Glenn Odekirk
Encyclopedia
Glenn Odekirk was an American aerospace engineer who made significant contributions to the work of Hughes Aircraft
.
The son of Edward John and Louise (Lewis) Odekirk, Glenn, also known by his nickname 'Ode' , was an Oregon State University
engineer
, graduating in 1927. During the 1930s and through World War II
'Ode' was the assistant to the president of Hughes Aircraft
, and had a very close, professional relationship with the man who was president, the businessman Howard Hughes
.
Odekirk met Hughes on the set of his movie Hell's Angels
, and Hughes was very impressed with him. For several years, the two flew around the country together, testing the young engineer's ideas and arguing constantly over the most trivial matters of airplane construction.
It was Odekirk who carefully examined airplane after airplane during the 1930s, to find the one Hughes eventually used to set his record-breaking round-the-globe flight of 91 hours. A plane Odekirk helped design during 1935, known to historians as the Hughes H-1 Racer
, set a world speed record of 352.39 miles per hour in September of that year, beating Raymond Delmotte's (of France) record of 314.32 miles per hour. The plane was revolutionary for its time and was one of the first planes in history to sport retractable landing gear and special countersunk
screws and flat rivets to reduce wind resistance.
Odekirk's most famous project was the work he contributed to the legendary H-4 Hercules and 'Ode' was aboard when Hughes piloted the plane on its one and only flight on November 2, 1947.
However, according to The Ouderkerk Family Saga: 350 Years in America, Glenn Odekirk was not on the Spruce Goose.
Glenn Odekirk recalls that day: "I dropped Hughes down on the dock and he said to me, 'Odie, you don't mind not being aboard while I taxi'"...and I said, "Oh, come on." "The fellows back there (the Brewster committee) were giving him a bad time and told him the thing would never fly. So that is when I knew real well that he would take off if possible. I know darn well if it feels right, you are going to fly it."
Odekirk stayed behind. Why? "Because Mr. Hughes didn't want another pilot on board because someday someone would come out and say that Howard Hughes didn't fly it, so-and-so did."
In the Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator, Matt Ross
portrayed Odekirk.
Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Culver City, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company...
.
The son of Edward John and Louise (Lewis) Odekirk, Glenn, also known by his nickname 'Ode' , was an Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
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,...
, graduating in 1927. During the 1930s and through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
'Ode' was the assistant to the president of Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Culver City, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company...
, and had a very close, professional relationship with the man who was president, the businessman Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
.
Odekirk met Hughes on the set of his movie Hell's Angels
Hell's Angels (film)
Hell's Angels is a 1930 American war film, directed by Howard Hughes and starring Jean Harlow, Ben Lyon, and James Hall. The film, which was produced by Hughes and written by Harry Behn and Howard Estabrook, centers on the combat pilots of World War I...
, and Hughes was very impressed with him. For several years, the two flew around the country together, testing the young engineer's ideas and arguing constantly over the most trivial matters of airplane construction.
It was Odekirk who carefully examined airplane after airplane during the 1930s, to find the one Hughes eventually used to set his record-breaking round-the-globe flight of 91 hours. A plane Odekirk helped design during 1935, known to historians as the Hughes H-1 Racer
Hughes H-1 Racer
The Hughes H-1 was a racing aircraft built by Hughes Aircraft in 1935. It set a world airspeed record and a transcontinental speed record across the United States...
, set a world speed record of 352.39 miles per hour in September of that year, beating Raymond Delmotte's (of France) record of 314.32 miles per hour. The plane was revolutionary for its time and was one of the first planes in history to sport retractable landing gear and special countersunk
Countersink
A countersink is a conical hole cut into a manufactured object, or the cutter used to cut such a hole. A common usage is to allow the head of a countersunk bolt or screw, when placed in the hole, to sit flush with or below the surface of the surrounding material...
screws and flat rivets to reduce wind resistance.
Odekirk's most famous project was the work he contributed to the legendary H-4 Hercules and 'Ode' was aboard when Hughes piloted the plane on its one and only flight on November 2, 1947.
However, according to The Ouderkerk Family Saga: 350 Years in America, Glenn Odekirk was not on the Spruce Goose.
Glenn Odekirk recalls that day: "I dropped Hughes down on the dock and he said to me, 'Odie, you don't mind not being aboard while I taxi'"...and I said, "Oh, come on." "The fellows back there (the Brewster committee) were giving him a bad time and told him the thing would never fly. So that is when I knew real well that he would take off if possible. I know darn well if it feels right, you are going to fly it."
Odekirk stayed behind. Why? "Because Mr. Hughes didn't want another pilot on board because someday someone would come out and say that Howard Hughes didn't fly it, so-and-so did."
In the Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator, Matt Ross
Matt Ross
Matthew Brandon "Matt" Ross is an American actor best known for his role as Alby Grant in the HBO series, Big Love.-Filmography:*Urusei Yatsura 2 *Desperation Rising *PCU...
portrayed Odekirk.