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Bennett, Dwight Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10250
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Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Dwight Henry Bennett Personal Papers
source:
Bennett, Dwight
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10250
Physical Description:
.5 Cubic Feet
The collection contains correspondence, research, engineering data, and compiled publicity relating to design concepts and
proposals of aerospace engineer Dwight Henry Bennett. Through his career, Bennett researched and proposed applying delta wing
configurations and fixed canard Kreuger flap configurations to short-haul transport aircraft. He proposed applying these designs
to Cessna and Douglas aircraft corporations. This collection also includes material relating to Bennett's career including
invitations, awards, and manuscripts for publication.
This is a single box collection measuring 12.25" x 10.25" x 5". It has been arranged into four series: three relating to the
presumably original subject arrangement of Dwight Bennett's work, and one series of photographic prints.
12.25" x 10.25" x 5"
Date (bulk): 1917-2002
Abstract: Dwight Henry Bennett was an aeronautical engineer for Convair, Rockwell, and McDonnell Aircraft. The collection contains correspondence,
research, engineering data, and compiled publicity relating to design concepts and proposals of aerospace engineer Dwight
Henry Bennett. Through his career, Bennett researched and proposed applying delta wing configurations and fixed canard Kreuger
flap configurations to short-haul transport aircraft. He proposed applying these designs to Cessna and Douglas aircraft corporations.
This collection also includes material relating to Bennett's career including invitations, awards, and manuscripts for publication.
Physical Description: This is a single box collection measuring 12.25" x 10.25" x 5". It has been arranged into four series: three relating to the
presumably original subject arrangement of Dwight Bennett's work, and one series of photographic prints. The collection contains
correspondence, research, engineering data, and compiled publicity relating to design concepts and proposals of aerospace
engineer Dwight Henry Bennett. Through his career, Bennett researched and proposed applying delta wing configurations and
fixed canard Kreuger flap configurations to short-haul transport aircraft. He proposed applying these designs to Cessna and
Douglas aircraft corporations. This collection also includes material relating to Bennett's career including invitations,
awards, and manuscripts for publication.
Language of Material:
English
.
Dwight Henry Bennett was an aeronautical engineer for Convair, Rockwell, and McDonnell Aircraft. Born November 19, 1917, in
Oklahoma City, he earned a BS degree in mechanical engineering in 1940 from Caltech in Pasadena, CA. While enrolled at Caltech,
he worked on B-24 bombers for Consolidated Aircraft.
Bennett would spend 23 years at Convair, working on the Sea Dart seaplane, the F-102, F-106, and others. Bennett was part
of a team that led the development and flight-testing of Convair's T-29 Flying Classroom. While in San Diego, Bennett served
as chair of the San Diego section of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences (an early part of the American Institute of Aeronautics
and Astronautics) and was eventually selected to be on their national council.
Bennett left Convair in 1962 to become vice president and assistant to the general manager of the Aerocommander division of
Rockwell in Bethany, OK, for two years. He moved on to McDonnell Aircraft until 1976. At McDonnell, he worked on the Breguet
941, a short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft with four engines developed to show the potential of STOL aircraft. Bennett
was promoted to Director of Program Engineering to oversee the development of the F-4 Phantom supersonic fighter. He ended
his career at McDonnell as director of program engineering for the F/A-18 Hornet project based at Northrop Los Angeles.
As one of the early developers of the control-configured vehicle (CCV) concept, he won the 1972 SAE Wright Brothers medal
as co-author, along with R.P. Johannes, for the paper Combat Capabilities and Versatility through CCV, discussing its applications.
This award recognizes individuals for their executive leadership in aerospace engineering and who can demonstrate significant
contributions to the progress and development of air transportation.
Bennett had a lifelong interest in flying, logging over 6000 flying hours from 1940 - 1985. Most of his flight time was in
single or twin-engine aircraft, although he also flew Mach 2 at Convair. Following retirement in 1982, he worked as a flight
instructor in all ratings until 1985.
Bennett passed away in San Diego on July 10, 2002.
The collection is open to research. Some restrictions may apply
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to the Museum.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas DC-10
STOL
Convair F-106 Delta Dart
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
Bennett, Dwight