) News Notional Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center Mo ff ett Field. California 94035 AC 415 965 -5091 For Release: July 8, 1982 Robert Thomas Jones, a retired senior scientist from NASA's Ames Research Center, is an internat i onally acclaimed expert on aerodynamics, optics, biomechanics, as well as an applied mathematician, astronomer, inventor, author, and violin maker. During World War II, Jones developed the swept-back wing, one of the most important aerodynamic discoveries basic to all of today's high-speed aircraft. Other early c0ntributions include the "Supersonic Area Rule" and "The Independence Principle." His works are of such fundamental importance that they have been incorporated in scientific textbooks and journals, corporate design manuals, and all forms of Scientific and technical documentation. One of Jones' latest contributions is his design of an "oblique" wing aircraft. This new aircraft pivots an entire rigid straight wing attached to the fuselage forming a scissor- like appearance as flight speed increases. This concept offers advantages in fuel economy, noise abatement, exhaust emission control, landing vortices, and operating flexibility. Eventually, experts feel the "oblique" wing will likely emerge as
Transcript
)
U\ill~ff\ News Notional Aeronautics and Space Administration
Ames Research Center Moffett Field . California 94035 AC 415 965-5091
For Release: July 8, 1982
Robert Thomas Jones, a retired senior scientist from NASA's
Ames Research Center, is an internat i onally acclaimed expert on
aerodynamics, optics, biomechanics, as well as an applied
mathematician, astronomer, inventor, author, and violin maker.
During World War II, Jones developed the swept-back wing,
one of the most important aerodynamic discoveries basic to all of
today's high-speed aircraft. Other early c0ntributions include
the "Supersonic Area Rule" and "The Independence Principle." His
works are of such fundamental importance that they have been
incorporated in scientific textbooks and journals, corporate
design manuals, and all forms of Scientific and technical
documentation.
One of Jones' latest contributions is his design of an
"oblique" wing aircraft. This new aircraft pivots an entire
rigid straight wing attached to the fuselage forming a scissor-
like appearance as flight speed increases. This concept offers
advantages in fuel economy, noise abatement, exhaust emission
control, landing vortices, and operating flexibility.
Eventually, experts feel the "oblique" wing will likely emerge as
)
the design approach for high-speed, long-range transport
aircraft. A research version of his innovation is currently
underg6ing flight testing at NASA's Dryden Flight Research
Facility.
A college dropout in 1928 after one year at the University
of Missouri, Jones joined Charles Fowler's Flying Circus and
worked carrying gas cans, patching wing tips, and accepting
payment in flying lessons. At 19, Jones worked for Nicholas
Beasley Aircraft and designed a 576-pound race plane.
When the aircraft company folded in 1930, Jones worked as an
elevator operator for the U.S. House of Representatives in
Waspington where he met Dr. Max M. Munk, another aviation
pioneer. Munk was so impressed by Jones' self-taught knowledge
of aeronautics that he enrolled him in three years of graduate
courses at Catholic University. Jones pursued study of
mathematics and fluid mechanics.
In 1932, Jones joined the National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics (NACA-NASA's ~redecessor) at Langley Memorial
Aeronautical Laboratory. Jones stayed on at Langley and soon
gained a reputation among experts in aeronautics. His discovery
of the sweepback theory in 1944 was not accepted by most
scientists at the time, but NACA "experiments to test the concept
soon proved successful.
Intrigued by telescopes, he began studying geometrical
optics. Soon he learned the art of grinding spherical mirrors
and set up an optical shop in his garage where he built
telescopes and lenses.
)
Jones left NASA to work for AVeO Everett Research Laboratory
in 1963 where he worked on applying fluid dynamics to the
problems of blood flow. He returned to NASA's Ames Research
Center in 1970 and worked on the development of his "oblique"
wing concept.
When his daughter became a violinist, Jones discovered yet
another area of interest. He studied the mechanics and
principles of violin-making and fashioned eight traditional
violins as well as an electronic violin.
Jones has published over 65 technical papers and one book.
He has taught supersonic aerodynamics at Stanford University
(19~6-55) and has served on NASA subcommittees on fluid mechanics
and astronomy.
He has been the recipient of numerous awards for his
pioneering efforts in the advancement of flight and in other
fields. The honors include the Sylvanus A1bert Reed Award given
by the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (1946), a cash
award from NASA's Inventions and Contributions Board (1976), and
the Prandtl Ring Award from the German aeronautics society
(1978). Just last year he ¥as awarded the President's Award for
Distinguished Federal Civilian Service, the Congressional
Excalibur Award, and the Smithsonian Institution's prestigious
Langley Award, an honor bestowed just 16 times since 1908 upon
many of aviation's "giants" including the Wright brothers,
Charles Lindbergh, and Robert Byrd.
A Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics, he was elected by other Fellows to the eminent
)
status of Honorary Fellow in 1979. He is a member of the
National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences, and the American Physical Society.
Jones is the father of six children. A native of Macon,
Missouri, he currently resides in Los Altos Hills, California.
