David Jenney, Ph. D.
Graduating class: 1949
Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2011
Hall of Fame Category: Lifetime Achievement
David has been referred to by some as the “Father of the Black Hawk Helicopter” a title that notes but one of his many accomplishments during his 40 year career with Sikorsky Aircraft.
Graduating from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1953, David joined the newly formed helicopter research group with United Aircraft Research Laboratories (later to become United Technologies Corporation) in East Hartford, Connecticut. In 1962 he transferred to the Sikorsky Division as Supervisor of Aerodynamics, leading a team of engineers in helicopter design. David notes that his early years were “a great time for an engineer to enter the helicopter field.”
It was also a time David extended himself by working nights and weekends to earn his Masters Degree and his PhD in mechanical engineering. Over the next 30 years David developed innovative concepts for rotary-wing aircraft including new airfoils, blade shapes and vibration absorbers.
He led design teams in developing early vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and the Rotor Systems Research Aircraft for NASA which David described as a “complex flying rotor laboratory.”
The design concept he is most noted for is the “canted tail rotor” developed to accommodate a third engine and longer rotor blades on the CH-53 helicopter and now a familiar sight on the world’s most advanced helicopters.
An interesting note to David’s early engineering years was the fact his work generally preceded the use of CAD/CAM computers and computer models to test hypotheses. The first computer capable of testing designs, the IBM-701, arrived just months before David started working for United Aircraft Research Labs.
The big computer almost filled a huge hangar with all its vacuum tubes and early electronics. David and his teams developed their designs intuitively and used slide rules in their calculations while they learned the capabilities of the “new” computer.
In 1970 the U.S. Army called for a new, small transport helicopter and David’s design team was ready to answer the challenge with the birth of the Black Hawk helicopter incorporating many of David’s innovations. True to his form as a gentleman, David will credit his design teams for the development although everyone else credits David.
Since 1973 the Black Hawk has been a most dependable workhorse for the Army and in its various configurations (USAF Pave Hawk, USN Sea Hawk, and USCG Jay Hawk) is utilized for air cavalry assault, electronic warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuations, disaster relief and even executive transportation.
Even before his retirement in 1993, David was an avid runner and is quite proud of the fact that he has competed in the Mattapoisett Road Race since its inception in 1971. In addition, David has completed 19 marathons including 6 Boston Marathons and 2 abroad. He is an avid sailor and is active in the Mattapoisett Yacht Club where he served as Commodore for 4 years. David and his lovely wife Janet, continue a busy pace by keeping up with their three children and four grandchildren.