Continuing on from our previous post, we continue to look at the achievements of some of those “forgotten” engineers – people who are not necessarily remembered for their contribution to the engineering field.
Neil Armstrong
Again, a famous name – but how many people think “engineer”? In fact, Neil Armstrong held both a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. His college education was paid for under the Holloway Plan, meaning that he committed to two years study followed by three years’ service in the US Navy before completing the final two years of study. This meant that, whilst studying for his degree, he also qualified as an aviator, which led to his work as an elite research pilot and later astronaut.
Having resigned his commission with the Navy in 1960, Armstrong was one of only civilian pilots selected for the astronaut program. He took command of the Gemini 8 mission, performing the first docking of two craft in space, and later – as the commander of the Apollo 11 mission – became the first man to set foot on the moon with the immortal words, “That’s one step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”
When is an engineer not an engineer? When he’s the first man on the moon.
Thousands of Unnamed Engineers
The fact is, for every well-known or even half-remembered engineer, there are hundreds if not thousands of engineers whose names aren’t remembered by the history books. Most would never even dream of such a thing. Not every engineer will be responsible for ground-breaking inventions or astonishing achievements, yet their skills and talent combined have built the world into what it is today. One engineer can design a bridge, a building, or a new machine – but he or she will be far from the only engineer the project needs to bring it to completion, and every one of them makes a vital contribution.
When is an engineer not an engineer? When they’re just Mum, Dad, a sister or brother, a cousin…
Here at Airedale Springs, we love engineering – it’s a fascinating field with plenty of opportunities, even if they don’t all lead to fame! Whatever you need for your next engineering projects, whether that’s a shipment of springs or a custom wire form, we’d be happy to talk to you about your requirements. For more information, contact us today on 01535 643456.