Special Recognition for a Giant of Soaring Flight

[Frank Whiteley]

Boulder, Colorado, May 4th

German Consul-General to the United States Wolfgang Drautz quipped
"Professor Doktor Doktor", recognizing the distinctive academic and
scientific achievements of Dr. Joachim Kuettner during the
presentation of the Bundesverdienstkreuz, the Federal Cross of Merit
from the Federal Republic of Germany. This is considered the highest
honor given to a civilian. Dr. Kuettner, 100, was accompanied by his
wife of 61 years, Monika, to the event at the UCAR/NCAR Table Mesa
Facility above Boulder. Among the many guests were representatives
from the German Government, UCAR/NCAR, US Air Force Academy, Soaring
Society of Boulder, Soaring Society of America, the Luftwaffe, and the
Mountain Wave Project.

Dr. Kuettner is known affectionately among sailplane pilots around the
world as "father of the wave" as a result of his 1938 analysis of
atmospheric waves. This served as a basis for much of his research,
including as Scientific Field Director of the USAF/UCLA Sierra Wave
Project in the mid-1950's. Dr. Kuettner was awarded the Lilienthal
Gliding Medal in 1955, soaring's highest honor.

Dr. Kuettner was invited by Werner Von Braun in 1958 to join NASA to
development the missile and capsule project that became Project
Mercury. He worked on the Apollo program until he left NASA in 1965.
He joined UCAR/NCAR and has held the UCAR Distinguished Chair for
Atmospheric Science and International Research since 1994, where he
has led many national and international field projects.

The award ceremony was followed by presentation by Mountain Wave
Project pilot and scientist team Klaus Ohlmann (43 world soaring
records) and Rene Heise including exchanges with Dr. Kuettner about
the challenges of soaring extreme distances in mountain waves.

Original post here with some interesting links
http://www.topix.net/hobbies/gliding/2010/05/special-recognition-for-a-giant-of-soaring-flight

[bildan]

On May 5, 8:20*pm, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
> Boulder, Colorado, May 4th
>
> German Consul-General to the United States Wolfgang Drautz quipped
> "Professor Doktor Doktor", recognizing the distinctive academic and
> scientific achievements of Dr. Joachim Kuettner during the
> presentation of the Bundesverdienstkreuz, the Federal Cross of Merit
> from the Federal Republic of Germany. This is considered the highest
> honor given to a civilian. Dr. Kuettner, 100, was accompanied by his
> wife of 61 years, Monika, to the event at the UCAR/NCAR Table Mesa
> Facility above Boulder. Among the many guests were representatives
> from the German Government, UCAR/NCAR, US Air Force Academy, Soaring
> Society of Boulder, Soaring Society of America, the Luftwaffe, and the
> Mountain Wave Project.
>
> Dr. Kuettner is known affectionately among sailplane pilots around the
> world as "father of the wave" as a result of his 1938 analysis of
> atmospheric waves. This served as a basis for much of his research,
> including as Scientific Field Director of the USAF/UCLA Sierra Wave
> Project in the mid-1950's. Dr. Kuettner was awarded the Lilienthal
> Gliding Medal in 1955, soaring's highest honor.
>
> Dr. Kuettner was invited by Werner Von Braun in 1958 to join NASA to
> development the missile and capsule project that became Project
> Mercury. He worked on the Apollo program until he left NASA in 1965.
> He joined UCAR/NCAR and has held the UCAR Distinguished Chair for
> Atmospheric Science and International Research since 1994, where he
> has led many national and international field projects.
>
> The award ceremony was followed by presentation by Mountain Wave
> Project pilot and scientist team Klaus Ohlmann (43 world soaring
> records) and Rene Heise including exchanges with Dr. Kuettner about
> the challenges of soaring extreme distances in mountain waves.
>
> Original post here with some interesting linkshttp://www.topix.net/hobbies/gliding/2010/05/special-recognition-for-...

As one of those present at the medal ceremony and the following
dinner, I have to say it was one of the most memorable days of my
life. I've known Dr. Kuettner since the late 1960's. To this day,
even at age 100, he is a member of the Soaring Society of Boulder.
Along with the late Dr. Paul MacCready, "Joach" Kuettner is one of the
most impressive individuals ever associated with the sport of
Soaring. I understand there is a biography in the works which will be
something very special.

For me, the dinner was also extraordinary. I found myself sitting
across the table from Klaus Ohlmann who, with his presentation on
Argentine wave soaring at NCAR following the medal presentation and in
his conversation at dinner, vastly increased our respect for him and
his world record exploits in the Andean wave. I can tell you, he
isn't satisfied with a 3008 km flight - he wants to fly 4000 km.

With Dr. Kuettner, the discoverer of mountain waves and Klaus Ohlmann
the world distance record holder flown in wave under a sky filled with
lenticulars - how could it be otherwise.