Melvill Jones
Encyclopedia
Sir Bennett Melvill Jones (1887-1975) was Francis Mond Professor of Aeronautical Engineering
at the University of Cambridge
from 1919 to 1935. He demonstrated the importance of streamlining in aircraft
design. Jones' idea that a moving body passing through air or another fluid encounters resistance (aerodynamic drag), had been known since the time of Aristotle
, but he demonstrated the importance of this to the performance of aircraft.
and was a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cambridge
. After university he worked in the Aerodynamics Department of the National Physics Laboratory and at Armstrong Whitworths where he worked on the design of airships until the outbreak of war in 1914. He was then seconded to the Royal Aircraft Establishment until 1916 when he was transferred to Orfordness, the armament experimental station established by Bertram Hopkinson who was then Head of the Engineering Department at Cambridge. Whilst there, Melvill learned to fly and served as a gunner
for some weeks in a Bristol Fighter
with his brother as pilot.
In March 1919 Jones returned to Cambridge as a fellow of Emmanuel College and a member of staff of the Engineering Department. In October he was elected as the first Francis Mond Professor of Aeronautical Engineering in which position he remained until his retirement.
Francis Mond Professor of Aeronautical Engineering
The Francis Mond Professor of Aeronautical Engineering is a professorship in the University of Cambridge. It was established in 1919 as a result of a benefaction from Emile Mond, in memory of his son Francis who had been educated at Peterhouse and was killed in action on 15 May 1918 whilst serving...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
from 1919 to 1935. He demonstrated the importance of streamlining in aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
design. Jones' idea that a moving body passing through air or another fluid encounters resistance (aerodynamic drag), had been known since the time of Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
, but he demonstrated the importance of this to the performance of aircraft.
Career and education
Jones was educated at Birkenhead SchoolBirkenhead School
Birkenhead School is an independent, selective, co-educational school located on the Wirral Peninsula in the northwest of England. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.-Overview:The school is subdivided into...
and was a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
. After university he worked in the Aerodynamics Department of the National Physics Laboratory and at Armstrong Whitworths where he worked on the design of airships until the outbreak of war in 1914. He was then seconded to the Royal Aircraft Establishment until 1916 when he was transferred to Orfordness, the armament experimental station established by Bertram Hopkinson who was then Head of the Engineering Department at Cambridge. Whilst there, Melvill learned to fly and served as a gunner
Air gunner
An air gunner a.k.a. aerial gunner is a member of an air force aircrew who operates flexible-mount or turret-mounted machine guns or autocannons in an aircraft...
for some weeks in a Bristol Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
with his brother as pilot.
In March 1919 Jones returned to Cambridge as a fellow of Emmanuel College and a member of staff of the Engineering Department. In October he was elected as the first Francis Mond Professor of Aeronautical Engineering in which position he remained until his retirement.