Kermit Van Every
Encyclopedia
Kermit Van Every was a noted American aeronautical engineer best known for his work in the area of very high speed flight. He was a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
and had the unusual distinction of receiving the Wright Brothers Medal
twice, in 1948 and 1958.
Van Every was a native of San Jose, California
. In 1937 he transferred from San Jose State University
to Stanford University
, where he earned his undergraduate and aeronautical engineering degrees in 1938 and 1939 respectively, and was elected to the honorary science fraternity Sigma Xi
.
Van Every worked for Douglas Aircraft Company
for 25 years, ultimately serving as Chief Aeronautical Engineer, in which role he won widespread respect for leading design of high-speed aircraft that set a number of speed and altitude records, including the Douglas Skyrocket
with Ed Heinemann
. After leaving Douglas, he became responsible for aircraft design at Northrop
and General Dynamics
Aircraft Co., and eventually headed up his own aeronautical consulting company in San Diego located near Point Loma.
He died November 20, 1998, in Menlo Park, California
.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
and had the unusual distinction of receiving the Wright Brothers Medal
Wright Brothers Medal
Conceived of in 1924 by the Dayton Section of the SAE, the SAE established Wright Brothers Medal in 1927 to recognize individuals who have made notable contributions in the engineering design, development, or operation of air and space vehicles...
twice, in 1948 and 1958.
Van Every was a native of San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. In 1937 he transferred from San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
to Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where he earned his undergraduate and aeronautical engineering degrees in 1938 and 1939 respectively, and was elected to the honorary science fraternity Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
.
Van Every worked for Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
for 25 years, ultimately serving as Chief Aeronautical Engineer, in which role he won widespread respect for leading design of high-speed aircraft that set a number of speed and altitude records, including the Douglas Skyrocket
Douglas Skyrocket
The Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket was a rocket and jet-powered supersonic research aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the United States Navy...
with Ed Heinemann
Ed Heinemann
Edward Henry Heinemann, was a noted military aircraft designer for Douglas Aircraft Company.-Biography:...
. After leaving Douglas, he became responsible for aircraft design at Northrop
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...
and General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
Aircraft Co., and eventually headed up his own aeronautical consulting company in San Diego located near Point Loma.
He died November 20, 1998, in Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
.
Selected writings
- Ed Heinemann, Rosario Rausa, and Kermit Van Every, Aircraft Design, Nautical and Aviation Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1985.