Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Edward C. Polhamus Papers, Ms1990-051, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated to Special Collections prior to 1990.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Edward C. Polhamus Papers was completed in November 2012.

Biographical Note

Edward C. Polhamus (1923-2001), an aeronautical engineer active in aerodynamics research related to the development of high-speed aircraft, received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland (1944) and joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1944. Polhamus was head of the Stability and Performance Branch, the Fluid Dynamics Branch, and a Distinguished Research Associate at NASA Langley Research Center, retiring from NASA in 1981. Polhamus is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and has been and advisor to the U.S. Defense Department and the Air Force on variable-sweep technology. He is the holder or co-holder of three U. S. patents on variable-sweep wing technology; furthermore, Polhamus is recognized as the co-inventor of the variable-sweep aircraft configuration concept that led to the U. S. Air Force F-111 and B-1 aircraft. Polhamus presented the AIAA Wright Brothers lecture on 1983.

Scope and Content

The Edward C. Polhamus Papers include reprints of articles and reports by Polhamus, correspondence, notebooks, and photographs relating to his patents on variable wing sweeps, F-111 aircraft and cryogenic wind tunnel development and vortex lift aerodynamics, Congressional testimony on the TFX contract investigation, and materials relating to his Wright Brothers lectureship.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into subject files.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Aeronautical engineers
• Archives of American Aerospace Exploration (AAAE)
• Science and Technology
• United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Edward C. Polhamus Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).