Gerhard J. Sissingh

United States of America

 

1907 - 2002

 Born in Wesselburen, Germany in 1907,  Dr. Gerhard J. Sissingh studied at the Hannover Technical University and the University of Goettingen in Germany obtaining two doctorate degrees in aeronautical engineering.  He gained an inernational reputation working for the German equivalent of NASA, where he was in charge of helicopter reserach during the 1930s.  During this period Germany led the world in helicopter development with Heinrich Focke's Fa-223 and Anton Flettner's nimble Fl-282 Kolibri, the world's first production helicopter.  After world War-II, the British Ministry of Supply offered him  a position in England, where he worked as a scientist at the Royal Aircraft Establishment.  In 1951, he moved to United States where he worked for several helicopter companies.  A long time member of AHS, he was elected an Honarary Fellow in 1972.  He retired in 1973 from the Lockheed Corporation where he served as director of research.

Mr. Sissingh died in mid-October 2002 in Salinas, California. He was 95.

AHS Update: Vertiflite Summer 2003