avia.wikisort.org - Designer

Kenneth Gene Wernicke (October 12, 1932 – September 1, 2022) was an American aerospace engineer. He had a leading role in the development of the tilt rotor aircraft Bell XV-3, Bell XV-15 and V-22 Osprey.

Kenneth Wernicke
Born	(1932-10-12)October 12, 1932 Missouri, U.S.
Died	September 1, 2022(2022-09-01) (aged 89) Bedford, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Aerospace Engineer
Children	one Fonda Fox Natalie Aldridge

Life and career

Ken Wernicke had a BS and MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas.[1]

From 1955 to 1990 he was an engineer at Bell Helicopter,[1] and worked as a leading engineer with Bob Lichten from 1964 on the tilt rotor technology.[2][3][4]

Along with his twin brother Rod, (who was also a Bell engineer) his son Keith and Rod's sons Tim and Kent, he was developing a rubber tracked amphibious vehicle after the US Navy requested concepts for a scout vehicle that could travel on water at high speed and proceed with all terrain capability for reconnaissance on land.[5][6] He holds patents related to flying and tracks.[7]

Wernicke was an advisory board member of rotorcraft company Carter Aviation Technologies.^{[citation needed]}

Wernicke died in Bedford, Texas, on September 1, 2022, at the age of 89.[8]

Awards

Wernicke has received the Paul E. Haueter Memorial Award (American Helicopter Society) in 1978,[9] and the Aircraft Design Award (AIAA) in 1983.[3]

References

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