May 1 1976
From The Space Library
NASA announced issuance of a patent to Richard T. Whitcomb, an aerospace technologist at Langley Research Center, for an aircraft wing to be used at subsonic speeds. The new wing, called a supercritical or "upside down" wing, was described as increasing speed without need for additional power and as suitable for any aircraft flying near the speed of sound. Whitcomb last year received $25 000 for the invention from NASA's Inventions and Contributions Board. (NYT, 1 May 76, 31)
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