Henry Combs: Difference between revisions
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| ⚫ | '''Henry Combs''' (December 4, 1916 – May 28, 2016) was a structural engineer at [[Clarence Johnson]]'s famed [[Skunk Works]] division of [[Lockheed Corporation]]. He was Deputy Project Manager on the [[Lockheed U-2]] program, Head Structural Engineer on the [[SR-71 Blackbird]], and later, Technical Director of the Skunk Works. While he is most known for his integral work on the U-2, the SR-71 and the [[F-117 Nighthawk]], he also worked on the [[F-104]], [[Lockheed Constellation]], [[C-130 Hercules]], [[XP-58 Chain Lightning]], and [[Lockheed JetStar]].<ref>Cefarrat, Gil. "Lockheed: The People Behind the Story ", Turner Pub Co; 1 edition (December 31, 2002). {{ISBN|1-56311-847-5}}</ref><ref>Sweetman, Bill. "Lockheed Stealth", Zenith Press; 1st edition (January 6, 2005). {{ISBN|0-7603-1940-5}}</ref> |
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Combs is revered as the father of the [[titanium]] A-12 structure. According to Ben Rich in "Skunk Works",<ref>Rich, Ben R. "Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed", Back Bay Books, 1986. {{ISBN|0-316-74300-3}}</ref> Combs was the "dean" of the eight man structures group and an "irascible genius". Combs spoke on the U-2's development at the [[CIA]]'s "The CIA and the U-2 Program" conference on 17 September 1998.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} |
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| ⚫ | '''Henry Combs''' was a structural engineer at [[Clarence Johnson]]'s famed [[Skunk Works]] |
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[[File:Henry Combs in his element.jpg|thumb|left|Combs flying his Libelle over Southern California. Photo by his brother, Alec Combs.]] |
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Combs is revered as the father of the titanium A-12 structure. According to Ben Rich in "Skunk Works", Combs was the "dean" of the eight man structures group and an "irascible genius". |
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An accomplished sailplane ([[glider (sailplane)|glider]]) pilot, Combs became famous within the soaring community for his weekly cross-country distance flights. Owing to the notable success of these flights, he became the leader of a fiercely loyal group of competition and cross-country sailplane pilots known as the "Crystal Squadron", based at Crystalaire gliderport in Llano, CA. From the mid 1980s through the early 2000s, this group of pilots, under Combs' spiritual and technical leadership, flew hundreds of long-distance soaring flights from Southern California to Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. In 1998, he completed his 200th straight-out long-distance flight meeting or exceeding the FAI "Diamond Badge" distance of 311 miles (500 km).{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} |
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He was also well known for his extensive modifications and performance tuning work on the classic Glasflugel H-301 Libelle sailplane. Because of the numerous aerodynamic improvements made by Combs to his aircraft, it was capable of achieving performance levels on a par with more modern aircraft flown by the other members of the group. The net effect of these expert aircraft modifications, combined with his excellent piloting skills, was that (to their amazement and chagrin) Combs was often able to fly farther and faster than the other members of the Crystal Squadron, many of whom had spent three or four times the money on far newer "state of the art" sailplanes. This served only to further perpetuate the "irascible genius" legend, long after his Skunk Works days had passed. His soaring legacy is honored by the [[Soaring Society of America]]'s "Henry Combs Perpetual Trophy".{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} |
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Combs spoke on the U-2's development at the CIA's "The CIA and the U-2 Program" conference on 17 September 1998. |
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Combs died on May 28, 2016, at the age of 99.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} |
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An accomplished glider pilot, Combs is honored by the Soaring Society of America's "Henry Combs Perpetual Trophy". In 1998, he completed his 200th straight-out diamond distance flight. |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Combs, Henry}} |
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[[Category:Structural engineers]] |
[[Category:Structural engineers]] |
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[[Category:Lockheed people]] |
[[Category:Lockheed people]] |
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[[Category:1916 births]] |
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[[Category:2016 deaths]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:27, 1 July 2023
Henry Combs (December 4, 1916 – May 28, 2016) was a structural engineer at Clarence Johnson's famed Skunk Works division of Lockheed Corporation. He was Deputy Project Manager on the Lockheed U-2 program, Head Structural Engineer on the SR-71 Blackbird, and later, Technical Director of the Skunk Works. While he is most known for his integral work on the U-2, the SR-71 and the F-117 Nighthawk, he also worked on the F-104, Lockheed Constellation, C-130 Hercules, XP-58 Chain Lightning, and Lockheed JetStar.[1][2]
Combs is revered as the father of the titanium A-12 structure. According to Ben Rich in "Skunk Works",[3] Combs was the "dean" of the eight man structures group and an "irascible genius". Combs spoke on the U-2's development at the CIA's "The CIA and the U-2 Program" conference on 17 September 1998.[citation needed]
An accomplished sailplane (glider) pilot, Combs became famous within the soaring community for his weekly cross-country distance flights. Owing to the notable success of these flights, he became the leader of a fiercely loyal group of competition and cross-country sailplane pilots known as the "Crystal Squadron", based at Crystalaire gliderport in Llano, CA. From the mid 1980s through the early 2000s, this group of pilots, under Combs' spiritual and technical leadership, flew hundreds of long-distance soaring flights from Southern California to Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. In 1998, he completed his 200th straight-out long-distance flight meeting or exceeding the FAI "Diamond Badge" distance of 311 miles (500 km).[citation needed]
He was also well known for his extensive modifications and performance tuning work on the classic Glasflugel H-301 Libelle sailplane. Because of the numerous aerodynamic improvements made by Combs to his aircraft, it was capable of achieving performance levels on a par with more modern aircraft flown by the other members of the group. The net effect of these expert aircraft modifications, combined with his excellent piloting skills, was that (to their amazement and chagrin) Combs was often able to fly farther and faster than the other members of the Crystal Squadron, many of whom had spent three or four times the money on far newer "state of the art" sailplanes. This served only to further perpetuate the "irascible genius" legend, long after his Skunk Works days had passed. His soaring legacy is honored by the Soaring Society of America's "Henry Combs Perpetual Trophy".[citation needed]
Combs died on May 28, 2016, at the age of 99.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ Cefarrat, Gil. "Lockheed: The People Behind the Story ", Turner Pub Co; 1 edition (December 31, 2002). ISBN 1-56311-847-5
- ^ Sweetman, Bill. "Lockheed Stealth", Zenith Press; 1st edition (January 6, 2005). ISBN 0-7603-1940-5
- ^ Rich, Ben R. "Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed", Back Bay Books, 1986. ISBN 0-316-74300-3