1947 Lewis Inspection
The first Inspection at the Cleveland laboratory, held in October 1947, emphasized issues pertaining to post-war development of the turbojet engine.
1966 Lewis Inspection
Lewis Research Center held an Inspection in October 1966 to mark its 25th anniversary and demonstrate both its space research and resurgent aeropropulsion work.
Overview
The Lewis Research Center’s October 4 to 7, 1966, Inspection was its first since 1957. In the interim, the NACA disbanded and Lewis was incorporated into the new NASA space Agency. The Center reorganized to focus exclusively on space-related research and took on the management of the Centaur, Agena, and M-1 engine developmental programs. Now, Lewis was just starting to refocus its efforts to tackle issues related to civilian aviation. Associate Director Eugene Manganiello remarked at the dramatic accomplishments made since the last Inspection 9 years beforehand and noted the controversy over the references to space leading up to the 1957 Inspection.
The 1966 Inspection featured 10 stops—half of which dealt with the Center’s space efforts. These addressed fluid behavior in microgravity, advanced chemical rocket engines, the Centaur rocket, ion engines, and an in-depth description of the space power systems. There were also stops that discussed materials and basic research on solar cells, lasers, and other subjects. The aeronautics talks described the Center’s engine noise reduction work and air-breathing engine research. The Inspection included a film on Lewis’s remote test facility at Plum Brook Station [today, Neil Armstrong Test Facility] and demonstrations at the new Zero Gravity Facility.
The 1966 Inspection was also part of a year-long celebration of the Center’s 25th anniversary. Nearly 2000 invited guests attended the three-day Inspection. Wilson Hunter managed the Inspection activities. For the first time Lewis hosted the guests in the Development Engineering Building auditorium instead of the Administration Building. In addition to the presentations at the major facilities, the guests viewed the Gemini VII spacecraft, a Centaur rocket, and other displays in the hangar. After the Inspection, the Center hosted an open house for employees and their families.
Guest Materials
- Lewis Inspection Brochure (1966)
- Photographs of Participants (1966)
- Agenda and Inspection Invitation (1966)
Introductions
- Opening Remarks by Abe Silverstein (1966)
- James Webb Address (1966)
- Robert Seamans Address (1966)
- Lewis Role Supporting NASA Missions (1966)
Presentations
- Plum Brook Movie Script (1966)
- Materials Talk at Materials Processing Lab (1966)
- Airbreathing Engines Talk at 10×10 Tunnel (1966)
- Space Vehicle Stop at Zero Gravity Facility (1966)
- Advanced Chemical Rockets at PSL (1966)
- Jet Engine Noise Stop in Hangar (1966)
- Stationary Space Power Systems Talk (1966)
- Rotating Space Power Systems Talk (1966)
- Basic Research Stop at Energy Conversion Lab (1966)
- Electric Propulsion Talk at EPL (1966)
- Photographs of Exhibits in Hangar (1966)
Media Materials
Logistics
- Invitation List (1966)
- Inspection Planning Materials (1966)
- Tour Stop Planning (1966)
- Open House Planning (1966)
- Thank You Letters (1966)
See Other Inspections
1948 Ames Inspection
The July 1948 Inspection at the Ames Laboratory highlighted the facility’s new wind tunnels and work on heat transfer and aircraft control systems.
1948 Lewis Inspection
During the September 1948 Inspection, the NACA renamed its Cleveland laboratory in honor of the recently deceased George W. Lewis.
1949 Langley Inspection
Langley’s biennial Inspection in May 1949 featured its recent work in high-speed aerodynamics, particularly in the transonic stage.
1949 Lewis Inspection
At the September 1949 Inspection, the NACA unveiled Lewis’ recently completed 8-by 6-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel and a new style of presenting the technical information in a more understandable manner.
1950 Ames Inspection
The July 1950 biennial Inspection at the Ames Laboratory’s took place shortly after the onset of the Korean War and signaled the beginning of the NACA’s transition into missile and rocket research.
1951 Langley Inspection
Langley’s 1951 biennial Inspection addressed tools necessary for transonic research and efforts to transition from manual data computations to mechanical and digital computers.
1952 Ames Inspection
Increasing Cold War security concerns led to a reduction of technical information on display during the July 1952 Inspection at Ames.
1953 Langley Inspection
The Langley Laboratory featured its helicopter research during the biennial Inspection in May 1953.
1954 Lewis Inspection
The Lewis Laboratory’s June 1954 Inspection emphasized the NACA’s role in the Cold War, while demonstrating the new Propulsion Systems Laboratory and its growing rocket research.
1955 Ames Inspection
The talks at the June 1955 Inspection of the Ames Laboratory revealed that the more advanced aircraft of the future required the same type of NACA research as previous generations.
1956 Lewis Inspection
The May 1956 Inspection was dedicated entirely to the Lewis Laboratory’s new Unitary Plan Tunnel (the 10- by 10-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel).
1957 Lewis Inspection
The October 1957 Inspection at the Lewis Laboratory ushered the NACA into the space age and signaled the beginning of the end for the agency.
1958 Ames Inspection
The July 1958 Inspection at Ames was both the laboratory’s final Inspection and the final Inspection of the NACA era.
1964 Langley Inspection
NASA’s first Inspection, held at Langley in May 1964, emphasized the role the former NACA labs were playing in the new Office of Advanced Research and Technology (OART).
1966 Lewis Inspection
Lewis Research Center held an Inspection in October 1966 to mark its 25th anniversary and demonstrate both its space research and resurgent aeropropulsion work.
1973 Lewis Inspection
NASA’s final Inspection, held at Lewis in September 1973, sought to demonstrate a wide variety a civilian applications for NASA technology.