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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Ken Philippart

Professor Norman S. Phillips graduated from The Ohio State University in June 1955, with a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering, and was immediately commissioned in the United States Navy. Mr. Phillips was assigned to Patrol Squadron VP 26, which deployed to Iceland and Morocco. His duties included working with maintenance crews to properly maintain the 12 aircraft (P2Vs) of the squadron.

At the end of his tour of duty, Mr. Phillips returned to Columbus, Ohio to work for North American Aviation as a structural designer, which involved developing the designs, conducting required analyses and creating production drawings. Two years later, he accepted a position as research engineer for Technology Incorporated in Dayton, Ohio, working in the area of flight loads data collection and analysis.

Mr. Phillips' flight loads research involved the design of light weight structures that could be used for the study of human tolerance to vibrational and impact accelerations. The results of these studies led to response studies for the Air Force involving helicopter crashworthiness, head and neck response, seat belt protection, and ejection seat and parachute response.

Mr. Phillips became an assistant professor in the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Dayton in 1974. In 1979, an attempt to carry out a hostage rescue mission in Iran failed when sand created landing and take-off problems for two U.S. helicopters. In response, Professor Phillips conducted ongoing experiments in the California desert area to more accurately predict aircraft performance on soil surfaces.

Professor Phillips received two Master's degrees in Engineering and Educational Research from the University of Dayton, where he retired as Professor Emeritus after 31 years. He continued his involvement in biomechanics research throughout his entire career.

Professor Phillips thought that success in learning was directly related to flying. One of his early flight instructors stated that "power plus attitude equals performance." Professor Phillips believed that the students with the intellectual "power" and the strong desire ("attitude") to achieve would find a way to succeed.

Professor Norman S. Phillips devoted his life to the improvement of the human condition and to the education of future engineers.