Biographical Sketches

EDWARD "ED" HENRY HEINEMANN

Born: March 14, 1908    In: Saginaw, MI
Died: November 26, 1991    

Edward Henry Heinemann began designing aircraft in 1926 as a draftsman with Douglas Aircraft Company. He moved to International Aircraft and to Moreland Aircraft as Chief Engineer, proving his concepts as test pilot of the aircraft he designed. In 1930, he joined Northrop as Project Engineer, but it was as vice-president for military engineering at Douglas in 1936 that he achieved his greatest design triumphs. In 1962, he became corporate president of engineering at General Dynamics, the position he retained until his retirement in 1973.

Heinemann was responsible totally or in part for the design and development of more than 20 outstanding military aircraft, including SBD Dauntless dive bomber of World War II, A-20 and a A-26 attack bombers, A-1 Skyraider, F4D Skyray, D-558 Skystreak supersonic research aircraft, and his crowning achievement, A-4D Skyhawk.

In addition to aircraft designs, he and his staff were responsible for the development of aircraft components and weapons such as ejection seats, cartridge ejector bomb racks, low-drag streamlined bombs, fuel tanks, autopilots, and flight data computers.

Ed Heinemann’s career was devoted to solving engineering problems in aeronautical science. A genius of the times, his intellect and creativity has made a major contribution to the advance of world aeroscience.

Enshrined in National Aviation Hall of Fame 1981.

Denotes an individual known to have soloed an aircraft prior to December 16, 1917, whether they were members of the "Early Birds of Aviation" Organization or not.