Magyar News, 1992. szeptember-1993. augusztus (3. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1992-12-01 / 4. szám
United States Postal Service 1991 Theodore von Karmán received the first U.S. Medal of Science, from President Kennedy A gifted aerodynamicist and engineer, he was called the "architect of the space age." His discoveries enabled supersonic flight and the landing on the moon by U.S. astronauts. USA 29 Theodore von Kármán i Scientist * • /' Theodore von Kármán i Aerospace Scientist Theodore von Kármán i Avn is|.ia<v Scientist Theodore von Kármán Aerospace Seien list The Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp on Theodore von Kármán. As printed on the margin of the sheet we notice that Kármán was an outstanding scientist. You also notice that his name is spelled with accents on it. There is one thing missing and that is the fact that Kármán was a Hungarian. In this article we will tell you more about him. MODERN AVIATION CALLS HIM DADDY There is a name one could mention to people familiar with aviation in America, or as a matter of fact in the entire world, and they would know exactly who he is. This person is called the father of modem aviation, the father of super sonic flying. His name is Theodore von Karman, who else but a Hungarian. In his early youth Karman already worked with Oszkár Ashboth building the first helicopter that astonished the world. Theodore von Karman was bom in Budapest in 1881 and graduated from the Budapest University of T echnical Sciences. During the First World War he was the chief of research in the aviation corps of The Austro-Hungarian Army. Later he became an advisor to the Junkers Airplane Company in Germany and in 1930 Karman was appointed director ofThe Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratories of Cal Tech in California. By 1945 he was heading the Science Advisory Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces. It would be very technical to venture into all the scientific achievements Karman accomplished, like in the field of heat and quantum theory, elasticity, aero-, hydro-, as well as thermo-dynamics, or the boundary surface theory. Let us just talk in simple terms that is easier understood by all of us. Von Karman designed the airplane wings shape and surface that makes super sonic flight possible. He played the leading role in developing the well known huge aircrafts like the B-36, B-47 as well as the B-52. His talent was used to design the Atlas, Titan and the Minuteman rockets. Also the assisted take-off of aircraft with solid and liquid-propellent rockets was part of Karman’s work. The law of turbulence that he established plays an important part in predicting the drag on the surface of rockets, therefore making space flight safer and more successful. Where would the world be today without these outstanding Hungarian scientists who in a way set the foundation of the space age? BUY HUNGARIAN FOR CHRISTMAS In Youngston, Ohio, Elizabeth Szabó has an outstanding mail order service, the Magyar Marketing, that sells Hungarian Items. Books on history, language, fairy tales, folklore and naturally cooking line the shelves. Kolbász, szalámi, spices, szalon cukor and all sorts of noodles whet the appetite. At the market one could find cassettes, CDs, videos, photographs and collector dolls. The list of novelties gives you a selection of what to wear, or for the home and the car. This year the American Hungarian Foundation and Magyar Marketing joined forces and a generous portion of the profits will Page 4 support the Foundation’s Hungarian projects. You may call 1-800-786-7851, or write to American Hungarian Foundation, 300 Sumerset Street, PO Box 1084, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. * * * Typical Hungarian Christmas cards are available from the artist. One depicts a young boy wearing adecorated cloak (suba) with his lamb and stick. The other is a mother in embroidered clothes kneeling at a tree where a manger is put up. Next to her is a little boy in an embroidered vest. The setting in both is the winter wonderland, and they are printed in two colors. The address is: Gabriella Koszorús-Varsa, 4000 Massachusetts Ave., NW 1631, Washington, DC 20016. Tel: (202) 686-0390. * * * The greatest source of Hungarian books, many of them translated into English, are to be found in New York. Also cassettes, tapes, CDs. Newspapers and magazines off the rack or with subscription could satisfy any requests. The address is: Puski-Corvin, 251 East 82nd S treet, New Y ork, NY 10028. Tel: (212) 879-8893. EUROPEAN NAIL SALON Judith Racz 16 Fiske St. Fairfield, CT 06430 Tel: 333-1468 Theodore von Kármán < AnrwspaK* ScientM. .Jißwiiii*: . 4
