Wallace Rupert Turnbull
Encyclopedia
Wallace Rupert Turnbull was a New Brunswick
engineer
and inventor, born on October 16, 1870 in Saint John
, NB. The Saint John Airport
was briefly named after him. He died November 24, 1954. He was inducted in the Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1977.
from Cornell University
in 1893 and undertook post graduate work in physics at the Universities of Berlin
and Heidelberg
, Germany
. In 1902 he built the first wind tunnel
in Canada
. During the next decade he continued researching the stability of aircraft and investigated many forms of airfoils. During World War I
Turnbull was employed by Frederick and Company aircraft builders in England
where he designed a number of propellers, the most successful being the variable pitch propeller. His interests extended into many fields, such as hydroplane
s, torpedo screens, bomb sights, and consolidated tidal power
, but his systematic approach to aeronautical engineering remains his greatest contribution.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and inventor, born on October 16, 1870 in Saint John
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, NB. The Saint John Airport
Saint John Airport
Saint John Airport is an airport located east northeast of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.Part of the National Airports System, it is owned by Transport Canada and operated by Saint John Airport Inc....
was briefly named after him. He died November 24, 1954. He was inducted in the Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1977.
His life
Wallace Turnbull graduated in mechanical engineeringMechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1893 and undertook post graduate work in physics at the Universities of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Heidelberg
Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
The Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg is a public research university located in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1386, it is the oldest university in Germany and was the third university established in the Holy Roman Empire. Heidelberg has been a coeducational institution...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1902 he built the first wind tunnel
Wind tunnel
A wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. During the next decade he continued researching the stability of aircraft and investigated many forms of airfoils. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Turnbull was employed by Frederick and Company aircraft builders in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he designed a number of propellers, the most successful being the variable pitch propeller. His interests extended into many fields, such as hydroplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
s, torpedo screens, bomb sights, and consolidated tidal power
Tidal power
Tidal power, also called tidal energy, is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into useful forms of power - mainly electricity....
, but his systematic approach to aeronautical engineering remains his greatest contribution.