German-born University of Washington aeronautical-engineering professor Frederick Kurt "Fred" Kirsten (1885-1952) came to the Puget Sound area in 1902. He was considered a pioneer in aircraft research, and the Kirsten Wind Tunnel Laboratory at UW is named for him. Professor Kirsten held nearly 100 patents for his inventions, including the Kirsten, a "clean" pipe still sold by the Kirsten Pipe Company, Inc., in Seattle.
In this image several people stand observing a boat sitting in dry dock. The boat, christened the "Spider," featured a cycloidal propeller used to stabilize boats and enable them to make right-angle turns at full speed. Professor Kirsten formed the Kirsten-Boeing Engineering Company with funding from William E. Boeing, and designed the boat which was used to demonstrate the propeller to the Navy Bureau of Engineering. Later, Professor Kirsten adapted the cycloidal propeller for use on airplanes which enabled planes to take off, fly, and land without noise.
Photographer's number: K-18
Caption information source: The Seattle Daily Times, November 21, 1952, page 43 Caption information source: The Seattle Daily Times, July 19, 1940, page 26 Caption information source: https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2017-0114
ID Number: 2017.44.2
Date: 1922
Physical Description: 1 photographic print : b&w ; 7.5 x 9.5 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
