Engineering the Space Age a Rocket Scientist Remembers
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Engineering the Space Age A Rocket Scientist Remembers ROBERT V. BRULLE Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Retired Air University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama July 2008 Muir S. Fairchild Research Information Center Cataloging Data Brulle, Robert V. Engineering the space age : a rocket scientist remembers / Robert V. Brulle. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-58566-184-8 1. Brulle, Robert V. 2. Aeronautical engineers—United States—Biography. 3. Rock- etry—United States—Biography. 4. Renewable energy sources—Research I. Title. 629.130092—dc22 Disclaimer Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Air University, the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, or any other US government agency. Cleared for public release: distribution unlimited. Air University Press 131 West Shumacher Avenue Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-5962 http://aupress.maxwell.af.mil ii To the Almighty and my loving wife Margaret, without whose help and guidance, I could never have experienced the excitement of being in the vanguard of this aviation and space adventure Contents Chapter Page DISCLAIMER . ii DEDICATION ........................... iii FOREWORD . xi ABOUT THE AUTHOR . xiii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . xv INTRODUCTION . xvii 1 Aeronautical Engineering . 1 2 Pilots and Education . 15 3 Aircraft Procurement . 29 4 Aeronautics . 59 5 Missiles . 81 6 Computer Programming . 113 7 Spacefarers . 121 8 Secret Missiles and Tactics . 161 9 Space Projects . 173 10 Pilots and Airplanes . 183 11 Cyclogiro Aircraft . 201 12 Giromill Wind Power . 211 13 Aquagiro Water Power . 233 Appendices A Wing Vortex System . 247 B McPilot . 249 v CONTENTS Appendices Page C Whirlpools . 251 D Diffusers . 255 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 257 INDEX . 265 Illustrations Figures 1 Back side of drag curve explanation . 40 2 Radio range operation . 49 3 New York radio range congestion . 51 4 Republic XF-103 and power plant operation diagrams . 55 5 Wind-shear effect explanation . 65 6 Performance envelopes . 68 7 Performance comparison . 69 8 Long-range missile trajectories . 87 9 NACA glide vehicle concept . 89 10 Alpha Draco glide vehicle . 90 11 Alpha Draco configuration . 91 12 Alpha Draco trajectory . 95 13 Alpha Draco range safety plot . 104 14 Limits of human tolerance to linear acceleration . 136 15 Typical off-the-pad trajectories . 145 16 Artist’s rendition of an in-flight ejection . 148 17 BGRV configuration . 167 vi CONTENTS Figures Page 18 MDC-proposed fully reusable space shuttle . 179 19 Cooper-Harper pilot rating scale . 184 20 PIO tendency rating scale . 189 21 AFTI configuration . 193 22 Direct-side-force control (DSFC) modes . 194 23 FIP sight HUD symbology . 196 24 FIP bombing system . 197 25 Cyclogiro modulation systems . 203 26 Cycloidal propulsion pump . 205 27 Cyclogiro test aircraft . 206 28 Artist’s rendition of 120-kW Giromill . 215 29 Rock angle variation with wind speed . 216 30 Giromill wind tunnel test results . 218 31 40-kW Giromill configuration . 222 32 Giromill test performance . 226 33 Aquagiro power coefficient . 238 34 Augmented Aquagiro . 242 35 Augmented Aquagiro performance . 243 A-1 Wing vortex system effects . 248 B-1 McPilot math function . 249 C-1 Cyclogiro vortex system . 252 C-2 Induced velocities around orbit . 253 C-3 Cyclogiro rotor definitions . 253 C-4 Hover blade rock angle . 254 D-1 Augmented rotor vortex system . 255 vii CONTENTS Photos Page Capt Robert V. Brulle at the Air Force Institute of Technology, 1951 . 21 RF-84F reconnaissance version . 32 The first F-84F flight, 23 November 1952 . 35 F-84F air refueling checkout viewed from boom operator’s station . 39 RF-84F nose view . 45 Green Quail decoy missile . 82 Green Quail deployed from a B-52 bomb bay . 83 Alpha Draco hypersonic glider . 93 Cape Canaveral launch team . 97 Alpha Draco launch . 102 Two-man Gemini space capsule . 124 Atlas rocket boosts Mercury into orbit . 126 Mercury manned space capsule . 127 Titan II ballistic missile boosted Gemini to orbit . 130 Gemini ejection seat . 138 Live jump test of the Ballute stabilizer . 142 Final high-speed test of Gemini ejection seat . 149 Balancing ejection seat to prevent astronaut tumbling . 153 Astronaut Ed White made the first US space walk . 155 Gemini VI and VII conduct first rendezvous in space . 156 Brulle family on flying vacation . 210 Giromill wind tunnel test . 217 Valley Industries Giromill checkout . 220 Giromill at Rocky Flats Wind Energy Test Area . 224 Mod-1 Aquagiro test in the Missouri River . 234 viii CONTENTS Photos Page Aquagiro tow-tested between two canoes . 235 Large, float-mounted Mod-2 Aquagiro test . 236 Mod-2 Aquagiro observed by Lyle McNair and the author . 238 Augmented Aquagiro with gin pole mounting . 240 Augmented Aquagiro . 244 ix Foreword Rarely is a reader exposed to such an extraordinary, multi- faceted presentation of aerospace technology as Bob Brulle narrates in this book. After returning from duty as a combat fighter pilot in World War II, this Belgian immigrant developed a multitalented and innovative aerospace career path that ad- dressed many of the aerospace professions. Along the way he forged a career in the aviation and space field that resulted in his participating in several of the most momentous aerospace achievements of the past century. He also expanded his educa- tion through hard work to a level at which he was qualified to teach graduate-level aerospace engineering courses. It is interesting to follow how the analysis and design tech- niques of aerospace vehicles progressed over the years, which incidentally reveals the large role that the computer played in making that possible. The story on the early Cape Canaveral operations was amusing and showed that enterprising innova- tions played a large role in a successful undertaking. Some of the projects described were a surprise, as I had never heard of them, like reading how a pencil-shaped missile was built that could fly and maneuver over an intercontinental distance at a high hypersonic velocity. He also described how American en- gineers and scientists fought the Cold War battle for techno- logical supremacy on their desks and in their laboratories. The initiatives by which this enterprising engineer develops his technical approach to a project are very informative and of- fer the reader an insight into the workings of successful opera- tions. He achieves an interesting behind-the-scenes look at how aerospace history is made by weaving in the historical sig- nificance of these projects as they are developed. As a former aeronautical engineer at the rapidly growing Mc- Donnell Aircraft Corporation, Bob gives us an interesting expo- sure to the importance of top management’s relationship with the workforce in a successful company. “Mr. Mac” made it a point to make all his employees team members by frequent communication and friendly association. From my experience in the aviation field, I find that this unique aviation and space history book provides a very realis- xi FOREWORD tic view on the use of technology in the aviation and space business as it was conquered during the past half century. JOHN M. WILLIAMSON Retired Vice President and Project Manager A-10 Program, Fairchild-Hiller Corporation xii About the Author Lt Col Robert V. Brulle, USAF, Retired Lt Col Robert V. Brulle, USAF, retired, was born in Belgium and immigrated with his parents to America in 1929 when he was six years old. He grew up in the Chicago area and became a P-47 fighter pilot in the US Army Air Force during World War II, flying 70 combat missions in Europe. Following the war, he acquired a bachelor of science degree from Aeronautical University in Chicago in 1948 and a master of science degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in 1952, both in aeronautical engineering. He began PhD studies at Ohio State University while teaching at AFIT but never completed the degree. He returned to active duty in the Air Force, where his assignments ranged from a junior engi- neer to a weapons system project officer to an assistant profes- sor of aeronautical engineering at AFIT. Colonel Brulle left active duty in 1957 and joined McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri, where he researched and designed aircraft, missiles, spaceflight vehicles, and novel alternative-energy wind and water current turbines. During the Gemini manned orbiter program, he was appointed to the NASA Spaceflight Committee as a member of the Trajectory and Orbits, Guidance and Control, Rendezvous, and Abort Panels. While working at McDonnell, he also taught as an ad- xiii ABOUT THE AUTHOR junct associate professor of mechanical engineering for the University of Missouri Graduate Engineering Center in St. Louis. He was licensed as a professional engineer in Missouri and Ohio, holds two US patents, and maintained membership in numerous professional organizations. Retiring to southern Florida in 1988, Colonel Brulle has since published about a dozen aviation and historical articles in var- ious magazines. His first book, Angels Zero—P-47 Close Air Support in Europe, was published by the Smithsonian Institu- tion Press in 2000. Many of the numerous technical manuals he has authored are listed in the bibliography of this text. He was married for 60 years to his late wife, Margaret, and has four children. xiv Acknowledgments This narrative is based on notes, drawings, and reports from the many projects I was associated with, along with the help offered by many excellent research libraries associated with government agencies, learning institutions, and organizations. In addition, contact with many associates I worked with during these 50 years not only rekindled my memory, but we became reacquainted as friends again. Without all this help I could not have completed this book. It is with gratitude that I acknowl- edge the help that each provided.