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John Knudsen Northrop



John Knudsen Northrop

John Knudsen Northrop
John Knudsen Northrop
Premier Aero Engineer - Inventor
Born Newark, N.J., November 10, 1895. Began his aeronautical career with the Lockheed brothers in 1916. Served with Douglas Aircraft Company where his ideas influenced the design of the famed DC-3. Returned to Lockheed in 1927 to produce the high performance Orion and Vega aircraft used by the airline industry and aviation explorers of the period.

Formed Northrop Corporation in 1932 launching a long line of military and civil aircraft. Prolific inventor, holder of more aviation patents than any other person. Beginning with his record-breaking Gamma airplanes of the 1930s through his successful flying wings to the Freedom Fighters of the 1970s, Northrop Aircraft has made history.
Elected to the International Aerospace Hall of Fame 1972