Richard C. Scherrer
Encyclopedia
Richard C. Sherrer is an aircraft designer notable for pioneering work on revolutionary aircraft designs with extremely low radar cross sections that led to the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit.
, with a BSC in Aeronautical Engineering, in 1942.
From 1942 to 1959 he worked at the NACA (later NASA) Ames Research Center. There, he conducted flight research programs with thermal de-icing systems and wind tunnel tests of supersonic aerodynamic heating, internal and external aerodynamics. He was also a member of NACA Internal Aerodynamics Subcommittee and assistant head of the 1x3-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel Branch. From 1955 to 1965 he also worked as an independent engineering design consultant. During this time he designed the “Dumbo”, “Tea Party”, “Matterhorn”, “Little Train That Could” and “Flying Saucers” rides for the Disneyland theme park.
In June 1959 he went to work at Lockheed-California
in Burbank California. At Lockheed, he conducted anti-submarine warfare
(ASW) system analyses and airplane design studies to establish requirements and capabilities for the Lockheed P-3 Orion and Lockheed S-3 Viking aircraft. He was also responsible for a wide range of military aircraft systems and study proposals,
including transonic VTOL attack and covert turbofan prototypes, studies of rotary wing aircraft, advanced fighters, attack aircraft, surveillance and ASW patrol aircraft systems. This led to work as proposal manager for the initial Lockheed VSX studies, which led to the S-3 Viking. In addition, he designed Lockheed’s entry in the TFX competition (won by the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark) and the AX competition (won by the Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II. He also managed the initial Lockheed L-1011 TriStar design trade-off studies group and was manager of NASA-Lockheed short haul transport system study contract. In 1968 and 1974 he was a participant in the first and second AIAA symposiums on the aerodynamics of sports and competition automobiles, held in Los Angeles.
In February 1975, he was recruited by Ed Martin, Science and Engineering Director of Lockheed, to work in the Skunk Works
as the Project Manager responsible for developing the basic airplane design concept for a DARPA/US Air Force competition to develop a low radar cross-section aircraft. Working with radar expert Denys Overholser, mathematician Bill Schroeder and senior lead airplane designer Ken Watson, they produced a design that won the competition. The result was the Have Blue
technology demonstrator that led to the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk. During the summer of 1976, Dick suffered a stroke and left the program. After recuperating, he returned to Lockheed a year later as Chief Advanced Design Engineer of the Skunk Works. In this position, he worked on the design of a low radar cross-section reconnaissance aircraft.
In September 1979 he left Lockheed and went to work at the Northrop Corporation
as a design consultant on their entry for the Advanced Technology Bomber. There, he evolved the planform, airfoils and internal arrangement of what became the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit after Northrop won the US Air Force competition. Starting in July 1984 he worked at Ling-Temco-Vought
on developing a design for for the US Navy AX competition. In doing so, he supervised large scale radar cross-section model detail design, fabrication and testing. This competition was won by the McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II. From October 1985 to December 1986 he conducted project review tasks for DARPA and SAIC at Boeing Military Airplane Company and Sikorsky Aircraft
. In July 1987 he returned to Northrop where he worked for four years, conducting preliminary design studies of future stealth aircraft.
After retiring to Marrowstone Island in Washington State, he worked on the development of new models for Express Aircraft, including retractable landing gear and turbine powered variants.
In 1995, Dick received the Distinguished Alumni award from the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics of the University of Washington
and in 2010 he was elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering. He is also an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Career
Dick Scherrer graduated from the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, with a BSC in Aeronautical Engineering, in 1942.
From 1942 to 1959 he worked at the NACA (later NASA) Ames Research Center. There, he conducted flight research programs with thermal de-icing systems and wind tunnel tests of supersonic aerodynamic heating, internal and external aerodynamics. He was also a member of NACA Internal Aerodynamics Subcommittee and assistant head of the 1x3-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel Branch. From 1955 to 1965 he also worked as an independent engineering design consultant. During this time he designed the “Dumbo”, “Tea Party”, “Matterhorn”, “Little Train That Could” and “Flying Saucers” rides for the Disneyland theme park.
In June 1959 he went to work at Lockheed-California
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
in Burbank California. At Lockheed, he conducted anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
(ASW) system analyses and airplane design studies to establish requirements and capabilities for the Lockheed P-3 Orion and Lockheed S-3 Viking aircraft. He was also responsible for a wide range of military aircraft systems and study proposals,
including transonic VTOL attack and covert turbofan prototypes, studies of rotary wing aircraft, advanced fighters, attack aircraft, surveillance and ASW patrol aircraft systems. This led to work as proposal manager for the initial Lockheed VSX studies, which led to the S-3 Viking. In addition, he designed Lockheed’s entry in the TFX competition (won by the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark) and the AX competition (won by the Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II. He also managed the initial Lockheed L-1011 TriStar design trade-off studies group and was manager of NASA-Lockheed short haul transport system study contract. In 1968 and 1974 he was a participant in the first and second AIAA symposiums on the aerodynamics of sports and competition automobiles, held in Los Angeles.
In February 1975, he was recruited by Ed Martin, Science and Engineering Director of Lockheed, to work in the Skunk Works
Skunk works
Skunk Works is an official alias for Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs , formerly called Lockheed Advanced Development Projects. Skunk Works is responsible for a number of famous aircraft designs, including the U-2, the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 Nighthawk, and the F-22 Raptor...
as the Project Manager responsible for developing the basic airplane design concept for a DARPA/US Air Force competition to develop a low radar cross-section aircraft. Working with radar expert Denys Overholser, mathematician Bill Schroeder and senior lead airplane designer Ken Watson, they produced a design that won the competition. The result was the Have Blue
Lockheed Have Blue
Lockheed Have Blue was the code name for Lockheed's "proof of concept" that preceded the F-117 Nighthawk production stealth aircraft. Have Blue was designed by Lockheed's Skunk Works division, and tested at Groom Lake, Nevada...
technology demonstrator that led to the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk. During the summer of 1976, Dick suffered a stroke and left the program. After recuperating, he returned to Lockheed a year later as Chief Advanced Design Engineer of the Skunk Works. In this position, he worked on the design of a low radar cross-section reconnaissance aircraft.
In September 1979 he left Lockheed and went to work at the Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation was a leading United States aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman in 1994. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, although only a few of these have entered service.-History:Jack...
as a design consultant on their entry for the Advanced Technology Bomber. There, he evolved the planform, airfoils and internal arrangement of what became the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit after Northrop won the US Air Force competition. Starting in July 1984 he worked at Ling-Temco-Vought
Ling-Temco-Vought
Ling-Temco-Vought was a large U.S. conglomerate which existed from 1969 to 2000. At its peak, its component parts were involved in the aerospace industry, electronics, steel manufacturing, sporting goods, the airline industry, meat packing, car rentals and pharmaceuticals, among other...
on developing a design for for the US Navy AX competition. In doing so, he supervised large scale radar cross-section model detail design, fabrication and testing. This competition was won by the McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II. From October 1985 to December 1986 he conducted project review tasks for DARPA and SAIC at Boeing Military Airplane Company and Sikorsky Aircraft
Sikorsky Aircraft
The Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Stratford, Connecticut. Its parent company is United Technologies Corporation.-History:...
. In July 1987 he returned to Northrop where he worked for four years, conducting preliminary design studies of future stealth aircraft.
After retiring to Marrowstone Island in Washington State, he worked on the development of new models for Express Aircraft, including retractable landing gear and turbine powered variants.
In 1995, Dick received the Distinguished Alumni award from the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics of the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
and in 2010 he was elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering. He is also an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.