AEROSPACE PIONEER JACK REAL, 90, DIES.Byline: Staff and Wire Services MONTROSE - A memorial service was held Friday for Jack Real, who is credited with pioneering aerospace innovations at Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It merged with Boeing in 1997 to form The Boeing Company. and Hughes Aircraft Hughes Aircraft Company was a major aerospace and defense company founded by Howard Hughes. The group was based near Ballona Creek, in Culver City, California, USA, on the Pacific Coast. Hughes Aircraft was acquired by General Motors in 1985. . Real, an engineer and test pilot, died Tuesday at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is a hospital in Mission Hills, California, USA. The hospital has 254 beds, and is part of Providence Health & Services. History in Mission Hills after a long illness. He was 90. ``Jack's contributions and innovative designs helped pave the way for many modern aerospace developments,'' said Southern California Aeronautic aer·o·nau·tic also aer·o·nau·ti·cal adj. Of or relating to aeronautics. aer  o·nau Association President Nissen Davis. ``He was a giant in our industry and will surely be missed.'' Real was a confidant of fellow aviation pioneer Howard Hughes, whom he met while working at Lockheed and for whom he remained an adviser until the billionaire's death in 1976. Real penned a 2003 biography, ``The Asylum of Howard Hughes,'' that dealt with the rumors and exaggerations surrounding Hughes' life. Real was a member of the SCAA SCAA Specialty Coffee Association of America SCAA School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (England) SCAA South China Athletic Association SCAA Spill Control Association of America SCAA State Communities Aid Association board and was awarded the group's Howard Hughes Memorial Award in 1990. According to the SCAA, Real was also instrumental in locating the Hughes Flying Boat ``Spruce Goose'' at the Evergreen Aviation Museum The Evergreen Aviation Museum is an aviation museum which displays a number of military and civilian aircraft, most notably, the Hughes H-4 Hercules "Spruce Goose". The museum is located in McMinnville, Oregon near the headquarters of Evergreen International Aviation. in Oregon, where he was chairman emeritus. While at Lockheed Aircraft Corp., Real designed and tested many aircraft, including the B-14 Hudson bomber, the XH-51 and the Cheyenne helicopter. In 1954, he was flight test engineer on the first flight of a prototype C-130 cargo plane from Burbank to Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. , according to author Walter J. Boyne's history of Lockheed. Real became the chief of engineering flight tests for Lockheed in 1960 and was promoted two years later to chief engineer of research and development, according to the SCAA. By 1964, Real was working on the SR-71 project at Lockheed's ``Skunk skunk, name for several related New World mammals of the weasel family, characterized by their conspicuous black and white markings and use of a strong, highly offensive odor for defense. Works,'' and the following year became vice president and general manager for the AH-56A Cheyenne helicopter program. By 1968, he was responsible for all rotary wing programs at Lockheed, according to the SCAA. Real eventually became president of Hughes Helicopters, where he guided the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter program. After McDonnell Douglas acquired Hughes Helicopters in 1984, Real was named president of McDonnell Douglas' helicopter unit. He remained at McDonnell Douglas until his retirement in 1987. Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities, the Hurricane Katrina Fund or Evergreen Aviation Museum. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: REAL |
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