Herman Salmon: Difference between revisions
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===Later years=== |
===Later years=== |
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In 1974 he flew as a passenger on the maiden flight of the then-recently restored [[Westland Lysander]] piloted and owned by Dwight Brooks.<ref>Aeroplane Monthly ''A Lizzie flies again'' article in the December 1974 issue</ref> |
Salmon continued to teach flight crew and ferry aircraft. In 1974 he flew as a passenger on the maiden flight of the then-recently restored [[Westland Lysander]] piloted and owned by Dwight Brooks.<ref>Aeroplane Monthly ''A Lizzie flies again'' article in the December 1974 issue</ref> |
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In 1980, he was killed in [[Lockheed Constellation|Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation]] N9723C that he was ferrying to [[Alaska]], when it crashed on take off from [[Columbus Municipal Airport (Indiana)|Bakalar municipal airport]] in Columbus Indiana, along with |
In 1980, he was killed in [[Lockheed Constellation|Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation]] N9723C that he was ferrying to [[Alaska]], when it crashed on take off from [[Columbus Municipal Airport (Indiana)|Bakalar municipal airport]] in Columbus Indiana, along with one other crew member and a passenger. |
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He had logged more than 12,000 flight hours. In 1994, he was inducted into the [[Aerospace Walk of Honor]]. |
He had logged more than 12,000 flight hours. In 1994, he was inducted into the [[Aerospace Walk of Honor]]. |
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Revision as of 18:23, 25 September 2012
Herman Richard Salmon (July 11, 1913 – June 20, 1980), nicknamed "Fish", was a barnstormer, air racer, and test pilot for the Lockheed Corporation.
Biography
Early life
Salmon was born in 1913 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Pennsylvania-born Harry B. Salmon and his wife Bertha Wilhelmine nee Wagner[1]. His first flight in an aircraft was at the age of 14; by 18 he was a licensed pilot. During the 1930's he flew as a barnstormer, parachute stuntman and race pilot[2]. By 1940 he was living in Los Angeles, California with his wife Evelyn[1].
Lockheed
He started work at Lockheed in 1940 ferrying Hudsons to Montreal for the Royal Air Force. In 1945, he was transferred to the engineering test piloting division by Tony LeVier, who was the new head of the department.
As engineering test pilot, he spin tested the P-38 Lightning and dive tested the P-80 Shooting Star, the XF-90 penetration fighter prototype, and the F-94C Starfire. He certification tested two of the models of the Constellation for the Civil Aeronautics Administration. He made the first flights of such aircraft as the L-188 Electra, P-3 Orion, YF-104A Starfighter, and the XFV-1 tailsitter, which was named in his honor. He succeeded Tony LeVier as chief engineering test pilot, until he retired from Lockheed in 1978.
The Goodyear Trophy air races, 1947-1949
A new class of air racing was introduced at the 1947 National Air Races in Cleveland, Ohio, sponsored for three years by the Goodyear corporation. The first year Herman achieved a third place flying a Cosmic Wind plane with a speed of 158.8 mph (256 km/h). The Cosmic Wind was designed and built by a group of Lockheed employees, including Tony LeVier. In 1948 Herman finished first, and in 1949 fifth[3].
Later years
Salmon continued to teach flight crew and ferry aircraft. In 1974 he flew as a passenger on the maiden flight of the then-recently restored Westland Lysander piloted and owned by Dwight Brooks.[4]
In 1980, he was killed in Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation N9723C that he was ferrying to Alaska, when it crashed on take off from Bakalar municipal airport in Columbus Indiana, along with one other crew member and a passenger.
He had logged more than 12,000 flight hours. In 1994, he was inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Honor.
Herman R. Salmon Technical Publications Award
Since 1971 the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, of which Salmon was a Fellow, has made an annual award "to recognize the most outstanding technical paper published in Cockpit magazine". The selection criteria include Contribution to flight testing and Contribution to the exchange of information between test pilots that would not otherwise be generally available[5].
See also
- Herman R. Salmon Technical Publications Award
- Salmon (surname)
- Herman (given name)
- List of aviators by nickname
References
- ^ a b United States Census Bureau, National Archives and Records Administration
- ^ "Hall of Fame Inductees, Herman R. "Fish" Salmon". Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ^ "The Goodyear Trophy, 1947". IPMS Stockholm.org. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ^ Aeroplane Monthly A Lizzie flies again article in the December 1974 issue
- ^ "Herman R. Salmon Technical Publications Award". The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- LeVier, Tony, with John Guenther, Pilot. 1954 (reprinted 1990).
- Pace, Steve, Lockheed Skunk Works. Motorbooks: Osceola WI, 1992.
External links
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