Robert Liebeck, a professor of the practice in the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and one of the world's leading experts on aircraft design, aerodynamics, and hydrodynamics, died on Jan. 12 at age 87. 'Bob was a mentor and dear friend to so many faculty, alumni, and researchers at AeroAstro over the course of 25 years,' says Julie Shah, department head and the H.N. Slater Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT. 'He'll be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.' Liebeck's long and distinguished career in aerospace engineering included a number of foundational contributions to aerodynamics and aircraft design, beginning with his graduate research into high-lift airfoils. His novel designs came to be known as 'Liebeck airfoils' and are used primarily for high-altitude reconnaissance airplanes; Liebeck airfoils have also been adapted for use in Formula One racing cars, racing sailboats, and even a flying replica of a giant pterosaur. He was...
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