Michael H. Gorn Flight Research and X-Plane Historical Research Files, 1922-1999

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Summary

Title:
Michael H. Gorn Flight Research and X-Plane Historical Research Files
Dates:
1922-1999
Creators:
Gorn, Michael H.
Abstract:
This collection contains former Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) Chief Historian Michael Gorn's research files for two aeronautics research history books: Gorn's "Expanding the Envelope: Flight Research at NACA and NASA" and the second edition of Richard Hallion's "On the Frontier: Experimental Flight at NASA Dryden."
Extent:
Volume: 9 cubic feet (9 linear feet). 9 records boxes, 3 digitized items (16.2 Gigabytes), including WAV and MOV files.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains former AFRC Chief Historian Michael Gorn's research files for two aeronautics research history books.

Series I pertains to Gorn's updates to Richard P. Hallion's "On the Frontier: Experimental Flight at NASA Dryden," which presents a history of X-plane flight research at Armstrong Flight Research Center (formerly known as Dryden Flight Research Center) from 1946 to 1981. Gorn added two new chapters to cover advancements for the remaining two decades of the twentieth century and wrote a new concluding section to the final chapter of the first edition, "Into Space: 1959-1981."

Series II focuses on Gorn's "Expanding the Envelope: Flight Research at NACA and NASA," which provides a broad overview of the evolution of this research discipline over 90 years by teams at NASA and its precursor organization, the NACA. The bulk of the collection comprises research files for this book.

Acquisition information:
Transferred by the ARC Archives on June 12, 2025 (Accession ARC-TR-2025-002).
Custodial history:

Michael H. Gorn donated this collection to the Ames Research Center Archives on October 25, 2017 (Accession 2017-029). The materials remain in the physical custody of the ARC Archives but are now associated with the AFRC Archives.

Arrangement:

This collection was left in the creator's original order. It is arranged into two series, one for each book.

Physical description:
NOTE: For digital extent use Number of items: ### (e.g., 150) the Archives prefers cubic feet over linear generally, because it is a more accurate unit of measure; linear feet may be used if more appropriate, such as when measuring artifacts. SEE: Archives policy manual for a table of equivalents.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Guide prepared by April Gage
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid encoded by April Gage. Date of source: June 2025

Access and use

Restrictions:

Restricted Partly; This collection contains information that has Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Export Control restrictions.

Distribution Limits: Partly Public; NASA employees contact archivist regarding restricted materials.

Terms of access:

This collection may contain copyrighted material. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Securing permission to publish or use materials is the sole responsibility of the researcher.

Location of this collection:
4800 Lilly Ave.
Edwards, CA 93523, US
Contact:
(650) 604-1032
ARC-DL-archives@mail.nasa.gov
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