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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Martha Emmerson

Calvin W. Emmerson is a graduate of Purdue University, earning a BSME in 1960 and MSME in 1962. He began his career at Detroit Diesel Allison in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he rapidly began making significant contributions to gas turbine engine design. His first assignment at Allison was in the field of advanced turbine blade cooling. By 1964 Emmerson was recognized as co-inventor of Lamilloy, an advanced turbine blade cooling technology which enabled the CE-4 engine to operate at over 3000 F TRIT. In 1970 the AACEII experimental engine demonstrated operation at 3500 F BOT using hot section components that he designed. Throughout his thirty-seven year career, he has led in every aspect of gas turbine engine design and contributed to numerous engine programs for civil, military and industrial applications. He was the hot section designer for the XT701AD700 engine, which was the predecessor to the Allison 570/571 industrial gas turbine engine. He was the hot section designer for the GMA 100/1, GMA 200 and GMA 500, the predecessor to the T800, which was selected to power the Comanche helicopter. Over 9 years at Solar Turbine Incorporated in San Diego he directed the design and development of the Centaur H as well as many other industrial gas turbine engines. After returning to Allison in 1984 he directed the design of the T406AD400 which was selected to power the V-22 Osprey. That same engine was the basis for the GMA2100 and GMA3007 aircraft engines, which have been tremendous commercial successes for Allison. Emmerson served as chief of design, head of the test department and head of the materials department before retiring from Rolls-Royce Allison in 1999. His expertise and creative contributions are greatly valued by his peers, and he continues to serve as a consultant working on advanced military projects.