "Will Be Autos in Air: Their Debut Is Near at Hand, Says Prof. Zahm: Aerodynamics His Study: Member of Catholic University Faculty Who Is Looked Upon as an Expert and Authority on Airships, Although He Has Never Made One—Thinks Balloons Have Reached Their Limit." Washington Post, 22 January 1905.
- ↑ "Aeros Flit in Clouds", Washington Post, 23 June 1912.
- ↑ Haas & Silberg, 2011, Birth of U.S. Naval Aeronautics
- ↑ "Dr. Albert F. Zahm Honored for Work in Field of Aviation: Laetare Medal Is Presented to Aeronautical Engineer of U.S. Navy", '"Washington Post, 21 June 1925.
- ↑ Origin and Progress of the Division of Aeronautics, GPO 1931
Names | Albert Francis Zahm |
---|---|
Birth date | 1862-06-05 |
Death date | 1954-07-23 |
Countries | US |
Locations | Washington, DC; South Bend, Indiana |
Occupations | professor |
Tech areas | Airplane, Wind tunnel, Aerodynamics |
Affiliations | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Corporation, Aeronautical Laboratory, U.S. Navy, Cosmos Club |
Wikidata id |