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Glidden Doman (January 28, 1921 – June 6, 2016) was an American aeronautical engineer and pioneer in helicopters and modern wind turbines.[1] He founded one of America's original six helicopter companies (Doman Helicopters, Inc.) after making major contributions to the use of Sikorsky helicopters during World War II.[2] Doman Helicopters' most prominent achievement was the Doman LZ-5/YH-31 eight-place helicopter, which received FAA certification on December 30, 1955.[3] The unique feature of this helicopter was its hinge-less but gimbaled, tilting rotor hub that greatly reduced stress and vibration in the blades and the whole helicopter.[4]
Doman was one of the first to transfer knowledge of helicopter rotor dynamics technology to wind turbines.[5] The 1973 arab oil embargo prompted NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio to lead a 7-year US wind energy program for the development of utility-scale horizontal axis wind turbines.[6] This program featured the creation of Boeing's MOD-2 with the Doman conceived flexible rotor design, two-bladed wind turbine with a teeter hinge.[7] Following the NASA project, while working for Boeing, Hamilton Standard division of United Technologies, and Aeritalia (later known as Alenia) in Italy, Doman developed large two-bladed, teeter-hinged wind turbines, including the WTS-3, WTS-4, and the Gamma 60.[7][8] After testing the Gamma 60 wind turbine in Sardinia from 1992 - 1997, Doman and Italian nuclear mechanical engineer Silvestro Caruso founded Gamma Ventures, Inc. to further develop and market this technology.[1][8] Gamma Ventures subsequently invested in, and sold a license to Seawind Ocean Technology of the Netherlands, to commercialize the same two-bladed, teeter-hinge wind turbine concept.[2][8]
Doman, along with noted German-born aerospace engineer Kurt Hohenemser (a partner and confidant of the well-known German airplane and helicopter designer Anton Flettner), maintained that a flexible two-bladed helicopter type wind turbine rotor design that is compliant with the forces of nature was more suitable for producing electricity than the rigid industry standard three-bladed airplane type wind turbine rotors that, by design, can only be constructed to resist the forces of nature.[9][10][11][12]
Two of Doman's helicopters, the converted Sikorsky R-6 (Doman LZ-1A) and a Doman LZ-5/YH-31, are on display at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.[13]
- ^ a b de Vries, Eize. "Two blades – Condor Wind's 5MW offshore turbine". Wndpower Monthly. Windpower Offshore. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Doman, Steve (August 2, 2011). "Glidden Doman's Rotor Technology for Helicopters and Wind Turbines – A 65 Year History". The EPCo Group.
- ^ Gibbon, Terry. "Doman Helicopters, Inc". The EPCo Group. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
- ^ "AHS Mourns the Loss of Glid Doman, Last Helicopter Pioneer". American Helicopter Society. AHS International. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ Stempien, Alexis. "Mourning the loss of alumnus Glidden Doman". University of Michigan – Michigan Engineering. University of Michigan. Archived from the original on June 13, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
- ^ Bowles, Mark D. (September 7, 2012). "The Apollo of Aeronautics NASA's Aircraft Energy Efficiency Program". NASA. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
- ^ a b "Wind Energy Research Reaps Rewards". NASA. Retrieved May 31, 2006.
- ^ a b c Jakubowski, Martin. "History of the Development of the Seawind Technology". Seawind Technology. Seawind Ocean Technology. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
- ^ Spera, David A. (2009). Wind Turbine Technology: Fundamental Concepts of Wind Turbine Engineering. ASME Press. pp. Chapter 10.
- ^ Martin, Douglas (April 21, 2001). "Kurt Hohenemser, Early Helicopter Designer, Dies at 95". New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2001.
- ^ "Anton Flettner". The New York Times. Obituary. December 30, 1961.
- ^ Hohenemser, Kurt H. (September 30, 2001). "Letter to Mr. Raven – The Great Nephew of Anton Flettner".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Orred, Susan R. "Local Granby Resident Glidden S. Doman To Be Featured Guest at New England Air Museum". Hartford Courant. Retrieved March 12, 2013.