Jan Roskam
Encyclopedia
Jan Roskam is the emeritus Deane E. Ackers Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering
at the University of Kansas
. He is the author of eleven books on airplane design and flight dynamics and over 160 papers on the topics of aircraft aerodynamics, performance, design and flight controls. He founded the company DARcorporation with Willem Anemaat.
in aeronautical engineering in 1954 from the Delft University of Technology
followed by a Ph.D.
degree from the University of Washington
in aeronautics and astronautics in 1965.
, and Learjet 35. He also acted as a consultant on the Boeing 747
. He is proudest of his work on the Piaggio P-180 Avanti.
In 1967 he became Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kansas. He served as chairman of the department from 1972-1976 and was recognized as the Ackers Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering from 1974 until his retirement in 2003. During his time at the university he continued to serve as a member of various advisory committees to NASA and was a member of the X-29 future applications committee. He also helped to found the Continuing Education Aerospace Short Course program at the University of Kansas in 1977 and still teaches for the program.
Roskam founded the Design, Analysis and Research Corporation (DARcorporation) in 1991 with Willem Anemaat in Lawrence, Kansas
and served as the company's president until 2004. The main focus of the company is design consultation, software and textbooks in the aviation field. The company developed its own aircraft design software, Advanced Aircraft Analysis (AAA), as well as a second design program for a NASA
Small Business Innovative Research contract.
In 2002 he published Roskam's Airplane War Stories a collection of stories about airplane design and analysis and engineering mistakes that were made. Many of the stories are based on his own experiences and have previously been used to demonstrate to young engineers that "when we make mistakes, we kill people". Roskam has written eleven books on airplane design and flight dynamics.
Shortly before his retirement in 2003 Roskam was honored with the Chancellor's Club Award for career teaching for his history of outstanding teaching. His former students include former president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Alan Mulally
. Mulally calls Roskam one of his heroes and notes that he learned important skills such as team-building during Roskam's courses. Roskam is also credited with helping Mulally get his first job at Boeing.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
presented him with the AIAA Aircraft Design Award in 2007. The award is given each year for advancements in the area of aircraft design, in Roskam's case the award was to recognize his lifetime contribution to the fields of airplane and configuration design and education.
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. He is the author of eleven books on airplane design and flight dynamics and over 160 papers on the topics of aircraft aerodynamics, performance, design and flight controls. He founded the company DARcorporation with Willem Anemaat.
Education
Roskam received his Engineer's degreeEngineer's degree
An engineer's degree is an advanced academic degree in engineering that is conferred in Europe, some countries of Latin America, and a few institutions in the United States....
in aeronautical engineering in 1954 from the Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology , also known as TU Delft, is the largest and oldest Dutch public technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands...
followed by a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in aeronautics and astronautics in 1965.
Professional career
Roskam has been involved in the design and development of 36 aircraft programs, including 12 which made it to flight, while working for three major aircraft companies. He was actively involved in design and development of the Boeing SST, Cessna Citation ICessna Citation
The Cessna Citation is a marketing name used by Cessna for its line of business jets. Rather than one particular model of aircraft, the name applies to several "families" of turbofan-powered aircraft that have been produced over the years...
, and Learjet 35. He also acted as a consultant on the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
. He is proudest of his work on the Piaggio P-180 Avanti.
Roskam founded the Design, Analysis and Research Corporation (DARcorporation) in 1991 with Willem Anemaat in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
and served as the company's president until 2004. The main focus of the company is design consultation, software and textbooks in the aviation field. The company developed its own aircraft design software, Advanced Aircraft Analysis (AAA), as well as a second design program for a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Small Business Innovative Research contract.
In 2002 he published Roskam's Airplane War Stories a collection of stories about airplane design and analysis and engineering mistakes that were made. Many of the stories are based on his own experiences and have previously been used to demonstrate to young engineers that "when we make mistakes, we kill people". Roskam has written eleven books on airplane design and flight dynamics.
Shortly before his retirement in 2003 Roskam was honored with the Chancellor's Club Award for career teaching for his history of outstanding teaching. His former students include former president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes designs, assembles, markets and sells large commercial jet aircraft and provides product-related maintenance and training to customers worldwide...
Alan Mulally
Alan Mulally
Alan Roger Mulally is an American engineer and business executive who is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ford Motor Company...
. Mulally calls Roskam one of his heroes and notes that he learned important skills such as team-building during Roskam's courses. Roskam is also credited with helping Mulally get his first job at Boeing.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
presented him with the AIAA Aircraft Design Award in 2007. The award is given each year for advancements in the area of aircraft design, in Roskam's case the award was to recognize his lifetime contribution to the fields of airplane and configuration design and education.
Books
- Airplane Design
- Part I: Preliminary Sizing of Airplanes (1985)
- Part II: Preliminary Configuration Design and Integration of the Propulsion System (1985)
- Part III: Layout Design of Cockpit, Fuselage, Wing and Empennage: Cutaways and Inboard Profiles (1986)
- Part IV: Layout of Landing Gear and Systems (1986)
- Part V: Component Weight Estimation (1985)
- Part VI: Preliminary Calculation of Aerodynamic, Thrust and Power Characteristics (1987)
- Part VII: Determination of Stability, Control and Performance Characteristics: FAR and Military Requirements (1986)
- Part VIII: Airplane Cost Estimation: Design, Development, Manufacturing and Operating (1990)
- Airplane Flight Dynamics and Automated Flight Controls I-II (1995)
- Airplane Aerodynamics and Performance with Dr. Chuan-Tau Edward Lan (1997)
- Roskam's Airplane War Stories: An Account of the Professional Life and Work of Dr. Jan Roskam, Airplane Designer and Teacher (2002)
- Lessons Learned in Aircraft Design (2007)
Awards
- AIAA Piper Award (1986) for "outstanding contributions to the design of general aviation airplanes as an author, educator, consultant and researcher"
- AIAA Atwood Award (1987) for "outstanding contributions in aerospace education particularly in the areas of design and flight dynamics, and for his contributions to the understanding of interior noise transmission, the development of three surface aircraft and the use of natural laminar flow"
- Chancellor's Club Career Teaching Award (2003)
- AIAA Aircraft Design Award (2007) for "lifetime achievement in airplane design, airplane design education, configuration design, and flight dynamics education"
- Higuchi/Endowment Research Achievement Award
- Ned N. Fleming Trust Award for excellence in teaching
- Governor of Kansas General Aviation Award
Professional organization memberships
- American Institute of Aeronautics and AstronauticsAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and AstronauticsThe American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
(AIAA) - Fellow - Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) - Fellow
- Royal Aeronautical SocietyRoyal Aeronautical SocietyThe Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
- Associate Fellow